If your teen is ready to get clean from drugs and alcohol, you can start the journey to being clean right away.  Getting clean is a process, so as with all other processes, the most important thing to do is start. Take the first step to getting clean by making up your mind to stop using drugs and alcohol. Decide that you want to get clean and prepare for the drug-free lifestyle you want to live. Then seek the help you will need. If you are the parent of a teen who is abusing drugs, take steps to push your teen onto the path to getting clean. If necessary, host an intervention with your teen and friends and family, and urge your teen to stop using drugs right away.

Tips on Overcoming Teen Drug Addiction and Alcoholism

• Be Informed. Learn more about the consequences of drug abuse and addiction. Having the information you need will help you to make it through the process. Don’t allow myths that others tell you to steer you off the path to getting clean. The truth is, drug abuse can be dangerous and can lead to addiction and other perils.

• Seek Professional Help. Professional help is important if you aspire to be clean of drugs and alcohol. In fact, dropping a drug addiction without the help of a doctor can actually be dangerous. If you are suffering from drug addiction, seek help from a doctor or treatment center that caters to your needs. Even if you are not addicted, professional help is still available. Talk to a counselor or behavioral therapist for help.

• Get support from your family and a support group. The teenage years can be some of the hardest, and getting clean from drugs and alcohol will be a significant challenge as a teen. During this time, support is critical. Tell your parents, close friends and family about what you are going through. Their love and support will help nudge you towards drug-free living with each day.

Tips for Talking to Your Kids about Drug Abuse

There are several common mistakes that parents make when talking to their kids about drugs.   By avoiding these pitfalls, parents are greatly increasing the odds that their children will stay away from illicit substances as they grow older.   Here are several key lessons on how to talk to your kids about the dangers of drugs.

• Don’t Wait. Far too many parents believe that they need to wait until their children are older before they talk to them about drugs.  This is simply not correct.  Statistics show that most kids have been offered drugs or alcohol by the time they are 13, so if one was to wait until later in the teen years, there may already be an issue.
• Be Honest. Don’t make up absurd horror stories about the dangers of drugs when talking to your children.   Be truthful and present accurate information about the genuine dangers of drugs and what they can do to your child’s future.  To do anything else will only undermine your efforts when the teen is placed in a very real situation concerning drugs.
• Set a Good Example. Finally, there’s nothing more important than setting a good example for your child.  Don’t do drugs – and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Whether or not your kids admit it, the example you set will make a long-lasting impression.

Helping Your Kids Find Teen Drug Rehab

If your son or daughter is currently struggling with drug addiction, it can be one of the most difficult times in your life.  But there is hope!   The professionals at teen drug rehab centers help young people overcome both the physical and psychological components of addiction.   Choosing a teen-specific drug treatment program is a good choice for several reasons, including:

• They address teen addiction issues.   Teenagers become addicted to drugs for reasons different from those of adults.   Teen drug rehab programs address issues such as self-image problems, peer pressure, academic pressure and problems in the home environment – all of which can lead to drug abuse or addiction.
• They give the teen a safe place to heal.   Drug rehab programs – especially residential treatment centers – give the young person a chance to leave their home environment behind and enter into a “safe zone” where the only thing they need to focus on is their recovery.   Removal from a destructive environment is a huge step in the right direction for many teens.
• They help the family heal. Teen addiction treatment programs incorporate the family into the healing and recovery process.  Family counseling, education and regular visits all play a key role in helping families communicate more effectively, which in turn aids the individual’s ability to overcome addiction for the long term.

Why do most teens start doing drugs? The majority will tell you that it was peer pressure, but that doesn’t explain why they continued using. Let’s take a look at some of the more common reasons that teens abuse drugs.

1. Excitement: Taking a hit of ecstasy is exciting, there’s no doubt about it. The danger adds something to the experience too, for many teens. However, if it’s thrills you’re looking for, there are other ways to get that rush of adrenaline. Try something like camping, extreme sports, or getting involved in a cause that you are passionate about instead.

2. Boredom: We all get bored sometimes and when the Xbox no longer holds your attention and there’s nothing good on TV, some people turn to recreational drugs to keep themselves amused. Want something to do that won’t cause slow brain cell death? Then you might need to get out a bit. To keep yourself busy take a class, start a business, or create a blog about something you’ve always been interested in. You could also meet up with friends and plan an event to pass the time.

3. To Fit In: No one really enjoys being the odd one out, so many teens start doing drugs just because everyone else does. If that’s your excuse, you’re hanging out with the wrong crowd. Find friends who are interested in the same things you are and stay away from those who bring you into bad situations. Your long term health is far more important than what people think of you.

4. Curiosity: It’s completely normal to be curious about drugs, especially if people you know are using them. That doesn’t mean you need to get sucked in. Focus your curiosity on something else instead. Learn a new language, go exploring, or pick up a new skill. If you really must know more about a drug, read up on its effects and mortality rate. Chances are, your curiosity will be more than satisfied!

5. Meaning: Some teens take drugs in an attempt to find meaning in the world. It can all seem pretty chaotic and some drugs promise to help you sort things out or at least not care. Sometimes you have to create your own meaning, though. Find a cause you are interested in and pursue it. Make something happen on your own instead of waiting for the meaning of life to come to you.

6. Escape: Not everyone enjoys their life. Drugs might seem like a great way to escape an existence that is causing you pain. While getting high might push back the worries of everyday life, it doesn’t do a thing to solve the root of the problem and when you come back down, it will still be there. Instead, see what you can do to fix the problems in your life, even if that means talking to a school counselor or someone you trust to help you out.

Drug abuse is never a good idea. Even those who appear to take drugs without any bad effects are messing up their bodies and brains on a cellular level, something that may not be apparent until later in their lifetime. You can avoid all that and get a headstart by looking into drug alternatives.

Do you know what to look for to check if your teen is using? Besides talking to your children, looking for drug use signs is the most important part of preventing drug abuse. If you catch your child on drugs, you can then take the next step. What the next step is varies from family to family and it may be rehab, counseling, or some other punishment handed out by the parents. However, you first need to know what the signs of drug use are.

Some of the common symptoms of simply being a teen are similar to those than can indicate a drug problem. Just because your teen has recently changed his or her sleeping cycle or hobbies, or has frequent outbursts or drastic mood swings, doesn’t necessarily mean that drugs are involved. Those are very common indicators of normal teen behavior, as well as of drug use. Therefore, you’ll need more to go on than just normal teenage grumpiness.

Friends may change. If your teen suddenly drops her best friend and starts hanging around with a new crowd, keep a watchful eye on her. Other things to watch out for with friends is secrecy. Do they seem to be speaking in code on the phone? Does your child change her attitude around her new friends (usually for the worse)? These are signs to watch out for. Your teen may also become very defensive if you try to ask questions about her new friends.

A loss of interest in school can be normal in some teens, but it is also an indicator of trouble. If your once “A” student is now getting a C in all classes and couldn’t care less, this may be a sign of drug use. Stay in communication with the school as well, since they can let you know if things are going poorly there. Your teen may be getting into fights or skipping classes, and some schools won’t inform you until it’s too late.

While some privacy concerns are normal, teens who are using will become abnormally secretive. They may have locks on their doors to keep you out, sneak out their window to leave the house, or hide things from you, for example. You may also notice that your teen’s room frequently smells of air freshener or incense (to hide smoke or chemical odors) and that he uses mouthwash or chews gum more frequently.

Some signs may be so obvious that you would normally miss them. Clothing in particular can be a good indicator. When your son suddenly starts sporting shirts that say “Legalize Marijuana” or a cap with a joint on it, you might be on the lookout for other signs on the following list:

Potential Drug Use Signs

• Withdrawal from family or teams
• Changes in sleeping cycle
• Frequent outbursts or drastic mood swings
• Unusual change in hobbies
• Change in crowd of friends
• Worse attitude with new friends
• Talking in code and abnormal secrecy
• Drop in grades and attitude about school
• Skipping classes or getting into fights
• Locks on doors
• Sneaking out of the house
• Hiding things quickly from parents
• Air freshner or incense smells
• Finding lighters, pipes, or other paraphernalia
• Clothing that advocates drugs
• Smell of marijuana
• Blood shot eyes or eye drops to cover them up
• Missing prescription drugs
• Disappearing money or odd money requests

It is important to know what the signs of drug use are so you can help your teen before he or she gets in too deep. Kids can be influenced by others at school or by what they watch, read, or listen to. You are not the only influential factor in their lives and even though you try your best, it is impossible to protect them from everything. However, being aware of the problem is the first step to dealing with it. So, memorize the signs in this article and keep an eye on your children.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reported that in 2008 approximately 15% of high school seniors used a prescription drug non-medically the year before. Additionally, NIDA reported that 5.5% of 12th graders abused nonprescription cough medicine in 2008.

Most of these teens figure there’s nothing wrong with taking a handful of pills to get high when they come from the local drugstore. after all, it’s not like they’re doing heroin, right? They couldn’t be more wrong.

Missing the Danger

Obviously, cheaper drugs are going to be more popular and the fact that over the counter meds are easily accessible makes them very appealing. There is nothing illegal about having painkillers or cough medicine in your pocket, so the risk seems minimal. In reality,however, it’s anything but.

The problem with over the counter drugs is that they are designed to solve a problem with a certain dosage. When teens take them to get high, they have to basically overdose. Even if you start off on a low dose, say twice the normal amount, you’ll quickly become accustomed to it. Like any drug, it takes more and more to keep that high going and once you hit certain levels, an overdose could be fatal. The amount this takes depends entirely on which drug you are taking.

So, what exactly happens if you overdose on something simple like a cough medicine? It depends on the medicine, but anything that gives you a high has the potential for causing serious damage or even death. The stronger the meds, the more likely you are to suffer from permanent problems. Prescription drugs are usually far stronger and while that makes getting high easier and faster, it also means that the damage is more severe.

Short Term Effects of OTC/Prescription Drug Abuse

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Delusions
• Separation from friends and family
• Loss of interest in school, work, and hobbies
• Bleeding of the stomach (ibuprofen in particular causes this)

Long Term Effects of OTC/Prescription Drug Abuse

• Liver damage
• Brain damage
• Death by overdose

Where These Addictions Are Coming From

Unfortunately, the internet allows us to access a lot of information, including which prescriptions and OTC medications are good for getting high. Teens can easily access this information and many choose to use it unwisely. Once one teen has started using, others will likely try it, as well, and further add to the growing number of teens abusing these types of drugs.

By far the most common over the counter drug is dextromethorphan or DXM, which is found in most cough medicines, with higher amounts found in certain name brands, such as Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold tablets. Other drugs that teens find themselves addicted to include diet pills and pain killers, particularly prescription ones which contain ingredients like codeine. There are a number of other medications such as Valium, Viagra, Xanax, Ritalin, and Dramamine which can also be used for the high they give.

Despite the fact that everyone uses medicines at some point or another, that doesn’t mean they are safe in the amounts required to give you the desired high. In fact, certain types of drugs, such as opiates, can kill you very quickly when taken in higher than normal doses. Just because these drugs are legal doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous.

If you suspect someone you know is abusing prescription or over the counter drugs, it’s a good idea to get them some help. There are treatments to help teens with addictions to medications and they are quite effective.

What It Does

When you take meth, whether snorting or smoking the powder, or swallowing a pill, the drug heads directly to your brain. There it triggers a release of serotonin, the “happy hormone”, as well as dopamine and norepinephrine, both of which help give you that feeling of euphoria. This makes you feel very happy and usually quite energetic (hence the name “speed”).

Often, people who use meth feel the need to obsessively wash their hands, clean, or take things apart and put them back together. It’s kind of like a temporary OCD and is caused by the drug working in the brain and changing the chemical balance there.

As the saying goes, what goes up must come down and that is very much the case with meth. When your high wears off, you will understand why they call it crashing. Many users take other drugs to ease the coming down part. Some of the effects of losing the high include drowsiness, irritability, and depression. It’s not surprising that many meth users commit suicide when in this chemically induced depression.

Why Meth is Dangerous

A drug that makes you feel great might not seem like such a big deal, but it is a neurotoxin (literally “brain poison”) and the very hormones and chemicals that it releases to make you feel great are the ones that are also affected by the drug.

While long term effects such as hallucinations, severe weight loss, paranoia, and out of control bursts of rage can be quite serious, even using the drug just once can cause problems. First time users may end up with their body temperature spiraling out of control leading to convulsions, as well as hyperventilation and confusion. Extended use of meth can also put you at risk for strokes. Unfortunately, strokes are not usually fatal and can leave you in a wheelchair, or with only one side of your body working properly.

Meth is most dangerous when combined with alcohol or another drug. In fact, about 92% of meth-related deaths involved another chemical.

If you are still wondering whether it’s a good idea to try meth, consider that people who make small amounts in their home labs use the following household ingredients:

• Drain cleaner
• Paint thinner
• Lithium batteries
• Acetone (nail polish remover)
• Starter fluid

Would you really want to put anything that lethal into your body just for a temporary high?

Signs of Meth Abuse

If you or someone you know is addicted to meth, these are the signs to watch out for:

• Sudden mood changes
• Hallucinations
• Intense rage for no particular reason
• Increased criminal activity (such as stealing to pay for the drug)
• Irritability and confusion
• Skin lesions or sores
• Extreme weight loss and lack of interest in food
• Insomnia

It is possible to get off of meth, and there is a lot of support for those who want to quit. Often, an intervention is the best way to help an addicted teen make the decision to get off the drug and seek rehab. Being informed is still the best way to avoid being tempted to try and get hooked on meth in the first place, though.

Crack is actually more addictive because the high doesn’t last very long. While more intense, smoking crack cocaine gives a high that only lasts around 5 or 10 minutes as opposed to the 30 minutes or so that snorting will give the user. This means that in order to continue the high, the user will need to smoke even more crack in a short period of time, which obviously increases the amount of toxins in the blood and makes it very easy to overdose on.

Approximately 2% of eighth graders have used crack and the numbers go up as the grades get higher. At the moment, there are about 1.5 million crack addicts in the United States alone, and a large number of those are underage.

Why Teens Use Crack

While marijuana tends to be a social drug, crack is worse because teens turn to it to get away from problems in their life, not realizing that they are actually causing an even bigger problem. The ecstasy provided by the drug provides a momentary release from the daily worries of a high school student. Unfortunately, once the high is gone, users feel depressed and sad, often more so than before using the drug.

Often, crack is introduced by an older friend or family member and once the teen is hooked, they will find their own source of the drug. Boys tend to be more at risk than girls, as well.

The Dangers of Crack Cocaine

Unfortunately, crack is one of the more dangerous drugs available, due to the short lasting high and its addictiveness. Even when the user doesn�t increase the dosage, there is a tendency to develop sensitivities or allergies to this drug which can cause twitching, paranoia, and hallucinations. It also means that it is possible to overdose on crack even if you are taking the same amount as usual.

If the user is injecting crack, there is always the risk of infection at the injection site or contracting HIV or AIDS, among other blood-borne diseases. Most drug addicts don’t think much about this possibility when they are suffering from withdrawal and just want one more hit. This lack of logical thinking also leads to stealing and other crimes to get enough money to buy crack, which, in turn, leads to jail time.

Cocaine often causes breathing problems (especially when smoked) and can lead to convulsions or heart failure, even among first time users. As a powerful narcotic, it can have a devastating effect on the body and addicts usually find it difficult to function properly when they aren’t high. The center of the world to an addict quickly becomes finding the next high and they will generally do just about anything to get it.

How to Tell if a Friend is Using

There are a few signs that someone you know is using crack. If they suddenly need a lot of money on a frequent basis, this could be a sign that they are spending it all on drugs. Crack also causes the user to lose interest in school, friends, and activities that were once important. You may notice that your friend has bloodshot eyes all the time and is acting jittery or paranoid.

When someone is using crack, it can be very difficult to persuade them to get clean, but considering how dangerous this drug is, not quitting could easily mean death.

What It Does

The reason so many teens enjoy marijuana as a social drug is that it tends to help get rid of inhibitions, much like alcohol, but without the hangover afterwards. It can be either smoked as a joint or eaten in just about any food, particularly cookies and brownies.

Whether smoked or ingested, marijuana gives the user a high that lasts for anywhere from an hour to a few hours, depending on how strong the weed is and how much was taken in. During this time, the person using the drug usually feels very mellow and may lose track of time. While they feel that they are moving at a normal speed, most people who are high on pot tend to move slower and have much slower reaction times.

Not all highs are good. Marijuana also has a bad reputation for causing people to become paranoid. In some cases, it may even cause what is called, “acute panic anxiety reaction” or a major panic attack that can last for several hours.

The Bad Side

Unfortunately, despite popular belief, marijuana is not as safe as it seems. In fact, it is downright dangerous, particularly with extended use. Most teens who try pot once continue to use it on a fairly regular basis, with roughly a third of users smoking or ingesting marijuana at least 20 days a month.

The toxins contained in marijuana are actually worse than many of the ones in tobacco when smoked and can do just as much damage. While marijuana is often used as a treatment for cancer, it can actually cause it. Apart from that, this drug has many other nasty effects that few people talk about.

Short term use can cause some relatively minor issues, like forgetfulness, a loss of motor skills, and difficulties solving problems. Many teens who use marijuana end up doing very poorly in school because of these effects.

When marijuana is used for a longer period of time, though, it can cause other problems. First of all, it acts as a gateway drug. Someone who has smoked pot on a regular basis without any ill effect might figure that one hit of cocaine won’t hurt anything. This leads to bigger and stronger drug addictions.

Long term use of this drug can also boost your probability of having a heart attack or stroke, or developing bronchitis or emphysema, among other health issues.

There is also a condition called marijuana burn-out. This affects people who have smoked marijuana entirely too often and are “burned-out”. They are literally unable to function properly anymore. These burn-outs move slower than others, talk slower or not at all, and may space out from time to time. They also have trouble concentrating on anything and usually end up dropping out of school and have difficulties holding down a job. A recent study supports this, suggesting that smoking marijuana as a teen may have long lasting effects on the brain.

Marijuana is not as harmless as it seems. While the jury is still out on whether this is a truly physically addicting drug or just a psychological one, the fact remains that marijuana can do some serious damage to your brain cells and your health.

Before you can start treatment for your addiction, you have to get all traces of the drugs or alcohol out of your body. Someone who is high can’t really take steps toward recovery, so it’s important that they flush out their system first, something that is almost always done under medical supervision.

Alcohol Detox

When someone is dependent on alcohol, quitting cold turkey can be very difficult. Depending on how intoxicated the person is, it can take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to detox. Here are a few of the symptoms that detoxifying can cause in alcoholics:

• Trembling
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Convulsions

Drug Detox

In general, coming down from drugs, particularly the harder ones like cocaine and heroin, is far more difficult than detoxing from alcohol. Most drugs are more addictive, so the body will have a stronger response to the withdrawal including the following:

• Sweating
• Tremors
• Cramps
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Confusion

While detoxing is definitely not pleasant, once the process has been completed, the person is ready for treatment. It’s important to complete treatment in order to stay clean. Between 22-32% of people coming off drugs relapse and 90% of recovering alcoholics relapse. Being prepared is the best way to avoid this problem and this is why it can be very helpful to receive the proper treatment after the detox process.

Staying Clean

Staying clean once the detox is over is usually fairly easy… as long as you are in isolation. As soon as the recovering alcoholic or drug addict returns home, the same pressures and situations tend to present themselves and this is what causes so many people to relapse.

Learning to avoid the situations and people that you used to do drugs or drink with is a good way to keep from relapsing. Identify when and where you tend to feel pressured to drink or use and stay away from those situations until you are in control. Often this means finding a new crowd to hang out with, since your old friends won’t understand why you’ve changed.

Detoxing and staying clean afterwards both require work and support. It’s very rare that someone can do this all on their own, so it’s a good idea to find support before attempting it and to make sure that there is ongoing help to avoid relapse.

There are many ways for a friend to show support. Just being there can help, but it isn’t the only way to help someone who needs to get clean and quit drugs. Sometimes, tough love is necessary, which is why interventions are so useful.

An intervention forces the addict to take an honest look at his life. Their friends and family members get together and basically ambush the addict. They then give them a very harsh choice . . . clean up, or lose everyone close to them. Some people don’t respond well to interventions, others will be shocked that everyone is so hurt by what they are doing to themselves and will accept the offer of support and help as they make the journey to quit abusing drugs.

However, not everyone has a family that can help them. If you or someone you know has virtually no support, then it can be next to impossible to quit. When all your friends are drug addicts as well, there’s no real incentive to stay clean. However, you still have options. Many people have found support groups like Narcotics Anonymous to be very helpful in guiding them through the process of getting clean. Following a 12-step program may work for some who are quitting drugs, but this is definitely not for everyone.

In some cases, medical help is necessary and at this point, it is a good idea to have support from friends and family, as well as a place to stay. Depending on the personality of the addict, staying in a rehab center might be a good option. It’s a controlled environment and there is a routine to follow, with therapy and group sessions to help make the withdrawal easier. Often, medications will be used to ease the transition and reduce the unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal or to eliminate the craving for a drug. These medications are most often prescribed for heavier drug use, particularly when dealing with heroin or meth addictions.

Some people actually do better outside of a rehab center. The medical treatment for drug abuse is the same and can be done on an outpatient basis in many cases. That means you get the meds and head home. The danger here is that it’s very easy to fall back into the drug habit when you are in the same situation all the time, with the same people. It’s a good idea to find a place to stay where drugs are not available, such as with a clean friend.

Quitting alcohol or drugs is never an easy process, but with the right support, it is very possible. 70% of those who have proper treatment for their addiction are able to remain drug free after the fact and enjoy living clean.

1. Saying “NO”: If you’ve ever seen a person fighting an addiction, it might clue you in on how serious being an addict can be. Sure, it can be fun in the beginning, middle, and maybe even the end. However, if you had not used drugs or drank ten beers a day in the first place it would have been much better. Unfortunately, most learn by making mistakes. If you are already in the grip of addiction, no matter what it is, you can find help. Your local church or community mental health center can help; there are many 12-step programs for every kind of addiction.

2. Fighting Denial: Often an addict is in complete denial about having a problem. If you are spending hundreds of dollars on a weekly basis, is it not a problem? If you have lost most or all relationships with friends and family, do you think your addiction had nothing to do with it?
To battle this denial you need to slow down for a moment, take in all that is happening, and see the chaos evident in your life. Denial is the old story. A wife may have a drinking problem, hiding behind alcohol to mask her emotions. She has to drink up to ten glasses of wine to cool down after a hard day. A son may be downing ten pills a day; he needs something better to battle depression. Battling denial will be crucial in fighting this illness. The key is to stop rationalizing your actions, saying you are just having fun, while your life is going down the drain.

How can it go down the drain? Think of Marijuana as an example. THC is far more toxic to your lungs than even cigarettes. Also, they call them illegal drugs for a reason: you can get arrested and thrown in the slammer. Where is the fun in that?

3. Choose Friends Wisely: Sure, it was fun partying and having tons of friends in the short term, but test a theory: tell your old addiction buddies you’re out of money and the car doesn’t have any gas. Some will stay with you. But most of your “friends” in addiction only really look out for themselves, and leave you hanging. They only hung around because you had money, maybe even a ride. If any of them stand by your side and loan you money, that is a rarity. Most are not positive influences. What is needed is a new way of thinking and a new set of friends to beat the disease of addiction.

4. Defeating Impulses: The major problem with addicts is impulse control. For example, you see something tasty at the snack aisle and want it. Or you see a brand new Corvette at a dealership. Both are impulses; you want something you really don’t need. If you can say no in the short term, by not buying the joint from the drug dealer or not buying another twelve pack, you will often make it much easier for yourself in the long term.

5. Defeating Negative Thinking: The next step in defeating addiction is your own thinking, the thoughts which always made you want more. This is not an easy process. You might become depressed without your drugs, or whatever you are addicted to. You might get edgy. Both make you curl up in a ball, not really wanting to do anything.

To defeat this, all you need to do is keep it simple. Keeping it simple will help you find new ways to have fun. Instead of a walk to the drug dealer, the casino, or the bar you can ride your bike through a park or go jogging or walking. It may sound boring, but once you get your mind clear of all the impulses and desires it will be easier to find small joys. There’s no definitive cure for any addiction except getting the right kind of help and the right state of mind.

6. Stay Busy: Lastly, you can’t go for bike rides every hour of every day. You need other things to keep you busy, whether it be a job, a class, an art, or hobby, it needs to be something to keep your mind off your problems. This can be helpful in defeating negative thoughts and can also be fun. Once you get excited about something, you will be less likely to think of your addiction. It’s good to keep busy. It’s good to be free of addiction.

1. Physical Health: Inhaling drugs like marijuana clearly is dangerous. If done enough, it can have the same effects that smoking cigarettes can cause. Marijuana has five times as much tar as the same amount of tobacco. Injecting drugs with needles, however, can be fatal in a shorter time. Consider that every time the addict uses a needle by another addict, fatal diseases like AIDS can be spread. Every day, someone uses a dirty needle and later finds that he has contracted a serious illness. Addicts will also be less inclined to exercise or take care of themselves when all that matters is getting the next high.

2. Family: Drug addicts often think and act differently when using drugs. They will often steal from their family, and be more inclined to abuse them physically and mentally. As families are destroyed by alcoholism, illicit drug use can destroy them too.

3. Careers: Often, before one even attempts to get a job there is a drug test. So, before the career even begins it is over. For those who already have careers, consider that drug use increases the chances of losing a job. All the work put in can be destroyed by an addiction to cocaine or marijuana. Losing a job because of drug addiction doesn’t look good when you want to get the next job; references will be meaningless if the former boss says you were fired, and then tells the reason why.

4. Friends: Friends are often more willing to work with the drug addict because they see him as someone trying to find happiness. Where the family has to live with the addict, there is more distance for the friend. However, even friends will leave the addicted to his own choices, and decide to stop socializing with them. The addict, already losing his or her family, will have lost all social friends too.

5. Spiritual: Using drugs may seem spiritual at first. Addicts may see themselves as becoming closer with their beliefs. However, putting drugs ahead of family usually says the addict is willing to put drugs ahead of his or her God. Once it was thought spirituality could be found by inhaling or injecting something, but now few religions or cultures tolerate drug use in religious rituals.

6. Depression: Depression can turn anyone towards drugs. Pills, marijuana and cocaine offer an escape from the sadness. If the addicted continues to use drugs and lose friends and family, he will inevitably have troubles with depression.

7. Mental Illness: Even worse than depression, which people experience every day, is the fact that the chances for mental illness are higher for an addicted person. It could also be said the addicts are already acting in an insane way by choosing something like cocaine over loved ones and friends.

8. Money: Where will addicts go once they lose their job? Often, money is the major concern of addicts. Some will take to selling drugs just to get by. Either way, the user will spend most of the money they earn on more drugs. They are often willing to steal and borrow to continue using drugs. Many addicts have also turned to prostitution to pay for an addiction. They have no money left and are willing to do many things to get it.

9. School: Many studies report that addiction is highest for ages 18-28. A lot of these will be college students. While some like drinking a beer or two at the end of the school week, some use drugs every day. Consider that, with little money, troubles with family, and troubles with friends, the addict will often stop attending classes or doing homework. School inevitably suffers for any common drug addict.

10. Time: The last reason not to use drugs is all the time it takes to get them. Many addicts will spend the entire day just trying to get their next fix or buy the next bag of marijuana, cocaine, or other drug. They can spend hours using them. The addicts can finish little work while using, because the mind is somewhere else. Time is also wasted when you get caught with the drugs, and face jail time.

Many consider that certain drugs should be legalized. What wasn’t mentioned here is the fact that drugs are illegal. You can spend years in prison for selling or using drugs, some worse than others. Selling drugs to others can lead to deaths. There are just too many reasons not to use drugs in the first place to even consider it.

Cocaine: 8% of high school seniors have tried cocaine in one of its several forms. Everyone knows that cocaine is a hard drug, but you’ve probably also heard that it’s an amazing high. Coke works as a stimulant to the nervous system and stops the dopamine (pleasure hormone) from being absorbed normally in the body. Cocaine is extremely addictive because the euphoria tends to wear off quickly and even irregular use can cause strokes and heart attacks, since it constricts the blood vessels.

Ecstasy: This common party drug might seem harmless, but 43% of users are actually addicted to it and 34% are considered to be abusing ecstasy. In addition, this drug, which acts as both a psychedelic and a stimulant, can have serious effects on the brain and body. It tends to raise blood pressure, which can cause strokes or heart problems, even in young people, and also makes it so the body can’t cool itself, often resulting in organ failure and death. Repeated use can also build up toxic levels in the body.

Heroin: Another hard drug, heroin is probably not something many people expect to find in a high school, but 1.5% of 8th graders have tried it. Heroin has one of the highest rates of overdose deaths and is extremely difficult to quit. The body rapidly builds a tolerance to this drug, resulting in higher doses each time. Repeated abuse causes infections in the heart and lung problems.

Inhalants: Some of the most popular drugs for teens aren’t drugs at all, but common household items. Gasoline, glue, spray paint, and cleaning products are often used as drugs. However, the ingredients in inhalants tend to cause permanent effects like deafness, jerking hands and legs, and brain damage. It’s not uncommon for users to die after a single session.

LSD: This is a hallucinogen, a drug that makes you experience things that feel completely real, but are really all in your mind. A bad trip can cause the user to commit suicide or do something very stupid that results in injury or death. 9.7% of American teens have tried LSD at least once.

Marijuana: This is considered to be a pretty mild drug and many teens see nothing wrong with smoking pot as a recreational drug. It does have some nasty effects though, and is the third most common drug that lands teens in the hospital (after cocaine and alcohol). After just one hour of smoking marijuana, the risk of having a heart attack rises 400% and it can also cause serious brain damage.

According to a 2008 NIDA survey, the percentage of teens who used marijuana at least once within the last year was 10.9% for 8th graders, 23.9% for 10th graders, and 32.4% for 12th graders.

Methamphetamine: Meth is a stimulant that is extremely addicting, drastically changes the brain, and causes irreversible brain damage. Chronic abusers tend to have emotional and memory problems, as well. In 2004, it was one of the more popular drugs among high school students with over 6% of seniors using it in their lifetime. Rates of use for seniors, however, have declined every year since, with a 2.8% use rate for seniors in 2008.

Even drugs that seem relatively harmless or “soft” can be dangerous. It’s important to know what you’re getting into before you make the decision to try a drug. Is it really worth the risk?

Teen Drug Use Statistic Tables 2005-2008