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Drug problems among young Americans are more common than you might think. Take
a look at some of these surprising statistics:
 | There are an estimated 1.5 million Americans, ages 12
and older, who use cocaine |
| Drug-related deaths remain near historic highs |
| Current illicit drug use among 8th and 10th
graders has more than doubled in the past five years |
| Teens who drink alcohol are 7.5 times more likely to
use any illicit drug, and 50 times more likely to use cocaine than young
people who never drink alcohol |
How Can I Tell A Friend Is Abusing Drugs or Alcohol?
There are many ways you can tell if someone you care about
has a problem with drugs or alcohol. Some of these warning signs include:
| Increased interest in alcohol or other drugs |
| Owning drug paraphernalia such as pipes, hypodermic
needles, or rolling papers |
| Having large amounts of cash or always being low on
cash |
| Drastic increase or decrease in weight |
| Sometimes slurred or incoherent speech |
| Withdrawal from others, frequent lying, depression or
paranoia |
| Dropping out of school activities |
| Increased sexual activity |
Keep in mind that these signs do not guarantee that your
loved one has a problem with drugs or alcohol. The key is to compare behavior
in the past to their present behavior. Nevertheless, it’s better to confront
them and be wrong that to let them continue harming themselves with drugs or
alcohol.
My Friend Has a Problem: What Should I Do?
Confronting a friend about drugs is not easy. They may get
very angry at you. Although only your friend can decide to quit using drugs,
your concern may help them make that decision. Check out some of these tips
before confronting a friend about drugs:
| Let your friend know you care about them |
| Plan what you want to say and how you will say it |
| Pick a quiet and private time to talk |
| Don’t try to talk about the problem when your friend
is drunk or high |
| Use a calm voice and do not get into an argument |
| Ask if there is anything you can do to help |
| Have information about local hotlines and drug abuse
counseling to offer to him or her |
| Don’t expect your friend to like what you are saying,
but stick with it—the more people who express concern, the better chances
that your friend will seek help |
| Look for help for your friend |
| Talk about the situation with someone who knows about
drug abuse and helping abusers |
| Seek advice from a trusted adult such as a guidance
counselor, a teacher, a religious leader or a parent about how to talk to
friends who may have a drug problem |
| Be prepared for denial by the friend when you talk to
him or her about the problem - The user may automatically become defensive
or aggressive |
How Can I Keep My Community Drug Free?
YOU can play an important role in keeping your community
free of drugs by being a role model and by showing others that drugs are not
cool. Check out some of these great tips:
| Encourage your school to organize drug-free
activities—dances, movies, community service projects, walk-a-thons,
marathons, etc.—to raise money for charities or local substance-abuse
programs |
| Use plays, songs and raps to show younger children the
consequences of drug abuse |
| Urge your school, faith community or neighborhood to
organize an anti-drug rally |
| Tell a teacher, your parents or the police about drug
dealers in your school and community |
| Many areas have phone numbers that let people report
these crimes anonymously |
| Don’t ignore the problem by thinking, “that kid will
graduate next year” or “they only deal to a few kids” |
| Talk to school counselors about starting an alcohol or
other drug abuse prevention program |
| Check with recreation centers, youth clubs, libraries
or schools to see if they offer after-school activities—classes for you and
your friends, then ask your school or neighborhood to publicize these events |
| Encourage your school to start intramural sports for
kids who may not be interested in competing on the junior varsity or varsity
teams but still want to play |
How Can I Stay Free of Drugs?
There are some good ways to make sure drugs never become a
problem in your life. Check out some of these suggestions:
| Skip parties if you know there will be alcohol and
other drugs |
| Hang out with friends who don’t use alcohol or other
drugs to have fun |
| Get involved in drug-free activities and ask your
friends to join |
| Learn how to talk to your peers and younger kids about
the dangers of abusing drugs and alcohol |
| Many communities have programs that teach teens how to
counsel their peers about problems that face teens, including drug abuse |
| Never accept a ride from someone who has been drinking
or using drugs |
| Offer to drive for the person who is high or drunk or
call your parents or friend |
| Remind friends that buying and possessing illegal
drugs is against the law |
| Remind friends that using intravenous drugs places
them at high risk of getting AIDS and hepatitis |
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