The marathon runner who finds The marathon runner who finds walking difficult walking difficult

The whiz- kid who ends up as a college dropout

The keyboard king who no longer cares

Addiction can happen to anybody! Addiction can happen to anybody! Will power, intelligence or personality traits have nothing to do with it! Will power, intelligence or personality traits have nothing to do with it! All of them started off casually and ended up addicted

Why do they start?  Pressure from friends - Trying to belong  Faulty messages that negate drug warnings  To have ‘fun’  Curiosity - To try just once

What are the drugs which are commonly abused?  Alcohol - Beer, Wine and Hard liquors  Cannabis - Ganja  Brown sugar - Heroin  Medically used prescription drugs

Alcohol  Alcohol is no health drink  Alcohol is a CNS depressant  20% of all drinkers get addicted

 Ganja is no “cool” drug  It cannot turn a person into a creative genius  Ganja users are at great risk of developing psychiatric problems  Ganja is also an addictive drug Ganja

Brown sugar  Indian name for Heroin  Extremely addictive drug  Makes the user dull and apathetic  Reduces interest in productive activity  Overdose can lead to death

Medically used drugs  Sleeping pills, pain killers and cough suppressants  Safe only when used as per doctor’s advice  Can cause addiction

What can drugs do to a smart, healthy, enthusiastic youngster?   Affect academic performance  Cause physical deterioration …….

 Hamper personality development  Increase violence, accidents and high risk behaviour  Lead to entanglement in a messy law suit

What you should know….. What you should know….. Good food and exercise build  Good food and exercise build physique –beer does not ! physique –beer does not ! …….  Don’t compromise on your beliefs just to buy ‘friends’ just to buy ‘friends’  Deal with problems squarely - drugs are no solution drugs are no solution

 Talking with friends can ease stress What you should know….. What you should know…..  Celebrate great times with friends - drugs cannot - not with drugs

What can youngsters do to stay drug free ?  Get the facts right  Express drug free messages openly and strengthen positive peer pressure  Stay drug free and take pride in it  Join anti-drug activities You make the difference ! You make the difference !

How can youngsters stay drug free?  If drug / alcohol use is being planned, suggest an alternative activity  When someone offers drugs / alcohol, JUST SAY ‘NO, Thank you  Look at him right in the eye  Say ‘No’ - clearly, emphatically and repeatedly  Walk away if he persists  Stick to your decision to say ‘No’  Giving reasons for your decision may prolong the conversation – BEWARE

What do you do if your friend is addicted? Get help - Professional help Recovery from addiction is definitely possible but it is a complex process but it is a complex process that requires that requires the support of many others the support of many others

T H A N K Y O U