Beating the Odds

ELTON HO
Staff Writer

“Smoking is bad for you! Stay away from drinking! And don’t even think about using drugs.” These often repeated assertions aim to instill essential values into youths, and it seems like they have been taken to heart. In the past decade, smoking and substance abuse have witnessed a steady decline. Drug and alcohol-related deaths of prominent individuals unsettled the public and the rise of a technological innovation has aided smokers hoping to beat their addiction. After years of struggles, the new generation may be moving into a bright future in control of these vices.