2. Health Risks Health Risks (For further resources, click above) Health Risks Myth: You have to use drugs for a long time before drugs can really hurt you. Fact: Drugs can cause the brain to send the wrong signals to the body. This can make a person stop breathing, have a heart attack or go into a coma -- even the first time a drug is used.

3. Health Risks Myth: It's okay to use marijuana as long as you're not a chronic user or “stoner.” Fact: Even occasional use can cause attention and memory impairment and can lead users to use bad judgment or get into dangerous situations. Occasional use can also lead to frequent use causing even more damage.

4. Health Risks Myth: Smoking cigarettes rarely leads to taking drugs. Fact: Eighth graders who smoke cigarettes are three times more likely to try illicit drugs than are non- smokers, while those who smoke a pack a day or more are nine times more likely. Similarly, eighth graders who smoke cigarettes are twice as likely to drink alcohol than are their nonsmoking classmates.

5. Long-Term Effects The effects of substance abuse can be felt on many levels: on the individual, on friends and family, and on society.

6. Long-Term Effects On the Individual On the Individual Marijuana and alcohol interfere with motor control and are factors in many automobile accidents. Sudden abstinence from certain drugs results in withdrawal symptoms. For example, heroin withdrawal can cause vomiting, muscle cramps, convulsions, and delirium. Sharing hypodermic needles used to inject some drugs dramatically increases the risk of contracting AIDS and some types of hepatitis. Sharing hypodermic needles used to inject some drugs dramatically increases the risk of contracting AIDS and some types of hepatitis. AIDShepatitis AIDShepatitis

7. Long-Term Effects Effects on Society Effects on Society In the workplace it is costly in terms of lost work time and inefficiency. Over half of the highway deaths in the United States involve alcohol. Over half of the highway deaths in the United States involve alcohol. Drug-related crime can disrupt neighborhoods due to violence among drug dealers, threats to residents, and the crimes of the addicts themselves. Drug-related crime can disrupt neighborhoods due to violence among drug dealers, threats to residents, and the crimes of the addicts themselves.

8. Long-Term Effects Effects on the Family Effects on the Family The user's preoccupation with the substance, plus its effects on mood and performance, can lead to marital problems and poor work performance or dismissal. The user's preoccupation with the substance, plus its effects on mood and performance, can lead to marital problems and poor work performance or dismissal. Pregnant women who acquire the AIDS virus through intravenous drug use pass the virus to their infant. Pregnant women who acquire the AIDS virus through intravenous drug use pass the virus to their infant.

9. Prevention Early intervention. Early intervention. Should address all forms of drug abuse. Should address all forms of drug abuse. Prevention should address type of drug abuse in local community. Prevention should address type of drug abuse in local community.

10. Prevention Planning Family programs Family programs School programs School programs Elementary Elementary Jr. High School Jr. High School High School High School Community Community