National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week – Focus on DRUGS

 

In honor of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, InnerAct Alliance is partnering with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to share quick science-based facts about alcohol, drugs, and addiction to educate youth and adults about the short-term and long-term effects assocated with use. Knowing the risks can help people make more informed decisions and reduce potential harm. The focus today is on DRUGS.

Drugs are chemicals that change how your body works and impact the way you think, feel, and act. When people talk about "drug problems", they usually mean abusing legal drugs or using illegal drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, crystal meth, and heroin to get high. Medicines that are prescribed by doctors when you are sick are legal drugs, but it is not safe to use these medications any way you want or buy them from people who sell them illegally. 

Illegal drugs are not healthy for anyone, but they are particularly harmful for kids or teens whose bodies are still growing. They can damage the brain, heart, and other organs. For example, cocaine can cause a heart attack even in children. Under the influence of drugs, it is

hard to do well in school, sports, and other activities. It's harder to think clearly and make good decisions.

People take drugs for different reasons. Sometimes kids and teens try drugs to try to fit in with a group of classmates. Others turn to drugs to deal with challenges or escape from reality for a while. A drug might temporarily make someone who is sad or upset feel better or forget about problems, but this only lasts until the drug wears off. 

Drug don't solve problems. Using drugs often leads to other problems on top of the original problem. Drug use can lead to addiction because the brain and body become so used to having the drug that it is hard to function without it. Soon, more drugs are needed. Once addicted, it is very hard to stop taking drugs. Stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting, sweating, shaking, and pain. Treatment can help people with substance disorders and the sooner a person receives treatment, the better their chances of recovery. 

Our goal is to inform and prevent youth from starting to use drugs. We encourage parents to keep the lines of communication open with their children. To learn more about drugs and substance abuse prevention, call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777 at (863) 802-0777, visit: www.inneractalliance.org, www.samhsa.gov,  or https://nida.nih.gov