Drug Abuse
Life, Pressure and Substance Abuse
As a young person, you are gaining independence and making more and more choices for yourself. You are defining who you are, what you care about, and how you want others to see you. It's an exciting time, but a difficult one too. Pressure can seem to come from every direction. Dealing with the stress of school work, problems at home, and relationships with friends can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, people turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to manage or escape from all of this pressure. Using drugs or alcohol can make you feel like you fit in socially, or like you can have more control over your life. In reality, the opposite is true. In addition to physical risk, substance abuse will often complicate your life and ad to your list of problems. Abovetheinfluence.com tells us that former drug users say that drug use isolated them from friends and family. The bottom line is, drug use can't solve your problems. Besides being bad for your body, they can make your life more difficult, too.
Drug Facts: Physical Effects
Most people know that drugs aren't great for your body. But what exactly are the physical effects of different drugs? And how easy is is it to become addicted? Learn about the effects of different drugs and get answers to your questions here.
Stay Informed
At COL, we support lifestyle choices that don't include drug abuse. We believe that a life above the influence of drugs will be a happier, healthier life. But in the end, the decision is up to you. Your parents, your peers, your teachers; none of them will make your choice for you. So keep yourself informed. Know the physical and mental danger of using drugs, and understand the potential consequences of your decisions.
There are so many questions to ask about drug use. How do you recognize signs of overdose? What if someone in your family has a drug problem? How do you get help for an addiction? Find answers to all of your questions, and many more resources at www.abovetheinfluence.com.
There is Help
Dealing with drug use and addiction can be a long, difficult process, but you don't need to do it alone. For advice and support for you, a friend, or a family member, click here.
If you need IMMEDIATE help, call:
Girls & Boys Town National Hotline 1-800-448-3000