Central Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
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Just For Teens
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Central Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Just For Teens
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Graduation Graduation is a time of reflection and fun as well as big decisions. It is also a time when friends travel down different paths either toward school or into the work force. The pressures young people face are incredible, but it is up to that person to make the right choices when it comes to drugs and alcohol. Graduation is also a time for parties. Those types of gatherings give youth an opportunity to look back on the past and talk about the future; maybe being a little excited about moving away from home. Those are all big steps in a young persons life. Having graduated from high school sort of gives a person the feeling that they are an adult and that they can make decisions as such. The decisions that you make can inadvertently change the rest of your life. Such as getting behind the wheel of a car after you have been drinking. Even drinking a couple of beers slows your motor skills and impairs your ability to make the right choices. I am sure that you have seen all the hoopla on TV about the dangers of drinking and driving, and your thinking I know all of this already. There are thousands of teens that thought just like you and ended up not being able to travel the path they had planned for; they ended up DEAD or worse a vegetable in some nursing home, where you can no longer communicate with your loved ones. So here is some information that may help with your decisions. Most young people think that they know it all but here are a few Myth Busters to prove most of your theories wrong on alcohol. Myth: Alcohol gives you energy NOT! It is a depressant. It slows down your ability to think, speak, move and all that other stuff you like to do. Myth: Switching between beer, wine, and liquor will make you more drunk than sticking to one type of alcohol. NOT! Whatever! Your blood alcohol content (BAC- the percent of alcohol in your blood) is what determines how drunk you are. Not the flavors you selected. Alcohol is Alcohol! Myth: You'll get drunk a lot quicker with hard liquor than with beer or wine cooler. NOT! Did I mention that Alcohol is Alcohol! Myth: Everybody reacts the same to alcohol. NOT! Not hardly! There are dozens of factors that affect reactions to alcohol - body weight, time of day, how you feel mentally, body chemistry, your expectations, and the list goes on and on. Myth: A cold shower or a cup of coffee will sober someone up. No Way! Not on your life! Nothing sobers you up but time. With coffee, your simply a wide-awake drunk! Myth: It's Just Beer! It can't permanently damage you! NOT! Large amounts of alcohol can do major damage to your digestive system. You can hurt your liver, stomach, and several other critical organs as well as loosing years from your life. Myth: It's none of my business if my friends drinking too much. You Are Kidding Right! If you are a real friend it is your business. You can't make someone change but you can be honest. Maybe they'll listen. You might even talk them into getting help! Myth: The worst thing that can happen is a raging hangover. Who are you fooling? Sorry, if you drink enough alcohol, fast enough, you can get an amount in your body that can kill you in only a few hours. Myth: Drugs are a bigger problem then alcohol. No way! Alcohol kills more people than cocaine, heroin, and every other illegal drug combined! Eighteen million Americans are addicted to alcohol or have alcohol abuse issues. Alcohol is the #1 Drug problem of today's youth. Myth: Alcohol makes you more sexy. No Way! The more you drink, the less you think. Alcohol may loosen you up to make someone more interested in sex, but interferes with the body's ability to perform. And then there is pregnancy, AIDS, sexual assault, car crashes and worse, to worry about. Not sexy at all! Myth: People who drink too much only hurt themselves. NOT! Every person who drinks has a mother, grandfather, sister, aunt, best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend who worries about them. Each of the 18 million problem drinkers in this country affects four other people.
And with that, I have found a little something in the craziest of places and wanted to share it with you. With the future at hand, may you continue to pursue excellence. May wisdom and insight guide you, as you strive to build bridges not walls. Celebrate this achievement and always know a blessing is with you for the spirit of success is your own.
Resource: Author unknown
Resources: M.A.D.D.
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