Teen Health Course 2

The Drug-Free Advantage

Introduction
Drug use ruins lives. Making the commitment to stay drug free is one of the most important decisions you can make – your future depends on it! Teens who never use drugs will avoid the difficult road to recovery, and will have the advantage of living a life free from the risks involved with drug use.

Link to explore: Partnership for a Drug Free America : http://www.drugfree.org/Intervention/WhereStart

Directions

• Start at the Partnership for a Drug Free America Web site.
• Click on the 13 Myths link, and then Educate Yourself about Stages of Substance Abuse, taking notes as you go.
• When you are done, answer the questions below.
• Finally, think about the advantages of avoiding the risks of taking drugs, and write down three reasons a teen should make a commitment to stay drug free.

1			Why does drug use change from a voluntary behavior to an uncontrollable addiction?
2			Is it true that anyone can quit using drugs whenever they decide to?
3			What is the typical minimum time for a drug treatment program to be effective?
4			Describe three characteristics of dependence involved in regular to risky drug use.
5			Can a person stop substance abuse before he or she becomes addicted?