Did you know the main reason that kids don't use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs?
Research shows that the main reason for kids avoiding alcohol, tobacco, or drugs is because of their parents -- because of their positive influence and because they know it would disappoint them. That’s why it is so important that parents build a strong relationship with their kids and talk to them about substance abuse. Fourth grade is a good time to start, but the earlier the better! from the Nat'l Crime Prevention Council

Pot smoking linked to serious gum disease
In a recent study, 26% of the 32-year-old subjects who smoked pot weekly showed signs of serious periodontal disease, compared with 12.1% of infrequent users and 4% of non-users. JAMA Feb 2008

More than three million 12- to 25-year-olds have tried to get high on over-the-counter cough medicines at some point in their lives
When taken in large amounts, dextromethorphan can produce hallucinations or "out-of-body" experiences similar to those caused by the hallucinogens phencyclidine and ketamine. In a recent large scale survery, NyQuil (30.5%), Coricidin (18.1%), and Robitussin (17.8%) were the specific brands being abused.

Note: Dextromethoraphan is commonly the active ingredient in over-the counter cough suppressants and is no longer recommended for the the symptomatic relief of a cough associated with the common cold. New guidelines issued by the American College of Chest Physicians recommend the use of older, first-generation antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and/or the decongestant pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) for the relief of a mild cough related to a cold. Also, a recent study compared the effectiveness of dextromethoraphan to 1/2 to 2 tsp of buckwheat honey, and the honey was found to be more effective.

One in 10 teens are swigging over-the-counter cough syrup at the rate of 25 to 50 times the prescribed dose to get high
Since the 1950s, dextromethorphan has been the primary cough suppressant ingredient in over-the-counter cold and cough medicines. When taken according to directions, dextromethorphan produces few adverse side effects and has a long history of safety. But recently, an alarming number of teens are abusing this medicine and causing serious damage to their bodies. It is often readily available in the home medicine cabinet, and they think because it's found in over-the-counter medicines that it must be harmless. Taken in recreational doses, far exceeding recommended doses, dextromethoraphan can cause serious, irreversible organ damage, even death. Unfortunately many parents have no idea this is happening. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America June 2007

Short-term, low-dose Ecstasy use linked to memory decline
In a recent study, new users who took the street drug Ecstasy for a mean of 1.6 months at low cumulative doses showed a decline in verbal recall and recognition. This study adds to the growing evidence that Ecstasy is neurotoxic to human beings. Archives of General Psychiatry June 2007

Coughing and Wheezing Increased with Marijuana Use
Recently, Yale researchers conducted a systematic review of 34 studies that evaluated the effect of marijuana smoking on pulmonary function and respiratory complications. This investigation revealed that long term, smoking marijuana has many of the same effects as smoking cigarettes, such as coughing and wheezing. Archives of Internal Medicine

What Americans Need to Know about Marijuana There is a serious drug problem in this country, and marijuana is a much bigger part of the problem than most people realize. Marijuana is not harmless and it is addictive. More young people are now in treatment for marijuana dependency than for alcohol or for all other illegal drugs combined. US Department of Health and Human Services 2006

Marijuana Use Linked to Deveopment of Schizophrenia
A study involving new techniques for brain imaging strongly suggest that marijuana use is a risk factor for schizophrenia. Researchers have identified a brain region affected by both schizophrenia and marijuana use that is still developing during adolescence. This area is responsible for speech development, language interpretation and several other higher order functions. This language/auditory pathway continues to develop during adolescence, and is thus most susceptible to the neurotoxins introduced into the body through marijuana use. Radiological Society of North America 2006

The Meth Epidemic
Easier to manufacture and cheaper to use than cocaine, methamphetamine abuse has reached epidemic proportions and the devastating effects are taking a toll across America.

Immediately after smoking or injection, the user experiences an intense pleasurable sensation that lasts only a few minutes. After the initial euphoric "rush," there is typically a state of high agitation that in some individuals can lead to violent behavior. Other possible immediate effects include increased wakefulness and insomnia, decreased appetite, irritability/aggression, anxiety, nervousness, convulsions and heart attack.

Meth is highly addictive, and users can develop a tolerance quickly, needing larger amounts to get high. In some cases, users forego food and sleep and take more meth every few hours for days, 'binging' until they run out of the drug or become too disorganized to continue. Chronic use can cause paranoia, hallucinations, repetitive behavior (such as compuslively cleaning, grooming or disasembling and assembling objects), and delusions of parasites or insects crawling under the skin. Users can obsessively scratch their skin to get rid of these imagined insects. Long-term use, high dosages, or both can bring on full-blown toxic psychosis (often exhibited as violent, aggressive behavior). This violent, aggressive behavior is usually coupled with extreme paranoia. Meth can also cause strokes and death.
Partnership for a Drug-Free America 2005