Underage drinking costs the US more than $58 billion every year.

40 percent of those who started drinking at age 13 or younger developed alcohol dependence later in life.
Ten percent of teens who began drinking after the age of 17 developed dependence.

http://www.teendrugabuse.us/teen_drug_use.html

Types of Drug Addictions

Nicotine Addiction
Cocaine Addiction
Opiate Addiction
Heroin Addiction
Meth Addiction
Methadone Addiction
Marijuana Addiction
Caffeine Addiction
Steroid Addiction
Vicodin Addiction
Prescription Drug Addiction
More information at : http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/addiction-types/index.htm

Common signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse

Repeatedly neglecting your responsibilities at home, work, or school because of your drinking.

Using alcohol in situations where it’s physically dangerous, such as drinking and driving, operating machinery while intoxicated, or mixing alcohol with prescription medication against doctor’s orders.

Experiencing repeated legal problems on account of your drinking.

Continuing to drink even though your alcohol use is causing problems in your relationships.

Drinking as a way to relax or de-stress. Many drinking problems start when people use alcohol to self-soothe and relieve stress.

More info: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment.htm

Teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include those:

1. With a family history of substance abuse
2. Who are depressed
3. Who have low self-esteem, and
4. Who feel like they don't fit in or are out of the mainstream


http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Teens:+Alcohol+and+Other+Drugs§ion=Facts+for+Families

Warning signs of teenage alcohol and drug abuse may include:

Physical: Fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and glazed eyes, and a lasting cough.

Emotional: personality change, sudden mood changes, irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, poor judgment, depression, and a general lack of interest.

Family: starting arguments, breaking rules, or withdrawing from the family.

Social problems: new friends who are less interested in standard home and school activities, problems with the law, and changes to less conventional styles in dress and music.

More information at: http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Teens:+Alcohol+and+Other+Drugs§ion=Facts+for+Families

TEEN TRUTH: DRUGS & ALCOHOL Trailer

Common issues binge drinkers face

*Lack of concentration in school
*Loss of friends
*Memory loss and blackouts
*Lack of judgment
*Trouble with the law
*Suicide
*Alcohol poisoning
*Depression in adulthood

More information at http://www.teenzeen.org/binge-drinking.html

Who can be affected by Drugs and Alcohol?

Drug and alcohol problems can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, race, marital status, place of residence, income level, or lifestyle.
Drug and Alcohol abuse can also affect family and friends. Most importantly drug and alcohol abuse can affect the person taking drugs or consuming alcohol the most because they are affecting their lifestyle and damaging their body.

Nicotine

Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant found in tobacco. This drug is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream when it is smoked. Nicotine has many physical effects: rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure, shortness of breath, and a greater likelihood of colds and the flu.

More Info: http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/know_about_drugs.html#a_Nicotine

Chicago Mayoral Elections

The people that are running for Chicago Mayoral Elections are Rahm Emanuel, Carol Moseley Braun, gery Chico, Miguel Del Valle. All of these people that are running differ because they are all in charged with directing city departments and agencies. They also differ because each one deals with different apartments of the City Chicago Council.

Off Topic

This video shocked me when I first saw it. What this video means to me is that technology is taking over us. More and more new things are being invented each day and we don't know what they are. Jobs that exist today will not exist in the future. I think that this is a scary situation because we don't know what future jobs are going to be available for us or for our future family. The world should take more responsibility in learning and thinking about new ideas that may come up in the future and take action. The U.S is falling behind in all the new things that are being invented each day and we should be more careful about our actions and inventions that we make.

Cocaine and Crack

Effects and Dangers!

*Cocaine = a stimulant that rocks the central nervous system, in which it gives an intense feeling of power and energy. Snorting highs last between 15 and 30 minutes; smoking highs last between 5 and 10 minutes.
*Cocaine also elevates heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
*Snorting can put a hole inside the lining of your nose
*First-time users-even teens-of both cocaine and crack can stop breathing or have fatal heart attacks (Teen Drug Abuse Health Effects).


more info: http://teendrugabuse.us/teendruguse.html

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is drinking heavily over several days. Today the accepted definition of binge drinking in the United States is the consumption of five or more drinks in a row by either a man or a women. binge drinking can lead to several affects in a persons life. People today binge drink because they're curious, they want to know what it's like to drink alcohol. People believe that it will make them feel good, not realizing it could just as easily make them sick and hung-over.

Hello, my name is Isabel. I have created this website to inform you about Drug and Alcohol abuse. Today, we face many different abuses of drugs and alcoholic beverages. People in the world are being pressured into doing things that involve drugs and/or alcohol. This website is to inform you about the dangers of alcohol and the some of the reasons why many people in the world are engaging in this type of behavior.

Isabel :)