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Drugs, alcohol, and smoking

Links to more information

Featured articles

1. Alcohol
2. How Can I Quit Smoking?
3. I Think I May Have a Drinking/Drug Problem: What Should I Do?
4. Prescription Drug Abuse
5. Drugs: What You Should Know
6. Marijuana

Publications & Web sites

Alcohol

1. FAQs on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – Need the simple facts about alcohol abuse? Read this Web site for details.
2. Tips for Teens: The Truth About Alcohol – This brochure explains what alcohol does to your body, how alcohol can affect your life even if you’re not drinking, and how to know if a friend has a drinking problem.
3. The Cool Spot – Think you know how much alcohol is in a single drink? Or how many kids give in to peer pressure and drink? Find the answers on this site, the young teen's place for information on alcohol and resisting peer pressure. It's the "Cool Spot" for a reason.
4. Too Smart to Start – Check out this site to listen to what other teens have to say about alcohol, play interactive games, and learn how alcohol affects each part of your body.
5. Girl Talk: Choices and Consequences of Underage Drinking – Did you know alcohol affects girls differently than it affects boys? This Web site tells you exactly how, and explains what alcohol does to each part of your body.
6. Check Yourself – Check Yourself is a unique Web site that has quizzes about different drugs, stories from real teens, message boards, videos, and other fun interactive features. You can even play decision games to see how you might act in a situation involving drugs and alcohol. What choices will you make?
7. Youth in Action – This Mothers Against Drunk Driving Web site describes the organization’s programs for helping young people fight underage drinking.

Drugs

1. ClubDrugs.gov – The use of club drugs may be more common these days, but using them can ruin your party for life. Learn more about club drugs such as ecstasy on this site.
2.  Drugs + HIV > learn the link – Check out this site’s commercials and “webisodes” to learn about the link between drug abuse and HIV infection.
3. Marijuana: Facts for Teens – This site offers questions and answers on marijuana. Check it out to learn how the drug affects the body and what it can do to you long term.
4. Tips for Teens: The Truth About Club Drugs (PDF 449KB) – Think using club drugs is all part of the party? Read this brochure to learn how club drugs such as ecstasy, GHB, ketamine, and Rohypnol affect your body, what the risks are, and how to know if a friend is using these drugs.
5.  Tips for Teens: The Truth About Cocaine (PDF 449KB) – Learn how cocaine affects your body and explains the dangers of using this drug.
6.  Tips for Teens: The Truth About Hallucinogens (PDF 517KB) – Read this brochure to learn how hallucinogens such as LSD, psilocybin, PCP, and ecstasy affect your body and mind. It also explains the risks of these drugs and how you can help a friend who is using hallucinogens.
7.  Tips for Teens: The Truth About Inhalants (PDF 441KB) – These may be common household products, but inhalants can cause serious side effects and even lead to death. Learn about how inhalants work and how dangerous they really are.
8.  Tips for Teens: The Truth About Heroin (PDF 438KB) – Check out this brochure to learn about the dangers of using heroin, including how it affects your body. It also explains how you can know if a friend is using heroin and what you can do to help them.
9. What’s Up with Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs – Prescription and over-the-counter drugs may be legal, but using them for anything other than what they are prescribed or recommended for can be dangerous. Check out this site to learn about the risks of overusing and abusing these medications.
10. Abovetheinfluence.com – Above the Influence is an interactive drug prevention site for youth. It features some popular anti-drug commercials that you might have seen on TV!
11. Check Yourself – Check Yourself is a unique Web site that has quizzes about different drugs, stories from real teens, message boards, videos, and other fun interactive features. You can even play decision games to see how you might act in a situation involving drugs and alcohol. What choices will you make?
12. Journals: Personal Stories and Advice from Girls – Drugs are not a way to escape your problems. The personal stories from these three girls explain why they stay above the influence, even when they are feeling anxious or depressed, and why you should too.
13. Make Up Your Own Mind About Cough Medicine – Think that just because other kids use cold medicine to get high that it’s okay? Think again.  Read this Web site to learn about the side effects of dextromethophan, also known as DXM, and draw your own conclusions.
14. Prescription Drug Facts (Rx) – How can something that a doctor gives to people be bad for you? The truth is that prescription drugs are safe only if a doctor orders them for you and only if you take them they way the doctor says. Misusing prescription medicine can be a dangerous, even deadly, decision. Explore this Web site to learn more.
15. Sara’s Quest – Join Sara Bellum as she explores the brain's response to drugs. Find out what steroids and other drugs can do to the brain.

Smoking

1.   Teen.smokefree.gov – This site is designed and run by the National Cancer Institute. It helps teens understand the decisions they make — especially the decision to quit smoking — and how those decisions fit into their lives.
2.   SmokeFreeTXT – SmokefreeTXT is a free mobile service designed for teens across the United States. SmokefreeTXT was created to provide 24/7 encouragement, advice, and tips to help teens stop smoking for good. Signing up is quick and easy – and free!
3.   Facts on Drugs: Tobacco Addiction – Did you know that a drop of pure nicotine can kill a person? Learn more about nicotine and the science behind smoking on this site for teens from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
4.  Say Goodbye To An Ugly Habit – Quit Smoking! (PDF - 243KB) - It’s probably not news to you that smoking is bad for your body. It causes wrinkles, turns your teeth yellow, and puts you at risk for diseases.  Learn how to quit by reading this fact sheet.
5. Teen Quit: To Help You Quit Smoking – You know that you have to quit smoking, but the question is how? Check out this special site just for teens to get tips on quitting. Don't forget to pass this site on to your friends!
6. Information About Smoking: A Guide for Teens (Copyright © CYWH) – Check out this article for answers to many common questions about smoking and quitting smoking. It includes a list of the chemicals in cigarettes and how they affect your lungs, and reasons why quitting is important for your health and your life.
7. No Smoking Room.org – Do you know how smoking can affect your health? This Web site has quizzes that test your knowledge of cigarette smoking. This site also has cool downloads, e-cards, and a journal for you to log your experiences with staying smoke-free!

Organizations

1.   National Institute on Drug Abuse For Teens
2. Al-anon/Alateen
3. Center for Young Women's Health
4. Do It Now Foundation
5. Drugstory.org
6. National Runaway Switchboard
7. National Association for Children of Alcoholics: Kid’s Page
8. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
9. Partnership for a Drug Free America

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Content last updated May 18, 2010

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