Drugs, Alcohol, and Smoking

If someone tries to get you to drink alcohol, do drugs (prescription or illegal), or smoke, you should tell an adult you can trust immediately. Sometimes someone trying to get you to do these things says doing so “is what adults do.” Instead of getting high to face your problems, you should be the real adult and deal with your problems head-on like a mature adult should.

If your friend gives you a pill and tells you it will make you feel great, the pill might not be what you think it is. It could contain fentanyl, for example, which could kill you. There are many young people (and older) who have died from fentanyl poisoning.

Do not use marijuana—ever. Adolescents smoking marijuana increase their chances of having psychosis or paranoid schizophrenia. It is not worth taking a chance to get either.

Paranoid schizophrenia is an extremely serious mental illness which is usually absolutely devastating for the person getting it.

Marijuana is much, much more potent (strong) than it was in the 1960s and 1970s. In addition to mental illness, marijuana can negatively affect adolescents in many other ways.

Adolescent minds are still developing until about age 25 and can be adversely affected by drugs.