1. Staying Drug Free

2. Reasons to stay drug free: There are many reasons to stay drug free. The following holds true for everyone.  Staying healthy  Staying in control  Making good decisions  Staying out of jail  Saving your money

3. Refusing Drugs : Refusing drugs is the right choice but it can be hard. Pressure to do drugs can come from many places. Developing skills for refusing drugs and avoiding situations in which you may be pressured to do drugs are very important.

4. Refusing Drugs: Say “No, thank you” – The clearest and best way to refuse drugs. Make it clear that you do not want to do the drugs/Give a reason – I have to study, I have to babysit, I have a game/ practice Suggest another activity

5. Getting Help Knowing when you need help and realizing you have a problem is the first step. Treatment cannot start until a person recognizes they have a problem. Helping someone else you may feel or know has a drug problem. INTERVENTION – is a gathering in which the people who are close to a person who is abusing drugs try to get the person to accept help by relating stories of how his or her drug problem has affected them. Counseling can allow a drug user to discuss his or her emotional problems with someone who is trained

6. Getting Help What is a treatment center? – Trained doctors and counselors help people who abuse drugs with their problems. Detoxification- is the process in which the body rids itself of harmful chemicals. – This can be a very long and painful process. What type of symptoms can a person feel during this period?

7. Getting Help Support Groups are a group of people who have undergone the same or very similar problems. Other than the user who else may need support? Recovery is NEVER one step it is a difficult lifelong process that has to be ongoing.