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The Truth About Alcohol and
Drug Abuse
On the surface, using alcohol or drugs may seem like a good
idea - to get high, to have fun, to relax, or to escape - but using
drugs and alcohol comes with serious risks and devastating consequences. Marijuana
and other drugs are also dangerous and often addictive. Casual use
of drugs like club drugs, inhalants and steroids can cause long-lasting
brain damage and even death. Fortunately, alcohol and drug abuse
are treatable. The key is to recognize the signs in yourself or a
friend and get help.
The Basics
Alcohol abuse does lasting damage. One night of heavy
drinking can impair your ability to think well for up to 30 days. Hundreds
of thousands of teens and young adults who abuse alcohol will eventually
die of alcohol-related causes, such as accidents, cirrhosis of the
liver, and other diseases. Women are also more likely to develop
alcohol-related organ damage, developing liver disease sooner than
men, and perhaps increasing the risk for breast cancer.
Behavioral changes and consequences of drug abuse may
include changes in overall personality, depression, declining grades,
loss of interest in family and friends, over-sensitivity, moodiness,
nervousness, paranoia, an excessive need for privacy, secretive or
suspicious behavior, and excessive talkativeness. Often people
also experience difficulty in paying attention, and a general lack
of motivation and energy, sometimes characterized by a "who
cares" attitude.
Physical changes associated with drug abuse are often
changes in eating habits, lack of physical coordination, puffy face,
hyperactivity, tremors, excessive sweating, runny nose or hacking
cough.
Alcohol abuse leads to
trouble.
People's perceptions of potentially dangerous situations often change when
alcohol or drugs are involved. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, and can make
people more vulnerable to dangerous situations. As many as 70% of college
students admit to having engaged in sexual activity as a result of alcohol
influence. When women drink alcohol they are more easily impaired than
men, because of the way their body absorbs the alcohol. Ninety percent of all
campus rapes occur when alcohol has been used by either the victim or the assailant.
Are You Abusing Alcohol and/or Drugs?
Some Hard Questions
Here are some questions to ask yourself about your use
of alcohol and/or drugs. If you answer "yes" to
most of them, then you're probably using too much:
·Is your personality different when you drink
or do drugs?
· Do you drink or do drugs to gain courage to face social situations?
· Has your drinking or drug use ever caused you to miss classes or appointments?
· Do you use alcohol or drugs as escapes when you are upset?
· Is it hard for you to stop drinking after you have one or two drinks?
· Do you always end up drunk, once you start drinking?
· Have you tried, and failed, to drink less alcohol or drink none at all?
· Have you tried and failed to cut down or stop using illicit drugs?
· Do you sometimes have trouble remembering what you did while under the
influence of alcohol or other drugs? Do you regret doing some of the things you
do remember?
· Have friends or family members tried to express their concern about
your drinking or drug use?
· Has your classwork suffered because of your drinking or drug use?
Alcohol and Drug Use and
Mental Health Problems
Young people with depression or other mental health problems are particularly
vulnerable to alcohol and drug use. Often times, they don't recognize that
they are depressed and why they are depressed. Drinking alcohol or taking drugs
to alleviate stress or emotional pain can develop or worsen depression.
Young people who use alcohol or other drugs should
get checked depression, anxiety disorders and other mental illnesses.
They should also be screened for the severity of their substance
abuse problem. When appropriate, they should be referred to education
or support groups, or for counseling.
Help is Available
If you feel like you, or one of your friends, may have alcohol
or other drug problems, confide in a trusted adult such as a parent,
teacher, school counseling staff, friend's parent or other caring
individual. School nurses, youth ministers and community youth workers
are also excellent sources of information and help.
It is important to get help for alcohol and drug problems
early because the longer someone waits to get help, the harder it
is to get better.
Resources
National Mental Health Association
www.nmha.org
800-969-NMHA
800-DRUGHELP. This is a 24-hour hotline that provides
confidential answers to questions or information about community
resources. Also visit www.drughelp.org.
Facts on Tap - Alcohol and the College Experience
www.factsontap.org
Al-Anon/Alateen
Conducts support groups for the friends and families of people who have an
alcohol problem.
http://www.alateen.org
Alcoholics Anonymous
Conducts 12-step programs for people trying to get sober.
http://www.aa.org
Narcotics Anonymous
Conducts 12-step programs for people who want to stop using drugs.
http://www.na.org
Dual Recovery Anonymous
Conducts self-help programs for people with both substance abuse problems and
mental illness.
http://www.dualrecovery.org
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA)
Federal government program supports mental health services and substance abuse
treatment and prevention.
http://www.samhsa.gov
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
www.health.org
www.clubdrugs.org
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
www.ncadd.org
888-NCA-CALL
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