On Friday, February 16, Concord Academy students attended an assembly about substance abuse. The assembly, held in the chapel, was led by Will Tucker, a chemistry teacher, chemical safety officer, and Head of the Science Department. Tucker delivered a presentation with an emphasis on the chemistry of drugs and alcohol. The goal was to provide the student body with an accurate source of information about how these substances work and their impact on the human body and mind.
Tucker began his presentation by discussing the multidimensionality associated with the potential risks of substance use. He emphasized that there can be many different consequences from consuming substances; there is no such thing as a one-dimensional risk when it comes to drugs and alcohol. For example, if one were to abuse substances, not only would there be a risk of punishment within the CA community, but there would also be a risk of personal harm, social harm, and physical dependence on the substance.
Tucker also discussed the degree to which these risks can affect those who use substances. Personal and social harm can be limited, chronic, or acute, and can also be impacted by the level of physical dependency on a substance. Additionally, people whose brains have not fully developed can more easily become dependent on a substance.
Toward the end of his presentation, Tucker talked about vaping, of which long-term health effects remain still unknown. He went into detail about the different components of vape liquid, stressing that many of them are known to be carcinogenic and damaging to lung tissue. Tucker also shared images of normal lungs and the lungs of someone who vapes to highlight the drastic effects vaping can have on the human body. Tucker continuously emphasized that chemistry wins
He reiterated throughout the presentation that his goal was not to tell students what to do with regard to substances they may choose to consume. Tucker rather wanted to educate students and provide them with the tools and information they need to make the most informed decisions about substance use.