| The
Truth››› About |
Marijuana...... |
Slang---
Weed, Pot, Grass, Reefer, Ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt, Joint, Roach, Nail
Get the Facts...
Marijuana affects your brain. THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) affects the nerve cells in the pat of the brain where memories are formed.
Marijuana affects your self-control. Marijuana can seriously affect your sense of time and your coordination, impacting thinfs like driving. In 2002, nearly 120,000 people were admitted to emergency rooms suffering from marijuana-related problems, an increase of more than 139 percent since 1995.(1)
Marijuana affects your lungs. Thre are more than 400 known chemicals in marijuana. A single joint contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as a filtered cigarette.(2)
Marijuana affects otyher aspects of your health. Marijuana can limit your body's ability to fight off infection.(3) Long-term marijuana use can even increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses.(4)
Marijuana is not always what it seems. Marijuana can be laced with other dangerous drugs without your knowledge. "Blunts"--hollowed out cigars filled with marijuana--sometimes have substances such as crack cocaine, PCP, or embalming fluid added.
Marijuana can be addictive. Not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, but some users do develop signs of dependence. In 1999, more than 220,000 people entered drug treatment programs to kick their marijuana habit.(5)
Before You Risk it...
Know the law. It is illegal to buy or sell marijuana. In most States, holding even small amount of marjuana can lead to fines or arrest.
Get the facts. Smoking any substance--tobacco, marijuana, or crack cocaine--increases your risk of developing pneumonia and other illensses.(6)
Stay informed. It has not yet veen proven that using marijuana leads to using other drugs. But very few people use other drugs without first using marijuana. Teens who smoke marijuana are more likely to try other drugs, in part because they have more contact with people who use and sell them.
Know the risks. Using marijuana or other drugs increases your risk of injury from car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and other accidents.
Keep your edge. Marijuana affects your judgment, drains your motivation, and can make you feel anxious.
Look around you. Most teens aren't smoking marijuana. According to a 2002 study, about four out of five 12- to17-year-old yourths had never even tried marijuana.(7)
Know the Signs...
How can you tell if a friend is using marijuana? Some-times it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warniong signs, he or she may be using marijuana:
-
Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking
- Having red, bloodshot eyes and smelly hair and clothes.
- Having a hard time remembering things that just happened.
- Acting silly for no apparent reason.
What can you do to help someone who is using marijuana or other drugs? Be a real friend. Encourage your friend to seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the National Clearing house for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.
For more information go to www.ncadi.samhsa.gov
| Q. Isn't smoking marijuana less dangerous than smoking cigarettes? A. No. It's even worse. One joint affects the lungs as much as four cigarettes.8 |
Q. Can people become addicted to marijuana? A. Yes. Research confirms you can become hooked on marijuana. |
Q.Can marijuana be used as a medicine? A. While
the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, can be manufactured in
a pill available by prescription to treat nausea and vomiting
associasted with certain cancer treatments, scientists say that
more research needs to be done on its side effects and other potential |
The
bottom line: If you know someone who smokes marijuana,
urge him or her to stop or get help. To learn more
about marijuana or obtain referrals to programs in your community,
contact one of the TDD 800-487-4889 linea gratis en
espanol
Curious about the TV ads of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign? Check our the Web site at www.freevibe.com or visit the Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov |
The Truth About Alcohol
Slang---Booze,
Sauce, Brews, Brewskis, Hooch, Hard Stuff, Juice |
Get
the Facts....
Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking
can lead to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes,
distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts.
Alcohol affect your body. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and can increase your risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases, including cancer.
Alcohol affects your self-control. Alcohol can depress your central nervous system, lower your inhibitions, and impair your judgment. Drinking can lead to risky behaviors, such as driving when you shouldn't, or having unprotected sex.
Alcohol can kill you. Drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time or very rapidly can cause alcohol poisoning, which can lead to coma or even death. Driving and drinking also can be deadly. In 2003, 31 percent of drivers age 15 to 20 who died in traffic accidents had been drinking alcohol.(1)
Alcohol
can hurt you-even if you're not the one drinking. If
you're around people who are drinking, you have an increased risk of
being seriously injured, involved in car crashes, or affected by violence.
At the very least, you may have to deal with people who are sick, out
of control, or unable to take care of themselves.
Before
You Risk It...
Know
the law. It
is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are under age 21.
Get the facts. One drink can make you fail a breath test. In some States, people under age 21 can lose their driver's license, be subjuect to a heavy fine, or have their car permanently taken away.
Stay informed. "Binge" drinking means having five or more drinks on one occasion. Studies show that more than 35 percent of adults with an alcohol problem developed symptoms-such as binge drinking-by age 19.(2)
Know the risks. Alcohol is a drug. Mixing it with any other drug can be extremely dangerous. Alcohol and acetaminophen--a common ingredient in OTC pain and fever reducers--can damage your liver. Alcohol mixed with other drugs can cause nausea, vomiting, fainting, heart problems, and difficulty breathing.(3) Mixing alcohol and drugs also can lead to coma and death.
Keep your edge. Alcohol is a depressant, or downer, because it reduces brain activity. If you are depressed before you start drinking, alcohol can make you feel worse.
Look around you. Most teens aren't drinking alcohol. Research shows that 71 percent of people 12-20 haven't had a drink in the past months.(4)
Know
the Signs...
How can you tell if a friend has a drinking problem?
Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you
can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning
signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:
-
Getting drunk on a regular basis
- Lying about how much alcohol he or she is using
- Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun
- Having frequent hangovers
- Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal
- Having "blackouts"--forgetting what he or she did while drinking
What can you do to help someone who has a drinking problem? Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.
For
More information go to www.ncadi.samhsa.gov |
| Q. Aren't beer and wine "safer" than liquor? A. No. One 12-ounce bottle of beer or a 5-ounce glass of wine (about a half-cup) has as much alcohol as a 1.5 ounce shot of liquor. Alcohol can make you drunk and cause you problems no matter how you consume it. |
Q.Why can't teens drink if their parents can? A. Teens' brains and bodies are still developing; alcohol abuse can cause learning problems or lead to adult alcoholism.(5) People who begin drinking by age 15 are five times more likely to abuse or become dependent on alcohol than those who begin drinking after age 20.(6) |
Q. How can I say no to alcohol? I'm afraid I won't fit in. A. It's easier to refuse than you think. Try: "No thanks," "I don't drink," or "I'm not interested." Remember that the majority of teens don't drink alcohol. You're in good company when you're one of them. |
The bottom line: If you know someone who has a problem with alcohol, urge him or her to stop or get help. If you drink--stop! The longer you ignore the real facts, the more chances you take with your life. It's never too late. Talk to your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher, or another adult you trust. Do it today!
Want to know more
about preventing alcohol abuse?
Check out www.stopalcoholabuse.gov
|
The Truth about Methamphetamine
| Slang--Speed, Meth, Crystal, Crank, Tweak, Go-Fast, Ice, Glass, Uppers, Black Beauties |
Get
the Facts...
Methamphetamine affects your brain.
In the short term, meth causes mind and mood changes such as anxiety,
euphoria, and depression. Long-term effects can include chronic fatigue,
paranoid or delusional thinking, and permanent psychological damage.
Methamphetamine affects your body. Over "amping" on any type of speed is poretty risky. Creating a false sense of energy, these drugs push the body faster and further than it's meant to go. It increases the heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of stroke.
Methamphetamine affects your self-control. Meth is a powerfully addictive drug that can cause aggression and vciolent or psychotic behavior.(1)
Methamphetamine is not what it seems. Even speed drugs are not always safe. Giga-jolts of the well known stimulants caffeine or ephedrine can cause stroke or cardiac arrest when overused or used by people eith a sensitivity to them.
Methamphetamine can kill you. An overdose of meth can result in heart failure. Long-term physical effects such as liver, kidney, and lung damage may also kill you.
Before
you risk it...
Know the law. Methamphetamine is illegal
in all states and highly dangerous.
Get the facts. The ignitable, corrosive, and toxic nature of the chemicals used to produce meth can cause fires, produce toxic vapors, and damage the environment.
Stay informed. The number of past-month methamphetamine users who fit the definition of stimulant dependence or abuse more than doubled from 2002 to 2004.(2) The number of people admitted to treatment for methamphetamine use problems has been rising for several years.(3)
Know the risks. There are a lot of risks associated with using methamphetamine, including:
-
Meth can cause a severe "crash" after the effects wear off.
-
Meth use can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain.
-
Meth users who inject the drug and share meedles are at risk for acquiring HIV/AIDS
Look around you. Not everyone is using methamphetamine. In 2005, only 4.5 percent of 12th graders reported having used methamphetamine.(4)
Know the Signs...
How can you tell if a friend is using meth?
It may not be easy to tell. But there are signs you can look for. Symptoms
of methamphetamine use may include:
-
Inability to sleep
-
Increased sensitivity to noise
-
Nervous physical activity, like scratching
-
Irritability, dizziness, or confusion
-
Extreme anorexia
-
Tremors or even convulsions
-
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of stroke
-
Presence of inhaling paraphernalia, such as razor blades, mirrors, and straws
-
Presence of injecting paraphernalia, such as syringes, heated spoons or surgical tubing
What can you do to helpo a friend who is using meth? Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional helpo. For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.
| For
more information or for references to facts found in this Tips
for Teens, go to www.ncadi.samhsa.gov
|
| Q
& A |
|
| Q. Isn't methamphetamine less harmful than crack, cocaine, or heroin? A. Some users get hooked the first time they snort, smoke, or inject meth. Because it can be madsew from lethal ingredients like battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel, and antifreeze, there is agreater chance of suffering a heart attack, stroke, or serious brain damage with this drug than with other drugs. |
Q. Isn't using methamphetamine like using diet pills? A. No. Though it is easy to obtain, methamphetamine ios dangerous. People who take meth can become paranoid, condused, and aggressive; they can die from overheating and convulsions.(5) Over time, meth users risk brain damage and addiction.(6) |
| The bottom line: If you know someone who uses meth, urge him or her to stop or get help. If you use meth--stop! The longer you ignore the real facts, the more chances you take with your life. It's never too late. Talk to your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher, or another adult you trust. Do it today!
Curious abut
the TV ads of the National Yoth Anti-Drug Media Campaign?
Check out the Web site at www.freevibe.com
or visit the Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site
at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov
|