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For Parents:
Learning how to talk to your kids about drugs (Available in English,
Spanish,
Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese)
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www.theantidrug.com
www.laantidroga.com
(en Espanol) |
For Youth:
Encouraging empowered decision making
amoung young people
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www.freevibe.com |
For Parents,
Employers, and Unions:
Helping working parents keep kids drug free
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www.theantidrug.com/atwork |
For Everyone:
Helping your faith community integrate drug
prevention messages and programs into their daily activities |
www.theantidrug.com/faith |
For Teachers:
Finding drug prevention resources and ideas for classroom activities
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www.teachersguide.org |
For Everyone:
Learning how an individual, faith community, business, or organization
can get involved in community drug prevention
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www.helpyourcommunity.org |
For Everyone:
Obtaining resources and links for Media
Campaign partners, community groups,
and the media
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www.mediacampaign.org |
For Everyone:
Policies and research information of the
Office of National Drug Control Policy
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www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov |
For Everyone:
Finding a treatment facility near you
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www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov |
For Everyone:
Locating information on prevention,
treatment, and substance abuse
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ncadi.samhsa.gov |
For Everyone:
Locating drug information, news, and
parenting resources
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www.drugfreeamerica.org |
How can I help a
friend with a drug or alcohol problem?
Has a
friend become moody, short-tempered, and hostile? Does he seem
"spaced out?" Is she suddenly failing courses and hanging out
with kids you don't trust?
Stop and think about it. Your friend may have an alcohol or other
drug problem.
Here are some additional signs of drug or alcohol abuse:
- Increased interest in
alcohol or other drugs; talking about them, talking about buying them.
- 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.
- Slurred or incoherent
speech.
- Withdrawal from others,
frequent lying, depression, paranoia.
- Dropping out of school
activities.
IIf your friend
acts this way, it is not a guarantee that he or she has an alcohol or
other drug problem. You need to compare behavior now to behavior
in the past. But it's better to say something and be wrong than
to say nothing and find out later that you were right to be worried.
How to talk to a friend who's in
trouble
- Plan ahead what you want
to say and how you want to 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 don't
get into an argument with your friend
- Let your friend know that
you care
- Ask if there is anything
you can do to help. Find out about local hotlines and drug-abuse
counseling and offer to go along with him or her.
- Don't expect your friend
to like what you're saying. But stick with it---the more people
who express concern, the better the chances of your friend getting help.
- Remember---it's not your
job to get people to stop using drugs. Only they can decide to
stop.
Take control of
your life and decide not to use drugs!
- Look for help. Talk
about the situation with someone who knows about drug abuse and helping
abusers.
- Skip parties where you
know there will be alcohol or other drugs.
- Hang out with friends who
don't need alcohol or other drugs to have fun.
- Get involved with
drug-free activities. Ask your friends to join in.
Take a
stand!
- Remind friends that buying
or possessing illegal drugs is against the law. Penalties for
drug-related offenses are harsh and can include loss of benefits like
student loans.
- Remind friends that using
intravenous drugs places them at risk of getting AIDS.
- Organize drug-free
activities (dances, movies, community service projects, walk-a-thons or
marathons, etc.) to raise money for charities.
- Use palys, songs, and raps
to show younger children the consequences of drug abuse.
- Organize an anti-drug
rally.
- Tell the police, a
teacher, or parents about drug dealers in your school or
community. Many areas have telephone numbers to let people report
these crimes anonymously.
- If you school doesn't have
an alcohol or other drug-abuse prevention program, start one.
- Check recreation centers,
youth clubs, libraries, or schools to see if they offer after-school
activities---tutoring, sports, study time, craft classes. What
about a community-improvement project that young people can design and
carry out?
For
More Information
National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
PO Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20847-2345
Distributes a wide range of free information on alcohol and
drugs. Materials are available in English and Spanish.
Operates a computerized database and provides a free catalog of
materials.
800-COCAINE
Answers emergency questions about cocaine use.
800-662-HELP
This toll-free, 24-hour hotline can tell you how and where to get help
for alcohol and other drug problems.
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nbeza@lexington1.net
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