Anti-Drug Use Message

Why do teens use drugs?

• Peer pressure?
• To fit in?
• To cope?
• To try something new?
• To do better?

Peer Pressure

• Often teens choose to take drugs when they are peer pressured into it. They may feel pressured and that their friends may hate them if they do not take the drug.
• Peer pressure can be negative and positive. But in the case of pressuring into drugs they are negative. Drugs are harmful substances to your body and may change your state of mind or even your personality. Don't take drugs because of peer pressure because, often your friends may not know the effects of the drug. Be knowledgeable about drugs and know all the effects of it and how it can change your life for the worse.

To fit in

• Other times when teens take drugs are when they feel left out. They use the drugs because "other people are doing it" or they think other people are doing it. They fear that if they do not take drugs they will be left out of a certain social circle.
• The ironic thing is that drugs, in a way, can distance your from people. For example the mouth wrenching icky smell of burnt weed may be discomforting to some people thus distancing you from them. Drugs are not the answer. They can change who you are for the worse. What's the point of having friends if you are not yourself when you are around them?

To cope

• As humans we sometimes do certain things to cope with stressful situations in life. Sometimes when teens are stressed out to cope they use drugs.
• As I have said drugs are not the answer. If you do use drugs you may have a physical or emotional dependency for them. As we all know having something to do every day can be stressful. Therefore using drugs to cope in a way is doing the opposite effect.

To Try Something new

• Sometimes we get bored. It happens... But sometimes when we are bored we tend to experiment with new things. Teens sometimes try drugs "to try something new."
• Drugs have negative effects when you take them. Though it may have a euphoric feeling at first they affect you physically as well. For instance with drinking you may feel a hangover later. With smoking you may develop a cancer. Trying something new: drugs, isn't worth all the health risks later to come

To do better

• In high school sports may become competitive. Some teens take drugs to do better in atheletic sports.
• Doing drugs while partaking in a sport may forfeit you from the sport. Also many drugs that enhance performance are very dangerous. Later in life many health risks are likely to come. Sports are somethings many teens enjoy. Is doing better really worth risking it all?

Summary

• In all do not do drugs. They can hurt you physically, mentally, and emotional. Be knowledgeable of your life and make good choices!