Alcohol refers to any alcoholic beverage and it becomes legal for purchase at age 21.
Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug in the United States.
Youth who start drinking before age 15 are six times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after 21 years.
Binge drinking health problems include injuries (car crashes, falls, violence), alcohol poising, and sexual activity.
Alcohol reaches the brain in 1 to 6 minutes after entering the human body.
7 warning signs
Stop Alcohol Abuse is part of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD). 7 Warning Signs for Underage Drinking. Retrieved November 12, 2019, from:
Most young people don’t use alcohol
Stop Alcohol Abuse is part of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD). Infographics. Retrieved November 12, 2019, from:
Underage drinking detour
Stop Alcohol Abuse is part of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD). Underage Drinking can Detour Academic Success. Retrieved November 12, 2019 from:
There is never a legal age for drug use. All drugs are illegal for minors unless dispensed by and as directed by a medical professional or parent. Examples of drugs include opioids, fentanyl, and marijuana. Drugged driving is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.
Drugs kill more than cars, guns and falling
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH). Drug Overdoses Kill More Than Cars, Guns, and Falling. Retrieved November 6, 2019
Drugs and your body, it isn’t pretty
Scholastic and National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012). Drugs + Your Body: It Isn’t Pretty (Poster/Teaching Guide). Retrieved November 10, 2019
Teen brain under construction
Scholastic and National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2004). The Teen Brain: Under Construction. Retrieved November 13, 2019
Drugs and Your Body, It Isn’t Pretty
Drugs and your body it isn’t pretty (boy) Scholastic and National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2002) Drugs and the Body- It Isn’t Pretty. Retrieved November 12, 2019
Some opioids such as Vicodin, morphine, and codeine can be prescribed by doctors and may be helpful when taken correctly. However, when these drugs are taken incorrectly they can be dangerous and addictive. Heroin is an opioid that is never prescribed.
Approximately 80% of current heroin users got started by first misusing prescription opioids.
The death rate from heroin overdose has grown four times greater in the past 10 years.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overdose Graphics. Retrieved November 14, 2019
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic (human-made) opioid that doctors can prescribe to patients who are in extreme pain. It is extremely dangerous if misused, and is sometimes added to illegal drugs sold by drug dealers.
Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine
Illegal fentanyl is responsible for many fatal overdoses in people who thought they were taking another drug.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overdose Graphics. Retrieved November 14, 2019, from:
Marijuana is the dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant. The chemical THC in marijuana is responsible for many of the drug’s mind-altering effects. Non-medical marijuana is illegal in Ohio.
Marijuana can be addictive and it changes how the brain works
Research shows it can lower IQ if smoked regularly in the teen years
Scholastic and National Institute on Drug Abuse. Marijuana: You Receive a lot of Mixed Messages. Retrieved November 14, 2019
Additional sources:
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH).. Drugged Driving. Retrieved November 14, 2019
Tobacco refers to nicotine products like cigarettes and chewing tobacco. E-cigarettes [vaping] are battery-powered devices that provide nicotine and other additives to the user in the form of an aerosol. The nicotine in tobacco and e-cigarettes is a highly addictive drug. Both are not legal in Ohio until the age of 21.
If you know someone who needs help overcoming addiction to any of these substances, there are resources available. People can receive treatment and get better.
Find Treatment.Gov to find substance abuse treatment options all over the United States. Simply enter a zip code and find resources near you.
