STAY SMART, DON'T START

The Truth About Drugs and Alcohol

If you are a student, you already know that drug and alcohol abuse is dangerous. If you’re a parent or teacher, you never want to see any child make bad decisions that at best lead to unhappiness and at worst
to addiction, depression, and even death. In this supplement, we spell out the down-and-dirty facts about all the risks that even casual drug and alcohol use cause to your brain, impacting both your mind and your
body. Students, parents, and teachers will all learn things they most likely didn’t know before.

Recent substance abuse statistics among teens point to a shift away from the abuse of illicit street drugs toward the abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. When used as directed, these medicines
can help treat illness, make people feel better, and prevent illness. But, because too many teens do not understand the risks involved when abusing these medicines, we’ve included a special section on the dangers
of their misuse.

This report also takes a closer look at the negative impact of drug and alcohol addiction, how to spot signs of a problem, and how to find help for you or a friend or child. We’ve included information on how young people can positively motivate friends who are abusing drugs or alcohol to stop. You’ll read about how individuals and community coalitions are successfully fighting substance abuse. Finally, armed with knowledge, tools, and resources, you’ll learn what you can do on your own or with a group to prevent drug and alcohol abuse from destroying the lives of those you care about in your family, your peer group, and your community.

Click on the following link to access the file: