What do You Need to Know About Drugs

DRUGS

Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body works. You've probably heard that drugs are bad for you, but what does that mean and why are they bad?

Medicines Are Legal Drugs

If you've ever been sick and had to take medicine, you already know about one kind of drugs. Medicines are legal drugs, meaning doctors are allowed to prescribe them for patients, stores can sell them, and people are allowed to buy them. But it's not legal, or safe, for people to use these medicines any way they want or to buy them from people who are selling them illegally.

Cigarettes and Alcohol

Cigarettes and alcohol are two other kinds of legal drugs. (In the United States, adults 18 and over can buy cigarettes and those 21 and over can buy alcohol.) But smoking and excessive drinking are not healthy for adults and off limits for kids.

Illegal Drugs

When people talk about the "drug problem," they usually mean abusing legal drugs or using illegal drugs, such as marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, crystal meth and heroin. (Marijuana is generally an illegal drug, but some states allow doctors to prescribe it to adults for certain illnesses.)

Why Are Illegal Drugs Dangerous?

Illegal drugs aren't good for anyone, but they are particularly bad for a kid or teen whose body is still growing. Illegal drugs can damage the brain, heart, and other important organs. Cocaine, for instance, can cause a heart attack - even in a kid or teen.

While using drugs, a person is also less able to do well in school, sports, and other activities. It's often harder to think clearly and make good decisions. People can do dumb or dangerous things that could hurt themselves - or other people - when they use drugs.

Why Do People Use Illegal Drugs?

Sometimes kids and teens try drugs to fit in with a group of friends. Or they might be curious or just bored. A person may use illegal drugs for many reasons, but often because they help the person escape from reality for a while. If a person is sad or upset, a drug can - temporarily - make the person feel better or forget about problems. But this escape lasts only until the drug wears off.

Drugs don't solve problems, of course. And using drugs often causes other problems on top of the problems the person had in the first place. A person who uses drugs can become dependent on them, or addicted. This means that the person's body becomes so accustomed to having this drug that he or she can't function well without it.

Once a person is addicted, it's very hard to stop taking drugs. Stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as vomiting (throwing up), sweating, and tremors (shaking). These sick feelings continue until the person's body gets adjusted to being drug free again.

Can I Tell If Someone Is Using Drugs?

If someone is using drugs, you might notice changes in how the person looks or acts. Here are some of those signs, but it's important to remember that depression or another problem could be causing these changes. A person using drugs may:

• lose interest in school
• change friends (to hang out with kids who use drugs)
• become moody, negative, cranky, or worried all the time
• ask to be left alone a lot
• have trouble concentrating
• sleep a lot (maybe even in class)
• get in fights
• have red or puffy eyes
• lose or gain weight
• cough a lot
• have a runny nose all of the time

What Can I Do to Help?

If you think someone is using drugs, the best thing to do is to tell an adult that you trust. This could be a parent, other relative, teacher, coach, or school counselor. The person might need professional help to stop using drugs. A grown-up can help the person find the treatment he or she needs to stop using drugs. Another way kids can help kids is by choosing not to try or use drugs. It's a good way for friends to stick together.

Understanding drugs and why they are dangerous is another good step for a kid to take. Below, we've listed some words that may be new to you.

Words to Know

Addiction (say: uh-dik-shun) - A person has an addiction when he or she becomes dependent on or craves a drug all of the time.

Depressant (say: dih-preh-sunt) - A depressant is a drug that slows a person down. Doctors prescribe depressants to help people be less angry, anxious, or tense. Depressants relax muscles and make people feel sleepy, less stressed out, or like their head is stuffed. Some people may use these drugs illegally to slow themselves down and help bring on sleep - especially after using various kinds of stimulants. (See below.)

Hallucinogen (say: huh-loo-sun-uh-jun) - A hallucinogen is a drug, such as LSD, that changes a person's mood and makes him or her see, hear, or think things that aren't really there.

High - A high is the feeling that drug users want to get when they take drugs. There are many types of highs, including a very happy or spacey feeling or a feeling that a person has special powers, such as the ability to fly or to see into the future.

Inhalant (say: in-hay-lunt) - An inhalant, such as glue or gasoline, is sniffed or "huffed" to give the user an immediate rush. Inhalants produce a quick feeling of being drunk - followed by sleepiness, staggering, dizziness, and confusion.

Narcotic (say: nar-kah-tik) - A narcotic dulls the body's senses (leaving a person less aware and alert and feeling carefree) and relieves pain. Narcotics can cause a person to sleep, fall into a stupor, have convulsions, and even slip into a coma. Certain narcotics - such as codeine - are legal if given by doctors to treat pain. Heroin is an illegal narcotic because it is has dangerous side effects and is very addictive.

Stimulant (say: stim-yuh-lunt) - A stimulant speeds up a person's body and brain. Stimulants, such as methamphetamines and cocaine, have the opposite effect of depressants. Usually, stimulants make a person feel high and energized. When the effects of a stimulant wear off, the person will feel tired or sick.

Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body works. You've probably heard that drugs are bad for you, but what does that mean and why are they bad?

Medicines Are Legal Drugs

If you've ever been sick and had to take medicine, you already know about one kind of drugs. Medicines are legal drugs, meaning doctors are allowed to prescribe them for patients, stores can sell them, and people are allowed to buy them. But it's not legal, or safe, for people to use these medicines any way they want or to buy them from people who are selling them illegally.

Cigarettes and Alcohol

Cigarettes and alcohol are two other kinds of legal drugs. (In the United States, adults 18 and over can buy cigarettes and those 21 and over can buy alcohol.) But smoking and excessive drinking are not healthy for adults and off limits for kids.

Illegal Drugs

When people talk about the "drug problem," they usually mean abusing legal drugs or using illegal drugs, such as marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, crystal meth and heroin. (Marijuana is generally an illegal drug, but some states allow doctors to prescribe it to adults for certain illnesses.)

Why Are Illegal Drugs Dangerous?

Illegal drugs aren't good for anyone, but they are particularly bad for a kid or teen whose body is still growing. Illegal drugs can damage the brain, heart, and other important organs. Cocaine, for instance, can cause a heart attack - even in a kid or teen.

While using drugs, a person is also less able to do well in school, sports, and other activities. It's often harder to think clearly and make good decisions. People can do dumb or dangerous things that could hurt themselves - or other people - when they use drugs.

Why Do People Use Illegal Drugs?

Sometimes kids and teens try drugs to fit in with a group of friends. Or they might be curious or just bored. A person may use illegal drugs for many reasons, but often because they help the person escape from reality for a while. If a person is sad or upset, a drug can - temporarily - make the person feel better or forget about problems. But this escape lasts only until the drug wears off.

Drugs don't solve problems, of course. And using drugs often causes other problems on top of the problems the person had in the first place. A person who uses drugs can become dependent on them, or addicted. This means that the person's body becomes so accustomed to having this drug that he or she can't function well without it.

Once a person is addicted, it's very hard to stop taking drugs. Stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as vomiting (throwing up), sweating, and tremors (shaking). These sick feelings continue until the person's body gets adjusted to being drug free again.

Can I Tell If Someone Is Using Drugs?

If someone is using drugs, you might notice changes in how the person looks or acts. Here are some of those signs, but it's important to remember that depression or another problem could be causing these changes. A person using drugs may:

• lose interest in school
• change friends (to hang out with kids who use drugs)
• become moody, negative, cranky, or worried all the time
• ask to be left alone a lot
• have trouble concentrating
• sleep a lot (maybe even in class)
• get in fights
• have red or puffy eyes
• lose or gain weight
• cough a lot
• have a runny nose all of the time

What Can I Do to Help?

If you think someone is using drugs, the best thing to do is to tell an adult that you trust. This could be a parent, other relative, teacher, coach, or school counselor. The person might need professional help to stop using drugs. A grown-up can help the person find the treatment he or she needs to stop using drugs. Another way kids can help kids is by choosing not to try or use drugs. It's a good way for friends to stick together.

Understanding drugs and why they are dangerous is another good step for a kid to take. Below, we've listed some words that may be new to you.

Words to Know

Addiction (say: uh-dik-shun) - A person has an addiction when he or she becomes dependent on or craves a drug all of the time.

Depressant (say: dih-preh-sunt) - A depressant is a drug that slows a person down. Doctors prescribe depressants to help people be less angry, anxious, or tense. Depressants relax muscles and make people feel sleepy, less stressed out, or like their head is stuffed. Some people may use these drugs illegally to slow themselves down and help bring on sleep - especially after using various kinds of stimulants. (See below.)

Hallucinogen (say: huh-loo-sun-uh-jun) - A hallucinogen is a drug, such as LSD, that changes a person's mood and makes him or her see, hear, or think things that aren't really there.

High - A high is the feeling that drug users want to get when they take drugs. There are many types of highs, including a very happy or spacey feeling or a feeling that a person has special powers, such as the ability to fly or to see into the future.

Inhalant (say: in-hay-lunt) - An inhalant, such as glue or gasoline, is sniffed or "huffed" to give the user an immediate rush. Inhalants produce a quick feeling of being drunk - followed by sleepiness, staggering, dizziness, and confusion.

Narcotic (say: nar-kah-tik) - A narcotic dulls the body's senses (leaving a person less aware and alert and feeling carefree) and relieves pain. Narcotics can cause a person to sleep, fall into a stupor, have convulsions, and even slip into a coma. Certain narcotics - such as codeine - are legal if given by doctors to treat pain. Heroin is an illegal narcotic because it is has dangerous side effects and is very addictive.

Stimulant (say: stim-yuh-lunt) - A stimulant speeds up a person's body and brain. Stimulants, such as methamphetamines and cocaine, have the opposite effect of depressants. Usually, stimulants make a person feel high and energized. When the effects of a stimulant wear off, the person will feel tired or sick.

LET'S REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING

Things you can do today to reduce Global Warming

Take Action! There are many things you can do in your daily life that can have an effect on your  immediate surrounding, and on places as far away as Antarctica. Here is a  list of things that you can do to make a difference. There are many things you can do today to reduce your own adding to on this  problem! Tropical Tree Growth Slowed Other big changes are being monitored in the tropics, too. Data on tree growth,  tropical air temperatures and CO2 readings collected over 16 years indicate  that a warming climate may cause the tropical forests to give off more carbon  dioxide than they take up. This would upset the common belief that tropical forests  are always a counterbalance to carbon, taking huge amounts out of the atmosphere.  The study, by Deborah and David Clark of the La Selva Biological Station in  Costa Rica, and Charles Keeling and Stephen Piper of the Scripps Institution,  reports that rainforest trees grow much more slowly in warmer nighttime  temperatures, which is a hallmark of climate change in the tropics. Tropical Tree Charles Keeling Landscaping Your Home for Energy Efficiency In Winter, by maximizing solar heating while deflecting winds away from your  home; andin Summer by maximizing shading while funneling breezes toward  your home.  Buy a Hybrid Car The average driver could save 16,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $3,750 per  year driving a hybrid. Buy a Fuel Efficient Car Getting a few extra miles per gallon makes a big difference. Save thousands  of lbs. of carbon dioxide and a lot of money per year. Carpool When You Can Own a big vehicle? Carpooling with friends and co-workers saves fuel. Save  790 lbs. of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year. Inflate Your Tires Keep the tires on your car adequately inflated. Save 250 lbs. of carbon dioxide  and $840 per year. Change Your Air Filter Check your car's air filter monthly. Save 800 lbs. of carbon dioxide  and $130 per year. Reduce Garbage Buy products with less packaging and recycle paper, plastic and glass.  Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year. Composting helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the number  of trips trucks must make to the landfill as well as the amount of methane  released by our landfills. Use Recycled Paper Make sure your printer paper is 100% post consumer recycled paper.  Save 5 lbs. of carbon dioxide per ream of paper. Buy Minimally Packaged Goods Less packaging could reduce your garbage by about 10%. Save 1,200  pounds of carbon dioxide and $1,000 per year. Unplug Un-used Electronics Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. Save over  1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $150 per year. Plant a Tree Trees provide a microclimate and sustained moisture for you. Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breath. Save 2,000 lbs. of  carbon dioxide per year. Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Replace 3 frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.  Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $60 per year. Fill the Dishwasher Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Save 100 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $40 per year. Adjust Your Thermostat Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two  degrees in the summer. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $98 per year. Check Your Waterheater Keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120EF. Save 550 lbs.  of carbon dioxide and $30 per year. Change the AC Filter Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended. Save 350 lbs.  of carbon dioxide and $150 per year. Take Shorter Showers Showers account for 2/3 of all water heating costs. Save 350 lbs.  of carbon dioxide and $99 per year. Install a Low-Flow Showerhead Using less water in the shower means less energy to heat the water.  Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $150. Buy Products Locally Buy locally and reduce the amount of energy required to drive your  products to your store. Buy Energy Certificates Help spur the renewable energy market and cut global warming pollution  by buying wind certificates and green tags. Insulate Your Water Heater Keep your water heater insulated could save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide  and $40 per year. Replace Old Appliances Inefficient appliances waste energy. Save hundreds of lbs. of carbon dioxide  and hundreds of dollars per year. Weatherize Your Home Caulk and weather strip your doorways and windows. Save 1,700 lbs. of  carbon dioxide and $274 per year. Use a Push Mower Use your muscles instead of fossil fuels and get some exercise. Save 80 lbs  of carbon dioxide and x $ per year. Put on a Sweater Instead of turning up the heat in your home, wear more clothes Save 1,000 lbs.  of carbon dioxide and $250 per year. Insulate Your Home Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide  and $245 per year. Air Dry Your Clothes Line-dry your clothes in the spring and summer instead of using the dryer.  Save 700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $75 per year. Switch to a Tankless Water Heater Your water will be heated as you use it rather than keeping a tank of hot water.  Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $390 per year. Switch to Double Pane Windows Double pane windows keep more heat inside your home so you use less energy.  Save 10,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $436 per year. Buy Organic Food The chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply, and  require energy to produce. Bring Cloth Bags to the Market Using your own cloth bag instead of plastic or paper bags reduces waste and  requires no additional energy.