The other nite I watched a movie The Summer of Sam (about the Son of Sam and a bunch of kids living in the neighborhood during the time of the murders). John was a main character and did a wonderful job. He is a very talented actor. The sadness of it was the reminder of the troubles the youths of that time period faced...qualudes, coke, violence in clubs, etc.....

I know that todays youths face similar situations too but back then there wasn't any "JUST SAY NO" campaigns and no one did interventions, it was not openly acceptable to say "I need help"; at least today we have that much on our sides.

In that time period it was somewhat acceptable, almost the norm, if you think about it, to be into that stuff. I remember similar storys in my own neighborhood of kids involved in bad situations. They either disappeared and got help or they got dead. No one talked about it.

Its a wonder there were not more fatalities.......or maybe there were, but they were swept under the rug. Poor Freddie

I saw that movie! It was strange. The old music really brought back some memories.
There was a kid I want to school with (This was during the late 70's~early 80s) that was rich, pampered and snobbish--he had absolutely everything! He had the respect of the teachers and his peers because he was a handsome jock, he had a snazzy car and any girl he could ever want.
Not many people knew he also did drugs. One night, he overdosed pretty bad and was in a coma for awhile. He eventually came out of it, but his brain was damaged beyond repair. He functions like a 6 or 7 year old now. It's pretty sad..