Originally founded as Students Against Driving Drunk thirty years ago, the new focus of SADD as Students Against Destructive Decisions is to encourage teens to look at the bigger picture and realize that not everyone consumes alcohol, and that it’s illegal before the age of 21. Even more, members want teens to understand that before they’re confronted with alcohol is the right time to consider the consequences of drinking and to make a plan to avoid it.

The mission of SADD complements the work of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and the two grassroots-based organizations are working together to help all drivers understand that driving while drinking isn’t just a bad decision – it’s something to be abhorred and is completely unacceptable.

With chapters well into the thousands at middle schools and high schools nationwide, SADD serves as a peer educational group with a straightforward message – "no use" of drugs or alcohol. The group’s mission also extends into helping prevent behaviors linked with drug and alcohol abuse, like violence, suicidal actions and driving under the influence of substances. Preventing distracted driving, such as using a cell phone or texting, is another area of research and advocacy for SADD chapters.

As a collaborative effort, SADD chapters have worked together across the country for educational efforts to save lives and with community and state-based groups. A parent newsletter, research on teen abuse of substances and scholarships are also part of SADD’s work. The national conference brings together students and chapter leaders from across the country to share ideas for what’s working to encourage teens to avoid drugs and alcohol. By partnering with local businesses, such as car dealerships, SADD chapters are further able to engage their communities to get involved in keeping teens safe on the road, as well as all drivers.

Data from a SADD media piece says that one out of every five teenagers gets behind the wheel after drinking, and one teen out of every eight experiments with marijuana and then drives a vehicle. Annually, the number of teenagers hurt in vehicle accidents is high-more than 300,000, says the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Of these, 8,000 will be part of a car accident in which someone loses their life, and in 3,500 of these cases, it will be the teen who dies.

Additional research noted by SADD says that by the time students reach their senior year of high school, 75 percent have reported drinking alcohol. Of teens who are 17 years old and consume alcohol, the Center for Substance Abuse Research says that 85 percent are becoming fully intoxicated one time per month, at a minimum.

SADD urges parents to get involved in setting firm driving rules for their teen, especially during the summer, when teen behavior is likely to be more risky and distracted, and teens are also more likely to spend several hours behind the wheel. Together with parents, state and community organizations, SADD chapters are continuing to make an impact on teens’ decisions to use drugs or alcohol or engage in other life-threatening decisions.

“Sex and Tech,” the results of a survey of teens and young adults commissioned by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com, states that “sending or posting nude or semi-nude photos and videos starts at a young age and becomes even more frequent as teens become young adults.”

Among the survey’s findings are the following:

• One in five teen girls (22 percent) said they have electronically sent or posted online, sexually explicit images of themselves.

• One third (33 percent) of teen boys and one-quarter (25 percent) of teen girls said they have received sexually explicit images (originally meant to be private).

• Sending sexually explicit text messages is even more common than sending racy photos. Thirty-nine percent of teens said they have sent sexually explicit text messages or emails to others. And 48 percent of teens (and one-third of young teen girls), say they have received such messages.

• Reasons why teen girls send such messages/photos include “joke” (40 percent), “sexy present” for boyfriend (52 percent), and “fun or flirtatious” (66 percent).

• Ironically, although 75 percent of teens see potentially serious negative consequences of sending sexually suggestive content, 19 percent say it’s “no big deal.”

Serious Consequences Include Recent Sexting Suicides

It can’t get more serious than this. When news headlines scream of teenage girls committing suicide, the fact should somehow sink in. Two months after 18-year old Jessica (Jesse) Logan went on a Cincinnati television show in May 2008 to tell her story of how sexy photos of herself she’d to her boyfriend wound up getting shared with the school and she’d been taunted and called a whore, the formerly vivacious teen hanged herself in her bedroom.

Interviewed on the Today Show, Jesse’s mother, Cynthia Logan, told Matt Lauer (as reported on MSNBC.com) she never really knew the extent of her daughter’s pain until it was too late. She learned Jesse had been skipping school only after she received letters informing her of the fact. Cynthia Logan took away her daughter’s car and began driving her to school herself. But Jesse still stayed clear of school, eventually telling her mother it was over some pictures she’d sent but now some girls were harassing her, throwing things at her and calling her vicious names. Jesse’s friend, Lauren Taylor, said that when Jesse came to school, she’d hear, “Oh, that’s the girl who sent the picture. She’s just a whore.”

When the mother went to school officials, they apparently only contacted one of the girls and asked her to delete the photos and never speak to Jesse again.

The second U.S. sexting suicide occurred in October 2009 as Hope Whitsell, just 13 years old, hanged herself in her bedroom, echoing the fate of Jesse Logan. Hope had sent nude picture of herself to a boy she liked, but the images were forwarded all over town. The result was that Hope was called a whore and a slut by her classmates. Humiliated, grounded by her parents, and removed as a student advisor to Future Farmers of America (FFA) by her school, Hope couldn’t take it anymore.

How could such terrible tragedies happen? As teens, you know the wild fluctuations of your body’s hormones, the incredible peaks and valleys of excitement and hopes dashed, the importance of friendship, belonging, of experimenting and becoming independent. Unfortunately, for some teens, the distinction between doing what’s right and holding personal integrity or just blindly going along with others to engage in activity (such as sexting) that’s potentially so negative, is not even recognized. Even with all the publicity, teens continue to send and receive sexually explicit text messages, emails and photos. That’s not only morally wrong – it’s a prescription for disaster.

Hold Yourself Personally Responsible

How can you combat the sexting trend popular among your friends? One way is to hold yourself personally responsible. Insist on personal integrity, of yourself, and your possessions. Think about things before you act. You need to value your own personal integrity just as highly as you do your “things” such as cell phones, your personal car (if you’re one of the lucky ones with such a privilege), your clothes and other possessions. You’d have a fit if you lost your “things,” but do you ever think about your reputation? What would you do if it became tarnished to the extent of Jesse Logan or Hope Whitsell’s situations? Why would you want to put yourself in such a position? You don’t have to.

Read what some teens have to say on the subject in postings on the CosmoGirl.com Sex and Tech blog. It may give you some valuable points to ponder. Other teens share their thoughts on the Sex & Tech: Teen Voices subject of sexting. Some examples include:

• Teens don’t think about the real consequences of sending sexual content. Like sex itself, it’s often done in the heat of the moment.

• Most teens don’t understand that sexual images and content will be shared with many others for whom they weren’t intended.

• Sending sexual content over the Internet can come back to haunt you.

• Sending sexual images and messages is so common that most teens don’t think twice before hitting “send.”

• Sexual content you send over the Internet can follow you around forever and even define who you are.

Before you think this is totally off the wall, these videos are from teens just like you – 17 and 18 years of age – and completely savvy. Let them serve as a warning that maybe you should take a bit more care with the casual text messages, texts and photos you are thinking about sending.

Tips to Remember Before Pressing “Send”

“Sex and Tech” recommends the following tips to help keep young people from becoming victims when it comes to sexting. Before pressing the “Send” button on any electronic device, use extreme caution.

• Never assume what you post will remain private. – You may think that the message or image you’re sending to your BFF or boyfriend/girlfriend (or someone you hope will hook up with you) will remain private, but that’s just not the case more often than not. Why take the chance? Even if you think you really know the person and they’d never do such a thing, the fact is that 40 percent of teens and young adults were shown a sexually suggestive message that was intended to be private and 20 percent said they’d shown such a message to others.

• Nothing ever goes away in cyberspace. – Once something appears on the Internet, it’s there forever. Don’t think that it will go away. It won’t. The moment you send it out, you’ve already lost control. Think about this before you write sexually explicit messages or send or post a racy photo of yourself via email or in MySpace or Facebook (or other social media). You may think it’s cute and fun and everyone’s doing it now, but someday in the future when you’re trying to land that coveted job, get into college, or wind up in the public spotlight for any number of reasons, those messages and images can be accessed – even after you delete them. Do you really want potential employers, teachers, college recruiters, coaches, friends, relatives, enemies and others reading through or viewing your past indiscretions that you posted? And, just because you think you deleted it, who knows how many times it was copied and posted elsewhere before you had second thoughts? Best strategy is to not send or post anything that isn’t totally PG.

• Resist peer pressure to engage in sexting. – You’re stronger than that, and your parents should have taught you better. But even if they didn’t, use your smarts and resist the pressure of your peers to go along with the crowd in regards to sexting. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy survey, 47 percent of teens said that “pressure from guys” is the reason women and girls post sexually suggestive photos and images, while 24 percent of teens say “pressure from friends” is why guys post and send sexually explicit text messages, emails and photos.

• What will the recipient think? – Ask yourself how the person who receives the image or text you’re about to send (that cutesy but racy photo or highly-erotic text message or email) will feel? This should give you pause and, hopefully, cause you to reconsider and not send it. You might think it is fun or a joke, and four in 10 girls who sent such messages and photos thought so, but most boys (29 percent) who receive such messages/photos believe the girl intends to hook up or date. The Internet is capricious: it allows you to communicate freely and easily, but it also contributes to the image of yourself that is forever out there.

• You’re not anonymous on the Web. – It’s shocking but true: nearly one in five teens sends sexually explicit photos or messages to someone they only know online. But your screen name, identity, profile, email address or phone number are no guarantee of privacy. It’s easy enough for people to bypass filters and get to your true identity – with potentially long-term and devastating results for you.

More Safety Tips

Keep yourself – and your reputation – safe by following these additional precautions from NetSmart.org:
• Never take nude photographs of yourself or others. – In fact, think about any photos that you do take. Do you want your parents, teachers, friends or other adults to see them? Are they in any way suggestive, erotic or compromising? Again, think of the potential consequences if any photos you take wind up inadvertently (or deliberately) on the Internet.

• Report any nude photos you receive. – Should you receive any nude or semi-nude photographs via email, the Web, or on your cell phone, report the incident immediately to your parents, teacher or other adult you trust. Do not try to delete the image or forward it to others, unless specifically instructed to do so by law enforcement officials.

• If you forward such images, you are as guilty in the eyes of the law as the sender. – Believe it or not, you could face child pornography charges, have to register as a sex offender, or even go to jail. Teens have been convicted of child pornography distribution because they emailed photos of a sexually explicit nature to each other. Never send along to others any sexually explicit images you receive, unless law enforcement officials ask you to do so.

• Think about the consequences. – Sending or forwarding sexually explicit images or text to others can land you in a lot of trouble. You could be expelled or suspended from school, face humiliation, or lose any school or sports scholarships, not get a job you’re after, or wind up in jail. Is it worth any of this?

Bottom line: Exercise good judgment about what you say or show to others, especially through the medium of electronic devices (cell phones, email, and the Internet). If you wish others to value you as a responsible human being, act appropriately. Never give others the opportunity to take what you may consider in the moment to be a totally innocent flirty remark or cutesy, sexy photo and twist it into something that will forever define you as someone you aren’t. Protect your reputation and your safety today so that you can be assured that your reputation will be secure in the future as well.

Does all this mean you have to be a nerd or boring? On the contrary, being smart about how you portray yourself to others is incredibly attractive – to the right individuals. It’s all in perception. Make sure you take charge of the image you portray to others – in person and over electronic devices.

If you’re like most teens, watching little brothers or sisters can be a royal pain. At the very least, it cuts into your time for yourself. But, hold on a minute. These are your family and, believe it or not, next to your parents, you are the most important person in their lives. Thinking of it in that light may change your mind about looking out for younger siblings.

That still doesn’t mean it isn’t a whole lot of work. What are some of the things you should prepare yourself for? How can you be most effective in watching over them without being too heavy-handed, intrusive or sound like a big brother or big sister? Here are some tips to consider.

Ask for Help from Your Parents

If you feel the burden of watching your younger siblings is too heavy, or if you have questions over how much authority you should exert, or what to do in certain situations, it’s best to ask your parents for help and guidance. After all, your parents are the primary caretakers of all the children in the household. You are the designated representative family member entrusted with their care while your parents are not around. This is a profound responsibility and, as mentioned before, means you are a tremendous influence on the younger children.

One helpful suggestion is to sit down with your parents and prioritize your duties and responsibilities with the younger children. Are you the one who has to oversee their homework to make sure it gets done? Do you have the responsibility to prepare their meals because Mom and Dad leave early for work or arrive home late? What about any play-dates with friends or doctor’s or school appointments or activities? Are you the one who takes the children to and from these?

It is true that everyone needs a break. That includes you. You need time for yourself, time to enjoy your own friends and time to just hang out and relax. Make sure to discuss your needs with your parents and see if you can work out some free time you can count on.

What to Do in an Emergency

First-born or elder children in the household shoulder a lot of responsibility. This is nowhere more apparent than in an emergency. If a younger child chokes on food, has an allergic reaction, burns himself or herself with hot water or food, drowns in a swimming pool – what are you to do? Do you have all the necessary phone numbers handy for 911, poison control, family physician, emergency contact numbers for your parents, neighbor, relative or close friend? If not, make sure you get them and place them right next to the phone where they’re readily available. When you have an emergency, often it’s seconds that can mean the difference between life and death, between doing the right thing and failing to act at all.

It is a good idea to take a class on CPR, available at community health centers or some schools. Training in how to do the Heimlich method to prevent choking death is another definite advantage.

Suppose there’s a fire and you need to gather the younger children and get out quickly. Do you have several escape routes mapped out in advance? You and your parents should go through a mock drill so that everyone knows exactly where to go in case there’s smoke or fire. When it happens is not the time to try to figure it out. Most people who die in home fires don’t perish from the flames. They die because of asphyxiation – they don’t get enough oxygen. Having a plan in place can prevent disaster – especially if you’re the only one home with your younger siblings.

Watching Out for Poisons, Drugs and Alcohol

Adolescents and young children are naturally curious. It’s said that toddlers will put anything into their mouths – and often do. They don’t know the difference, and tasting or slurping or chewing feels good. It’s a natural instinct. It can also be deadly, if the substance is cleaning fluid, bleach, drain cleaners, household disinfectants, sprays and other substances.
Some plants are naturally poisonous as well. And you need to keep an eye on toddlers who will try to stick their little fingers into light switches. Many children have been needlessly electrocuted by doing so. Ask your parents to buy switch covers – or get them yourself at the hardware store. These are a Styrofoam cover that fits neatly over the unused wall socket, thus preventing tiny fingers from getting inside. They’re inexpensive and easy to install.

Poison-proof lower cabinets and drawers, or any area that is accessible to small children. Your parents can buy child-proof latches for the cabinets, or just remove harmful materials and store them elsewhere – perhaps in a locked cabinet. This is especially important for prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Make sure all drugs are locked away and out of reach for any children in the household. Never leave them out on the counter – children are remarkable adept at crawling and climbing and snagging pill bottles and downing the contents.

Some families have a liquor cabinet. This is often nothing more than a shelf in the kitchen where the bottles of vodka, whiskey or other spirits are kept. Beer is frequently left in the refrigerator or kept in the pantry, garage or elsewhere until time for cooling. With young children in the house, and you as the person responsible for watching them, that’s not a good idea. All alcohol should be secured and out of reach. By the way, it goes without saying that you should not touch alcohol either. Alcoholic consumption by teens is not an okay behavior and violates family values and rules.

What if There’s Trouble?

You can’t depend on your younger brothers and sisters to automatically abide by the family rules for getting home on time or being where they say they’ll be. They may lose track of time while they’re on the school or park playground with their friends, or become so engrossed in watching videos or playing videogames that time just slips away. You will need to track them down and remind them that they have to stick to the schedule.

Have your parents back up your authority, but ask them to do it in a nice way. Children are sensitive to being “bossed around” by older siblings and resentful that they can’t have the same freedom you do. You can let them know that you had rules to follow too when you were their age. The older you get, the more freedom you have, but you also have more responsibility. There’s really nothing you can do about the fact that you’re older and they’re younger. It is what it is. Frankly, someday they’ll realize it – probably when they have children of their own and need to entrust an older child with the responsibility to watch the younger ones.

But what if there’s trouble? What if your younger brother or sister doesn’t come home from school or isn’t at the bus stop when you’re there to pick them up? Ask the kids on the bus if they saw your sibling, and then call the school to find out when the child left classes. Call your parents and they’ll give you other instructions. But remain calm. Again, working out with your parents what to do in advance of a problem will ease your mind when you need to take action. That way, it’s not all on you to figure things out in a moment of crisis. Have a plan. Stick to the plan and remain calm.

What if Your Parents are Alcoholics or Drug Users?

This is a tough one. Alcoholism and drug abuse can run in families, and it’s very destructive to everyone involved. Beyond the alcoholic or drug user, the attitudes and behaviors are being passed along to children in the family – to you, and to your younger brothers and sisters. If your parents are alcoholics or drug users, you need additional help. Talk with a teacher, relative or trusted adult.

There’s no question that your responsibilities are a lot harder with alcoholism and drug use in the home. That means there’s so much more negative behavior that you have to try to shield your siblings from. It may also mean protecting them from verbal and/or physical abuse at the hands of a parent who’s lost control due to alcohol or drugs.

Don’t be an enabler to the parent, trying to ease tensions by pouring the drink he or she demands or other enabling behaviors. This won’t solve the problem of the alcoholism or drug use, and it won’t go unnoticed by the other children either. Family help is available through Al-Anon and Alateen. Check out a sample chapter of “Alateen-Hope for Children of Alcoholics.” You can attend meetings in your area, or go online to find out more information at http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/english.html.

Signs of Drug Addiction in the Family

You may think you know what your younger siblings are doing, but you aren’t with them 24/7. Here are some signs of drug use or addiction to be on the lookout for:

• Self-destructive behavior such as coming home intoxicated or high
• Non-stop use of the computer (without any breaks)
• Anorexic behavior (refusing to eat or excessively thin)
• Gambling
• Finding drug paraphernalia or drugs in backpacks, purses or bedroom

If you see these self-destructive behaviors or signs, tell your parents immediately. This is a problem that goes beyond your responsibility and they definitely need to get involved. The sibling exhibiting the signs needs help to overcome their dependence on alcohol, drugs, and addictive behaviors.

Do not blame yourself for another person’s use of drugs or alcohol. It isn’t your fault, and you can’t assume the weight of this burden. The important thing is to recognize the problem and get your parents involved to begin the necessary steps to get help for the affected child.

How Long Must You Look Out for Younger Siblings?

Generally speaking, once you’re an older sibling charged with the responsibility to look out for younger children in the family, you’ve got that duty until you leave home, go off to college, they go off to college, the military or leave home, or until your parents relieve you of the assignment.

That’s the bad news and the good news. It’s bad news if you think that this is just a temporary duty, that next summer or fall or whenever that things are going to drastically change and you’ll be let off the hook. Sorry.

The good news is that by looking out for your younger siblings you are accumulating significant life skills that will serve you well the rest of your life. You won’t be thrown by small or unexpected curve balls that would flabbergast someone else who never had to watch out for anyone but themselves. You are developing a rational set of behaviors, what to do in almost any situation, and that’s a life experience that is hard to teach.

Best of all and this bears repeating, so here goes: you look out for your younger siblings because you love them, they depend on you, and they’re family. A close-knit and loving family is the best preparation anyone can have in life. Just think of it this way. One day you are likely to have your own family with children you love dearly just as your parents love you. You will entrust, perhaps, some of the same type of responsibility to your oldest child to watch over his or her younger siblings. Having been there yourself, you’ve got this one aced.

Beyond that, hey, it’s only a few years. As they always say, children grow up fast. The years will fly by before you know it. Keep a good attitude, be loving, and be there for your younger siblings.

• “I have an appointment” — It can be for a doctor, dentist, to get your carpets cleaned, car detailed, job interview – whatever. The point is, make it sound good. It always helps if it’s true, so before you go to a place where drugs and/or alcohol may be offered to you, have your way out planned in advance.

• “No way. I know what that stuff does to you.” — Simple, but effective, these words let the other party know in no uncertain terms that you’re not going to get involved. Say it like you really mean it, though, or they’ll just try to convince you.

• “I made a no-drugs/no-drinking pact” — The words you use here can be tailored to whatever you’re being tempted with. But these pacts – to not do drugs, to avoid alcohol – are becoming increasingly popular. If you have it printed on a laminated card, pull it out and show it. This lends even more credibility to your statement.

• “Big day tomorrow.” – This is a no-brainer. We all frequently have huge tests, a heavy workload or other important commitment requiring us to be alert and on top of our game.

• “I have to go to work.” – A job is a great reason not to get involved in drinking or doing drugs. It means you care enough to be responsible, and follow through on that obligation.

• “I’m going to a family outing.” — Plans with your family should always come first – in fact, you can even say that. Family is important. Your friends should understand that you have other commitments. If not, they’re really not your friends at all.

• “Late for dinner.” – You have to eat, right? Maybe it is a nightly or special dinner with your family, husband, wife, siblings, or other friends – it doesn’t matter who. You need to go, and that’s completely understandable.

• “It’s not my thing.” — This is a simple, declarative statement that tells the truth: you don’t want to become involved. Variations might be, “I think drugs are boring – I don’t like how they make me feel.”

• “I don’t believe in putting poisons in my body.” – Drugs and alcohol are poisonous to the human body, resulting in many negative and potentially lethal consequences. This is a strong statement that lets others know you’re adamant about your decision.

• “My family makes me toe the line.” – Family rules and discipline is a strong motivator to steer clear of drugs and/or alcohol. This statement is one that most teens can easily understand.

• “Coach subjects me/us to random drug/alcohol tests.” – Depending on the sport involved, this may be true. Be sure that it is, however, before you use it.

• “Alcohol/drugs run in my family.” – You don’t want to wind up like them, and you know there’s a strong likelihood of genetic and/or environmental influence. You’ve also seen the negative consequences first-hand, and definitely don’t want that to happen to you.

• “I promised my mom.” – Or dad, or whomever. The point is you made a promise that you intend to keep.

• “It’s against my religion.” – Most religions discourage, frown on or prohibit abuse, or use, of certain substances. If your religious belief encourages you to avoid alcohol and drugs, feel free to say so. Again, it’s always good to really believe in your beliefs before you say so. Your friends can tell if it’s a hollow statement.

• “I just went to confession.” – This is basically for Catholics, although it can be changed to suit another religious practice. If you’ve already confessed, you don’t want to go right back and get into trouble with alcohol and/or drugs.

• “I’m on probation or grounded.” – If you’ve already gotten into trouble with parents, school, workplace or other area, you may be “on probation,” or grounded and thus restricted from certain activities or friends. You’ll be watched and monitored closely, and can’t afford to take a chance with drugs and/or alcohol.

• “I’ve got a curfew.” – Doing drugs or drinking alcohol may make you lose track of time and miss your curfew. This can lead to your being grounded or losing other privileges. Friends should understand curfews – most teens have had them imposed at one time or another. Be firm, and make sure you leave when you need to – without doing drugs and/or alcohol.

• “I have to take my ___(mom, little brother, sister, etc.) somewhere.” — This is a variation on the appointment, but it’s for someone else. If you’ve committed to doing this, it’s something you need to take care of.

• “I’ve got my mom’s car and I have to pick her up.” – Many teens don’t have their own wheels, and borrowing one from a family member usually means there are limits – and obligations, like having to pick up your mom from work. It’s a good way to say “No” to drugs and alcohol.

• “No, thanks.” – This last statement is so simple and clear that nothing else needs to be said. You just respectfully decline. Good for you.

1. “It helps me feel the music.” – You’ll hear this one from ravers, club-goers, adolescents and young adults who claim that doing drugs is the only way to truly appreciate the music at these locations. Another danger is that you may be feeling the music when someone slips a date rape drug into your drink, which will mean you’ll be subject to unwanted sexual advances that you’ll be powerless to resist and won’t even remember afterward.

2. “I dance better when I’m on drugs.” – Actually, the more drugs you consume, the less coordinated your body becomes, to the point of total lack of coordination and/or control. Certain drugs when consumed elevate your body temperature to the point of hyperthermia – dehydration, excessive loss of body water. You can go into convulsions, have a seizure, or fall into a coma.

3. “I know what I’m doing.” – Classic lame excuse, usually spoken by someone who feels they’re in control – when they’re clearly not, especially under the influence of powerful street drugs that impair judgment. No one really ever buys this lame excuse, so don’t even try to use it. If you really know what you’re doing, you won’t do drugs in the first place.

4. “It mellows me out.” – To a point and for a while, maybe, but drugs consumed are very often accompanied by other drugs (laced with other drugs, taken in conjunction with other drugs, etc.) and/or alcohol. Pretty soon, the user is far beyond mellow and into a whole new sphere of behavior, none of which is acceptable or healthy.

5. “What’s the big deal? I can handle it.” – The big deal is that you never know what’s actually in that ecstasy tablet you swallow, that dose of LSD you just popped, the PCP you just accepted, or any other drug you take. Every person’s body is also different in the way it can or cannot tolerate a drug without side effects or negative consequences, ranging from mild to life threatening.

6. “I’ve done this lots of times.” – That doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t make it okay for your body. You also become overconfident in your body’s ability to tolerate the drug, and you may be tempted to believe you can do more drugs and more often. Unfortunately, you never know if this may be the time that you overdose or do some serious and irreparable harm to your body and/or your mind.

7. “I won’t get into trouble.” – Who convinced you of this lame excuse — your friends that handed you the drugs, the dealer the you bought them from, someone else you know? The trouble you can get into can ruin your life, your health, your reputation and relationships. It can also land you in jail. If you use street drugs, they’re illegal. If you use prescription drugs for nonmedical uses, you’re similarly asking for trouble. And trouble will find you.

8. “Everyone’s doing it.” – Don’t be a sheep, going along with the herd. Just because others are doing bad things is a big blaring sign that you should walk the other way. Maybe you’re in the wrong circle of friends. Real friends don’t encourage you to do something so blatantly harmful. Stand up for yourself and steer clear of drugs.

9. “I’m not driving.” – Hallelujah – at least that’s one plus. But doing those drugs you’re contemplating can just as easily make you feel overconfident of your abilities. While you’re under the influence of drugs, you’re not thinking clearly, and you may snatch the keys and take off – with disastrous consequences for you, your passengers and others on the road and walkways.

10. “I don’t have school tomorrow.” – As if this is a legitimate reason to party hearty and do drugs. Don’t think anyone will fall for it. The fact that you entertain the thought that because you may be able to sleep in makes it okay to do drugs is just another sign that your mental processes are skewed. If a friend hears you say this, or if you say it to a friend, someone should have a clear enough head to turn down any drugs offered – this time and every time.

• Get over your fear – We all fear the unknown. And drugs and alcohol are two of the scariest things we may have to confront. Summon up your courage and will yourself to find the answers and support you need. You’ve already made the big first step of admitting to yourself that you may have a problem. This recognition on your part is one of the biggest hurdles – and you’ve already overcome it. Now you can work out your plan to talk to your parents about the issue.

• Don’t go it alone – Before you try speaking with your parents, however, it may be wise to talk the situation over with someone you trust. This may be your school counselor, your family physician, your priest or clergyman, or even an older relative, or one of your grandparents. Be sure this is a person who will give you good advice and keep your confidence – as well as serve as an ally when you do speak with your parents.

• Call a teen hotline – You can remain anonymous and get valuable assistance by calling a teen hotline for drugs or alcohol (or both). These hotlines are staffed by people who are trained to deal with crises or just to answer questions that young people have about alcohol and drugs. Just the fact that you are able to talk with someone about your issues will make you feel better – and you may get some tips on how to approach your parents.

• Ask to speak with a therapist first – You might find it helpful to say to your parents that you would like a consultation (even one) with a therapist to discuss something that’s bothering you – but that you’re not ready to discuss the issue with them just yet. Be respectful, and assure them that you will discuss it fully when you feel comfortable, but that for right now, you need a neutral third party. The first session may even be free (a consultation). If your counselor or doctor have a referral, make sure you mention this to your parents.

• When you do talk with your parents – Maybe you’re closer or feel more comfortable speaking with one of your parents. If so, approach that person first. You may want to admit that you’re scared, overwhelmed, confused, and unsure what to do – and that you need their help. Your parents want to help you – it’s their responsibility as loving parents. You might also ask them not to get angry with you, that just getting up the nerve to talk with them has been really hard for you. After you’ve laid the groundwork with your introduction (you’re scared, etc., and don’t want them to be angry), you might want to say something like, “I think I might have a drug (or alcohol) problem…” Take it from there. Be sure to be loving, respectful, willing to make changes in your life, and probably some consequences for any drug and/or alcohol action. It will be natural for your parents to be concerned, possibly angry and upset themselves, but speaking with your parents is your best line of defense to combating any problems you may have with alcohol and drugs.