Drugs: The Facts

Staying away from drugs is one of the best ways you can keep yourself healthy.  Drugs change the way you feel and see the world for a little while.  But they can’t make you happier or solve your problems.

For most young people, there will be a point in time where you will be offered, or have access to, legal or illegal drugs.  What happens at that point is up to you.  Remember, it’s your choice.

What Are Drugs?

Drugs are chemicals you put in your body to change the way the body works.  Mostly these drugs change other chemicals in your brain to make the world look and feel different. They can seem to make you more relaxed, more confident and even happier.  Drugs won’t change your life in a good way. They can only make things worse.

Why Are Some Drugs Legal And Some Drugs Illegal?

Some drugs like tobacco and alcohol, are legal for adults.  Alcohol is legal because most adults have been taught how to use it safely.  But most drugs are against the law because they are dangerous to you and to other people.  

There are other sorts of drugs. Medicines are a type of drug that doctors use to treat illnesses. You should only use these types of drugs if you have a prescription.

Why Are Drugs A Problem?

Drugs can cause health problems, can make you lose touch with reality and lose your friends. Also, they are against the law so you can get into trouble with the police.

1. Drugs are addictive.  Addiction means you have to keep having the drug every day or you get ill. This happens because the drugs change the chemicals in your brain so that your brain starts to need the drug for you to feel OK.  Not all drugs are addictive but most are.  Addiction means you are trapped into taking the drug and the drug controls your life.

2. Drugs can give you HIV (AIDS) or hepatitis.  Using drugs which can be injected into the body, such as heroin, can give you infections like HIV (AIDS) and hepatitis (liver infection).  This is because sharing a syringe or needle with someone with HIV or hepatitis can pass the infection onto you through infected blood.  NEVER use or touch used needles or syringes, no matter where they come from.

3. Drugs affect the way you think and react.  Drugs take you into a world that isn’t real.  The feelings you get from drugs are not real or true, and some people believe they can do things they really can’t (like fly!).  This can be very dangerous. Your reactions are also very slow under the influence of drugs, so you should never ride or drive anything when taking drugs.

4. Drugs damage your body.  Most drugs have effects on your body organs, especially your liver, heart and kidneys as well as your brain.  Many drugs give you minor brain damage if you take them for long enough.

5. Drugs affect your friendships.   Most people don’t think drugs are cool, and research shows that drugs lead to failing at school and losing your friends.  Drugs don’t make you happy for more than a few minutes.

6. Drugs cause mental health problems. Because drugs are chemicals that act on the brain, they can cause depression, stress, and even serious mental illnesses. Depression (being sad and down) is really very common with many drugs, especially marijuana (cannabis).

Why Do Some People Like Them?

Drugs can make you feel happy for a few hours.  That’s it.  It’s up to you to make the choice about taking drugs.

How To Say “NO” To Drugs

Most young people get offered drugs at some time or other.  Saying “No” can be hard if there is pressure from other people to be “cool” or “hard”.  Just saying “No” is the best way to stay away from drugs.  If saying no is difficult, use humour or say that drugs don’t interest you, that they’re boring, or that they don’t do anything for you.

What To Do If You’re Worried That Your Friends Are On Drugs

If you are worried one of your friends is trying or doing drugs, talk to them about it.  Tell them you are worried about them, and tell them why drugs are harmful. If you are still worried, talk to an adult you can trust – like your parents or a teacher at school.  There are also telephone lines in most countries that young people can ring for advice.