Providing an Outlet
Frielson said much of the violent culture begins at home. “A lot of this starts in households where parents are doing drugs. # e kids learn about violence from an early age.” As the kids interact with their peers, the violent culture is spread. “It’s not to say that the kids are the only ones committing these crimes because they’re not. But when generation after generation is raised around these drugs and violence, it just keeps going, especially when it starts so young.” Frielson recalls seeing kids around the age of 12 come into his barbershop under the in $ uence of alcohol or marijuana. “You just see it everywhere, people constantly smoking and drinking.
behavior, Frielson has been checking in speci ! cally with this age group to ask about their mental health. “Once you keep it real with them, they’ll talk to you. I show them they have the space to talk to me. I’m not going to make jokes about anything they say. When they see that, they’re not afraid to talk to me about what’s going on with them.” Frielson says these conversations help give these kids an outlet for expression. He says his e " orts coupled with the work of local programs like the Lucas County UMADAOP create a structure of support for the community, especially for those without a positive family structure at home. of the day. “ # at peer pressure has increased,” Frielson said. “Now they have boredom and a lot of pent up stressors, because they’re cooped up and can’t unwind.” Knowing how these factors can a " ect child and young adult It’s normalized now.” Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Frielson believes the peer pressure surrounding alcohol and drug use has increased exponentially. Fewer available activities and more free time mean many children are unsupervised for more
- Tyrone Frielson, Local Barbershop Owner “Once you keep it real with them, they’ll talk to you.”
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