Drug Use and Abuse

It's not just about collecting old facts about drug use. It's about being street smart and learning how to handle peer pressure. Check out these sites to know the true lingo, the real side effects, and ways to sidestep people that just don't get it! (Do you know what percentage of teens don't take drugs??)



Freevibe.com is a great site for getting up to date statistics on drug abuse, as well as teen feedback on current topics.
Freevibe.com was created for the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, a program of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Freevibe’s goal is to provide teens with the knowledge and personal empowerment to reject drug use.
http://www.freevibe.com/Drug_Facts/index.asp

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/straight/intro.htm
This site is actually a book, put together by a “teen posse” (sponsored by the DEA – U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration). Each chapter is about a specific drug—discussing street names, facts, and legal issues surrounding the drug. Also included are teen activities that might be good for teen forum or discussion groups.

Also look at the DEA teen site http://www.justthinktwice.com/ for more formal, definitive facts, and a look at the effects of drugs on individuals. Also featured is a segment on hot topics in the news regarding drugs.

http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
Geared to younger teens and students. Only a few facts about alcohol – but a lot of survey type information that positively reinforces the idea that most teens do not drink (you are not alone)! Features include animated scenes that recreate peer pressure situations and “Know your No’s”, a guide to help you say no comfortably. This side was noted as a “find it site” because of the excellent self-help “healthy mind & body” links, in addition to more links to a few well-chosen research sites that provide hard facts for school projects.The Cool Spot was created for kids 11-13 years old by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/index.asp
A great interactive site that will inspire you to come up with new angles on research topics. Facts, first-person accounts about drug abuse, games, and challenges. Especially helpful is a searchable glossary of terms that may come up in drug research. Middle-schoolers and all teens should stop here. Sponsored by the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/Infofaxindex.html
More facts and figures – but these are clearly updated and articles provide additional links for other sources. Not a “fun site”, but great for providing hard core statistics about demographics of use and $$$ spent on drug use and education.