If you have a Pre Teen/Teenager at home, bookmark this site, sit with them, and read it.
Drug Education MUST Happen at home.
Lines of communication need to be clear and open.
Messages for Teenagers
Know the law. Methamphetamines, marijuana, hallucinogens, crack, cocaine, and many other substances are illegal. Depending on where you are caught, you could face high fines and jail time. Alcohol is illegal to buy or possess if you are under 21.
Be aware of the risks. Drinking or using drugs increases the risk of injury. Car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and suicide are all linked to drug use.
Keep your edge. Drug use can ruin your looks, make you depressed, and contribute to slipping grades.
Play it safe. One incident of drug use could make you do something that you will regret for a lifetime.
Do the smart thing. Using drugs puts your health, education, family ties, and social life at risk.
Get with the program. Doing drugs isn't "in" anymore.
Think twice about what you're advertising when you buy and wear T-shirts, hats, pins, or jewelry with a pot leaf, joint, blunt, beer can, or other drug paraphernalia on them. Do you want to promote something that can cause cancer? make you forget things? or make it difficult to drive a car?
Face your problems. Using drugs won't help you escape your problems, it will only create more.
Be a real friend. If you know someone with a drug problem, be part of the solution. Urge your friend to get help.
Remember, you DON'T NEED drugs or alcohol. If you think "everybody's doing it," you're wrong! Over 86% of 12-17 year-olds have never tried marijuana; over 98% have never used cocaine; only about half a percent of them have ever used crack. Doing drugs won't make you happy or popular or help you to learn the skills you need as you grow up. In fact, doing drugs can cause you to fail at all of these things.
Tips for Teens
About Crack and Cocaine
Cocaine is a white powder that comes from the leaves of the South American coca plant. Cocaine is either "snorted" through the nasal passages or injected intravenously. Users call it by a variety of names, including coke, C, snow, blow, toot, nose candy, flake, and The Lady. Cocaine belongs to a class of drugs known as stimulants, which tend to give a temporary illusion of limitless power and energy that leaves the user feeling depressed, edgy, and craving more. Crack is a form of cocaine that has been chemically altered so that it can be smoked. Cocaine and crack are highly addictive. This addiction can erode physical and mental health and can become so strong that these drugs dominate all aspects of an addict’s life.
Cocaine and crack use has been a contributing factor in a number of drownings, car crashes, falls, burns, and suicides.
People under the influence of crack and cocaine frequently do risky things they later regret.
What Are the Physical Risks Associated With Using Any Amount of Cocaine and Crack?
increases in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature
heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory failure
hepatitis or AIDS through shared needles
brain seizures
reduction of the body’s ability to resist and combat infection
What Are the Psychological Risks?
violent, erratic, or paranoid behaior
hallucinations and "coke bugs" -- a sensation of imaginary insects crawling over the skin
confusion, anxiety and depression, loss of interest in food or sex
"cocaine psychosis" -- losing touch with reality, loss of interest in friends, family, sports, hobbies, and other activities
Some users spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on cocaine and crack each week and will do anything to support their habit. Many turn to drug selling, prostitution, or other crimes. If you or someone you know has a drug problem, there is help available. Talk to a school counselor, a friend, or a parent, and check the back of this pamphlet for some valuable resource information.
MYTH: Crack and Cocaine enhance sexual pleasure
FACT: Addicts often become unable to function sexually
FACT:
Addicts come from all walks of life. Don’t assume you’re immune.
FACT:
Even first-time users may experience seizures or heart attacks, which can be fatal.