Extra: Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse vs. Addiction

So you have a lot on your plate right now. You are pressured to make good grades so that you can graduate, keep your room clean so your parents won’t yell at you, pay enough attention to your boyfriend/girlfriend, and you still need to have enough energy to go to sports practice after school!

Many teens start taking drugs to keep energized or even relaxed. Whatever, the reason, staying away from drugs and alcohol is challenging. Half of all 12th graders have used have used illicit drugs, according to a survey (Monitoring the Future) sponsored and released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2006. Despite that fact, we believe you can do it- and we are here to help you.

Abuse and addiction are not the same. Drug abuse always comes before addiction, which is a chronic and treatable disease. Drug abuse starts when you make a conscious decision to take drugs. Used too often, drugs may cause you to crave the substance. Drugs interfere with your brain and begin to affect mood, memory, thinking and even motor skills such as walking. When this happens, drug abuse turns into addiction. People who are addicted have a compulsive craving and cannot quit by themselves. Not everyone becomes addicted. But any drug abuse is dangerous.

You are in a phase of life in which your brains and bodies are still developing. New research suggests that alcohol may harm a developing teen's brain. Drug abuse and addiction interfere with your sense of who you are and how you learn and mature. These problems can harm your future - physically, emotionally and behaviorally, even leading to depression and anxiety. Drugs can weaken the ability to concentrate and store information.

Being under the influence of drugs can also impair judgment, leading to risky decisions about sex or about getting into a car with someone who is also under the influence. Substances that can lead to drug abuse and addiction include alcohol, steroids, over-the-counter medications, prescription medications and illegal drugs (e.g., cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin).

So What Should I Do Instead?

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 is. 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.

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