Substance Abuse Prevention
By: Lauren Davidson
Why do people abuse drugs?
- Lack of information
- Lack of skills in making good decisions
- Difficulty in coping with strong emotions
- Low self-esteem
- Curiosity
- Lack of clear standards/values
- Feels good
- Boredom
- Escape from problems
- Risk taking
- Recreation
- Advertising pressure
- Status/sexy/macho/grown-up
- Lack of refusal skills
- No clear consequences
- Modeling adult behaviors
- Peer acceptance
Help others be aware! Stop drug abuse before it starts!
Educate your friends about drugs!
Some people will do drugs because they don't know much about them and they don't know the consequences of them. Educating them about the importance of being drug-free will hopefully eliminate this factor.
Spending time with friends in a good environment with healthy fun!
Some people will start drugs because they don't feel accepted, they're bored, they want to have fun, or they are pressured/expected to do so. Spending time with friends where they won't feel excluded or pressured to do bad things, but instead have fun; will hopefully eliminate these factors.
Working out issues and building people up!
Some people will experiment with drugs because they want to get away from their problems or they don't feel good about themselves. You can help them to face their problems and work them out without turning to another source. Also, always build them up and make them feel good! A kind word never hurt anyone!
Prevent Drug Use!
Doing service makes it so you want to help others and in turn you help yourself. You take better care of yourself so that you can better help those around you. Managing your time will make it so that you aren't overwhelmed so you won't turn to drug use because of your problems. Also, having a healthy self-image will make it so you feel that you don't need the substance to make you feel like you are worth something. You will know you are worth something without it.
Positive things you can do instead!
- Go on a roller coaster
- Read a book
- Watch a movie
- Call a relative
- Spend time with friends
- Go on a date
- Learn something new
- Practice a skill
- Write to a friend
- Write a book
- Sing songs
- Do jump rope
- Exercise
- Go to church
- Participate in a school/city event
- Organize a club
- Dance
- Go for a drive
- Take a nap
- Eat candy
- Paint a picture
- Brush your hair
- Take a walk
- Play bingo
- Do family history
Where to go if you need help:
Parents, teachers, trusted adults, counselors, professionals, therapists, phycologists, rehabilitation clinics, relatives, and doctors are all available to help if you or your friends need help. Ask one of them and they will help you to get the help you need. If drug abuse is what you're struggling with then you probably can't do it on your own. Drugs have phycological effects on the brain that cannot be fixed by an inexperienced person. Professionals specialize in helping people with exactly that problem