Healthy Choices Week

1. Healthy Choices Week Make the Healthy Choice! Make the Best Choice! BE DRUG FREE!

2. “Teens just like you may use drugs for a host of reasons. Take a second to think of a few. One reason may be that you think that everyone uses drugs as a young person. This is absolutely untrue. Drug use is NOT common among teenage children. Those that do make up the MINORITY of drug users. Let’s take a look to see just how uncommon drug use is among Memphis City School students. You may be hanging with the wrong crowd.”

3. Alcohol Among MCS middle school students 60.9% have NEVER had a drink of alcohol.

4. Cigarette Smoking Seventy four percent of MCS middle school students have NEVER tried cigarette smoking…not even one or two puffs.

5. Marijuana In 2009 86.5% of MCS middle school kids reported NEVER using marijuana.

6. Meth, Heroin, Cocaine Ninety-eight percent of MCS middle school students have NEVER used cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamines.

7. Why? • MCS students know that… • Drug use is illegal and they can get into trouble with the law. • They can become addicted. • Their brains are still developing and they may damage them. • Drug use kills thousands of teens each year. • Using drugs interferes with school work and they may not graduate from high school. • They can be robbed, raped, or assaulted if under the influence of drugs.

8. Discussion • Name other reasons why you wouldn’t start using drugs. • How would you feel about yourself if you allow drugs to put a hold on your dreams? • How do you think drugs will affect your relationships with others? • How do you resist drugs without fear of being not being “cool” or “square”?

9. Addiction • Addiction means a person has no control over whether he or she uses a drug or drinks. • The earlier a teen starts to use drugs, the more likely it is that he will become addicted. • A lot of people think they can kick the problem on their own, but that doesn't work for most people. • It's not a sign of weakness if you need professional help from a trained drug counselor or therapist.

10. Mental Effects • Alcohol… • is a depressant, which means it slows the function of the central nervous system. • blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. • alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing. • decreases teens' ability to pay attention. • can cause or mask other emotional problems, like anxiety or depression.

11. Mental Effects • Marijuana users… • Are less satisfied with their lives than those who do not use marijuana. • May develop psychosis (a mental condition that is characterized by hallucinations). • Have trouble remembering things that they just learned. • This has a direct relationship with academic performance and study habits. • Have poor judgment and motor coordination that can slow reaction time.

12. Mental Effects • Cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine… • Can cause you to forget things more and have poor motor skills for activities (e.g. sports, dancing). • Can make you depressed and paranoid. • Is linked to the development of Parkinson’s Disease (a disease that affects your motor skills, speech, movement). • May be a cause of a student’s low performance in school.

13. Health • Teens who do not drink… • are less likely to get fat or have health problems, too. • Have normally functioning organs, such as the liver, heart, and brain. • Are less likely to engage in sexual activity, have unprotected sex, or have sex with a stranger. • Are less likely to be involved in deadly accidents.

14. Health • Teens who don’t use tobacco… • Have more money to spend on shopping and school activities. • Look and smell better than those who do use tobacco. • Know that tobacco companies specifically target kids to use their products. • Have more energy and will live a better quality of life than smokers. • Visit the doctor less.

15. Health • Teens who choose not to use marijuana… • Are more satisfied with their lives. • Land better jobs than users. • Have better relationships with others. • Are less likely to have mental problems in the future. • Are more focused and attentive.

16. Health • Teens who avoid using cocaine, heroin, and meth… • Are able to focus on more important things instead of worrying about their next fix. • Have healthy immune systems and do not get sick as often. • Are more often in a better mood. • Are less likely to contract HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. • Have a smaller chance of dying from a heart attack or stroke.

17. The result of drugging and driving…

18. Don’t age before it’s time to. *Effects of methamphetamine use after 5 years.

19. Smart teens make the right choice to… • communicate with their parents about drugs and know the consequences of their use. • have adequate parental supervision. • participate in extracurricular activities to avoid risky behavior. • talk to their parents or another trusted adult about stress or other personal issues. • BE DRUG FREE!

20. Drug-free teens in Memphis City Schools … • Are goal oriented. • Perform better in school. • Are more likely to succeed. • Have positive relationships with others. • Are overall happier in their lives.

21. Be in the Majority. Be Drug Free.

22. References • www.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts • www.webmd.com • www.detoxland.com/drug-facts • Shelby County Health Department, Tobacco Risk Reduction Program