essay say no to drugs

Speech on Drug Abuse in English in Simple and easy Words

Table of Contents

Speech on Drug Abuse: Drug abuse has become the most common thing these days and many youth are destroying their lives by getting addicted to drugs. It’s very important to sensitize our youth on the subject of drug abuse. They are ruining the lives of our youth and putting their future in a great darkness. The use of drugs is making their lives vulnerable and prone to destruction. Therefore, it becomes very important to raise awareness about it amongst our youth and prevent them from succumbing to it. The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is celebrated annually on June 26th it serves as a significant platform for raising awareness and addressing the critical issue of substance abuse. You can even prepare a speech on drug abuse and deliver it on various occasions and platforms.

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Long and Short Speeches on Drug Abuse in English

For your help, we have posted below some short speech on drug abuse as well as long speech on drug abuse, which will give you a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and help you create an impressive brief to impress upon your audience and bring a change in society.

Speech on Drug Abuse – Speech 1

Dear Students – Warm Greetings to all of you! I welcome everyone to the school seminar hall.

Today, we are here to discuss about the fatal consumption of drugs and how it is destroying the lives of our youth. But before the discussion begins, I would like to deliver a short speech on drug abuse and would like to enlighten our students on this sensitive subject matter.

Drugs, as we all know, are an illegal matter which some people drink, smoke, inject or eat for the mental as well as physical effects that it leaves. There are several students who consume drugs out of fun or for various other reasons. People who deal in the selling of drugs create a network and mainly target students in order to make them addicted to drugs. Initially, the drugs are sold to the students for free and gradually when they get addicted to it, they start buying and consuming it. In fact, the students also eventually become a part of their network and start dealing in it.

It is observed that students start consuming drugs out of stress or unfair expectations of their teachers as well as parents. Lack of emotional support and disorder in their families make them vulnerable and increase their dependency on drugs. They use it in order to calm down their state of mental agitation. Other than this, it is poverty that compels some students to become a part of the selling and dealing network of drugs and derive their pocket money. Therefore, it becomes like a vicious circle of the drug addicted students from which they seem to find no escape unless the society comes for their rescue.

Sadly, the students fail to realize that the consumption of drugs has a severe impact on their physical and mental health, such as they start experiencing mental disorder, their intelligence level decreases, experience deadly diseases and untimely death. When one completely succumbs to the temptation of drugs, it gets very difficult for him/her to recover from its impact except in the centers for drug rehabilitation where they gain a new life, but which involves a high cost. In fact, there are many cases too where even rehabilitation centers fail because of the worst condition of the patients.

I, therefore, request all the students to refrain themselves completely from the consumption of drugs before it destroys their health, future and takes away their lives. Don’t even try to touch or come close to them. Drugs can even destroy a complete generation. So think wise and act smart. Shape your future which seems bright and full of achievements. The drugs that doctor prescribes to his/her patients must only be taken in order to combat a specific disease otherwise the government must take strict measures to ban its illegal trade in the market and save our youth from destruction.

I want to conclude by saying that drug abuse should be an absolute ‘No’ for all and I sincerely hope that our students will never ever try to consume drugs and will completely stay away from its use. Remember that our country needs you as you are its future and harbinger of progress.

Also Read: Essay on Drug Abuse

Speech on Drug Abuse – Speech 2

Good Morning Friends – Welcome to the 77 th campaign for drug addiction ban.

It feels extremely great to see how the members of our organization are working hard in order to make every day count and reach out to the masses for spreading awareness about the drug addiction or drug abuse. Since day one and today it’s the 77 th campaign of our organization – we haven’t really ever thought that we will grow this big, i.e. currently we have more than 200 people working for us and have gained a mass appeal. The response so far has been really good and we have been able to transform the life of the people for good, who earlier have been living under the influence of drugs.

So today I would further like to appeal to the masses to refrain themselves from using drugs and live a healthy life. Drug addiction or drug abuse is described as an excessive dependency on a substance, which inevitably becomes the compulsive need of the person using it. This need becomes so compulsive that without that substance the person cannot live his life like a normal person does. And, when such a substance is stopped being available in the market then that person is believed to be suffering from substance withdrawal.

The addiction of drugs has become one of the serious social problems in many developing as well as developed countries and it undeniably proves to be the principal obstruction in the all-round development of the people, society, country and the world at a large. Our country is a progressing country and it is already afflicted with so many other grave problems, such as unemployment, poverty and illiteracy that the problem of Adolescence and Drug abuse makes the situation even worse here as it further makes our economy regressive by destroying the lives of its youth.

Even sadder is the fact that several drug addicts cannot afford to make a purchase of expensive drugs so much so that in the end they have to resort to such activities as theft in their homes. These people are not born thieves, but their addiction to drugs makes them heinous and propels them to commit crimes in order to feed their body with drugs.

People can become addicted to drugs because of various reasons, some of which are mentioned below:

1. In order to de-stress themselves

When a person is under the influence of drugs, he/she forgets everything and enters into a trance-like state. However, it is only later that people realize that the use of drugs is only aggravating the problem and not really helping them in getting rid of the stress.

2. Out of peer pressure

Many times, people start taking drugs because their friends are addicted to them. However, once they start taking it, it becomes really difficult for them to get rid of this habit.

3. Style Statement

Many teenagers these days think that the habit of drinking, smoking and even drug addiction is what helps them look cool and create a style statement in the front of others. However, it’s only when these people get trapped in its vicious circle that they realize the irreparable they have caused to their lives.

Teenagers and every person for that matter must understand that the habit of drug abuse not only greatly affects their body and mind, but also finishes their bright future. So we should strictly say ‘No’ to drugs and save our lives as well the lives of our loved ones by spreading awareness in our surroundings.

Also Read: Speech on Adult Education

Speech on Drug Abuse – Speech 3

Respected Principal, Vice Principal, Teachers and My Dear Fellow Students – Warm Welcome to all of you! Today, standing in the prayer hall I would like to take this opportunity to deliver a brief speech on Drug Abuse.

I request our principal and teachers to kindly allow me to speak on this subject as it is a high time to enlighten our youth about the dangerous habit of drug abuse. In the present times, there are many factors that push a man to resort to drug addiction and make his/her life miserable. The most glaring factors are rapid industrialization and urbanization, which have given birth to a new kind of behavior among the youth of today, i.e. individualism and permissiveness. People these days prefer nuclear families and in many cases both parents are working, as a consequence of which they become less forbearing in comparison to their previous generations. People are living their lives in isolation and avoid getting social because the stress in the modern times has become way too much to make them withdrawn figures in their personal lives.

In the end, such people become involved in the habit of drinking, smoking, drug addiction, etc. Besides, when a child doesn’t feel satisfied at home or when he/she is deprived of love, affection and care of his/her parents, a feeling of discontentment comes in and such children become prone to drug addiction and ruin their lives completely. What is more painful to see that if the drug addicted people are not allowed the use of drugs, then he/she suffers from bouts of depression, painful and uncontrollable convulsions as well as vomiting!

It is an obvious fact that the addiction of drugs is ruining the path of progress of many individuals and our nation as a whole so much so that proactive measures need to be taken in order to keep a check on this destructive habit of our youth. The most significant step in this direction would be about spreading awareness amongst the people on a national scale.

Our Indian government has in fact formulated various campaigns and even has been able to gain success in this direction. The individuals whose family and friends suffer from the addiction of drugs are requested to approach the rehabilitation institutions and camps in order to provide treatment to the addicts.

Drug abuse should not be tolerated and be completely banned as a taboo. However, it is not advised to torture the addict or treat him/her inhumanely for this habit because if you try and convince the person about its treatment then he/she may willingly choose to opt for it and get rid of this addiction by admitting himself/herself at the rehabilitation centers.

A person who has become the victim of drug abuse is forced by his/her bodily conditions to carry on with the addiction, but sooner they realize the bad impact of this habit. All that these people need is a helping hand and therefore we should provide encouragement as well as support to these people in making these addicts come back to their normal lives and lead a healthy life.

Speech on Drug Abuse – Speech 4

Hon’ble Principal, Vice Principal, Fellow Colleagues and My Dear Students – Warm Greetings to one and all!

Firstly, I would like to extend a note of thank you to our respected Principal and Vice Principal for gracing this speech ceremony with their presence and giving their approval too. And, to all the fellow teachers – as without your support this event wouldn’t have been possible. I would also like to congratulate our dear students for making the desired arrangement on a short notice.

The topic for today’s speech is Drug Abuse! I have chosen to speak on this topic because these days I observe many campaigns being run on Drug Abuse in order to teach the people about its ill effects. As a teacher, it also becomes my responsibility to help them spread the message wherever we can and most importantly beginning from our very own school.

Drug abuse is considered one of the banes of our so called civilized society. It has affected all the sections and regions of our society. People with the illicit use of drug are found everywhere, i.e. in urban and rural regions, among men and women, among rich and poor. But it is exceedingly practiced by our young girls and boys living in hostels in nearly all technical and educational institutions.

The grave situation of drug abuse is prevalent across the world and unfortunately our very country India is more strongly affected by it. Our country is a transit country because it is placed between the Golden Triangle consisting of Burma, Thailand and Cambodia, including Golden Crescent consisting of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran – the places where most of the drugs, chiefly heroin and opium are produced. Pakistan is undeniably the nucleus of the world when it comes to any unlawful activity and as far as the drug production is concerned – it is the hub. In fact, a big proportion of drugs go by India in order that it can be exported to other countries.

This happens through the network of drug mafia who further has connections with formidable smugglers as well as terrorists. In the process, unfortunately several young men as well as women become victims to this diabolic activity. Pakistan with the help of ISI is involving itself in a proxy war in the region of Kashmir against India through money earned with the help of drug mafia. Thus, terrorism and drugs share very strong connections.

This addiction to drug is so deadly that people fall prey to its use and become almost a slave. If a person doesn’t get its regular dose, then that person starts feeling a lack of it and becomes depressed with severe pain which even leads to a lack of sensation in arms and legs. Drugs are of various kinds, such as heroin, opium, charas, ganja, etc.

There are some injections too which lead to a state of severe drowsiness. In case, a drug-addict is not able to receive the required dose of drug when needed, then he/she would be ready to do anything for it even by resorting to unfair means, such as theft or may be hurting someone physically, etc.

I therefore request everyone to strictly say ‘No’ to drugs and get such people admitted to rehabilitation centers where their conditions can be improved before it gets horrible and proves fatal for that person.

Visit IL website for more study resource.

Speech on Drug Abuse Faq’s

What is the topic of drug abuse day.

Drug Abuse Day focuses on raising awareness about the harmful effects of drug misuse and addiction.

What is drug abuse in the English language?

Drug abuse in English refers to the harmful and improper use of drugs, often leading to health and social problems.

How can we say no to drugs?

We can say no to drugs by staying informed, making healthy choices, and seeking support from friends and family when faced with drug temptations.

How to write an essay about drugs?

To write an essay about drugs, start with an introduction, discuss the impacts, causes, and solutions, and conclude with your viewpoint on the topic.

What is drugs summary?

A drugs summary is a brief overview of key information about drugs, including their effects, risks, and uses.

What is drug abuse in a short introduction?

Drug abuse is when people misuse drugs, causing harm to themselves and society. It's a serious problem that needs attention.

What are a few lines on addiction?

Addiction is a strong, harmful craving for something, like drugs, that can be very difficult to control. It can lead to serious problems.

We can say no to drugs by being strong, confident, and making choices that keep us safe and healthy.

Addiction is a powerful need for something that can be harmful, like drugs or alcohol. It can affect a person's life in many negative ways.

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Say No To Drugs (Essay Sample)

No to drugs.

Drugs are chemicals which affect the neurochemical balance in the brain which then affects how a person feels and acts. Drugs are generalized into two factions: one for medication and one for illegal use or what is commonly known as drug addiction.

Drugs have been used for many years, especially by those who deny the severity of the consequence upon consuming them, the curious teenagers wherein some, if not most, dwell on the satisfaction they get from them, starting a cycle of addiction, and bankruptcy, and there are some who desperately try to self-medicate themselves out of depression, low-self-esteem, stress, or any other negative emotion.

There are many reasons as to why you should say no to drugs, at least the illegal ones and this paper will stress some, if not most of them.

• Although drugs give the body increased energy, it also leads to high blood pressure and rapid heart rate. After the sudden boost of energy, the person will then feel lethargic and this will give them the feeling of dependency that they need drugs in order to get that feeling of being energetic and being “happy”.
• Drugs mess with the neurological function of the mind. Drugs can cause you to lose your capacity to remember, impairs your cognitive ability, and speak coherently. Drugs delay and lessen your sense of alertness and awareness. Drugs, if they mess with your cognitive ability, will cause you to act in a strange and usually violent way.
• Drugs mess with finances. Let us face it, drugs are not cheap. Drugs as explained earlier affect your cognitive ability and overall health which in turn makes it harder for you to earn money. In essence, buying drugs is like paying a killer to ultimately destroy you, your body, and your wallet.
• Drugs mess with the body. Generally speaking, drug abuse can lead to an overdose which can kill someone. Drugs are after all, toxic to the body.
• Drugs mess with ambition. Drug addicts literally lose sights of their goals and aspirations and instead would prefer having an immediate supply of what can give them satisfaction, regardless they be temporary or cause permanent damage. All humane considerations for any act in the achievement of their ambitions are gone along with the appearance and the permanence of drug addiction unless they cater to their actual needs and rehabilitate themselves in order to once more, set sight on what they should be accomplishing.
• Drugs mess with travel plans. Logically speaking, airports will definitely not allow you to travel nor do other modes of transportation should they see you not fit in riding their vehicles. You will generally lose your very right to go out on an adventure should you be found guilty of having the intake of drugs.
• Drugs ruin lives. It is no mystery that drugs and their regular intake will eventually ruin one’s life. From simple curiosity to addiction, the intake of drugs not only ruin your future, but ruin your relationship with the people you love, inherently gives you the idea that your entire life revolves around the drug(s) you take, and leads you to commit federal crimes.

In essence, drugs ultimately ruin everything a person treasures, be it his dreams, his aspirations, his plans, his relationships, his society, his finances, his body, and his mind. Drugs makes one lose his willingness to strive and his competency in order to have a better future. If you are not willing to throw away your life in these manners, then say no to drugs and anything that will ruin life.

Why it’s important to just say no to bad drug policy

Associate Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University

Disclosure statement

Margie Skeer does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Tufts University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation US.

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In all the discussions about the proposed health care law, it was easy to overlook a statement made by Attorney General Jeff Sessions on March 15: “I think we have too much of a tolerance for drug use – psychologically, politically, morally… We need to say, as Nancy Reagan said, ‘ Just say no .’”

It seems obvious. When someone offers you drugs, just say no. Yet research has shown that this slogan and accompanying campaign from the mid-1980s, spearheaded by then First Lady Nancy Reagan , was not only ineffective, it was also closely aligned with the War on Drugs, which gained new traction under President Ronald Reagan. This effort to prevent and reduce substance misuse and addiction focused on white, middle-class children, and wound up demonizing others, particularly African-Americans.

This War on Drugs movement, punctuated by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 signed by President Reagan, also brought with it the enactment of mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses , which further criminalized drug use, even low-level drug offenses. Furthermore, mandates under this act were racially fueled, creating and perpetuating racial and economic disparities in incarceration rates related to drug use and addiction . These disparities continue today.

Attorney General Sessions’ statement aligns with his stated commitment to increase the number of private prisons, as in February 2017, he revoked the directive by President Obama to reduce the number of for-profit prisons . President Obama also was working on reducing prison time for nonviolent drug offenses , moving toward a model of treating addiction more holistically, rather than criminally. Between Sessions’ statements about our country being too tolerant of drugs and his plans to expand private prisons, we appear to be heading back toward criminalizing addiction, rather than treating it.

Ineffective substance misuse prevention strategies

Over the past three decades since the “Just Say No” campaign was initiated, the science behind effective strategies to reduce and prevent substance use initiation has strengthened. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, for example, has a Strategic Prevention Framework that identifies multiple evidence-based prevention principles .

The science has also demonstrated that pure education and knowledge-based efforts, which is the premise of the programs that came out of the “Just Say No” campaign, are not effective . At best, messages that came out of this era are too simplistic; at worst, they demonize people who use illegal drugs, which is shortsighted, given that in 2016, almost half of 12th grade students in the U.S. reported having used illicit drugs .

This tactic also ignores the reasons people start using drugs or become addicted to drugs in the first place, which may include genetics, trauma and other risk factors. That’s why effective strategies must include more than knowledge – they are skills-based, interactive and recognize that different approaches are necessary for different age groups and stages of development.

Treating drug use and addiction criminally is misguided. Addiction is complicated and getting off of drugs takes more than willpower. Because the brain changes in response to continued drug use and dependence, it becomes very hard to stop. But addiction can be successfully treated through various methods (for example, medication, behavioral therapy, etc.) , and should be.

Not the answer for drug use prevention

“Just Say No” is clearly not the answer to the current opioid epidemic, either. Prevention strategies need to do so much more than tell young people to literally just say no to drugs.

This mantra is part of movements that treat addiction as a moral failing rather than a medical and social issue. In my opinion, going back to this philosophy will set the work in substance misuse prevention back decades.

I agree with Attorney General Sessions that we should “just say no,” but I disagree with the target.

We should just say no to antiquated, ineffective and regressive strategies and policies for drug misuse prevention, and to demonizing complicated behaviors that are often initiated out of trauma, for capital gains in the prison system. Sessions, it seems, wants to further stigmatize and criminalize trauma. To this, I just say no.

• Drug policy
• Ronald Reagan
• Opioid epidemic
• Jeff Sessions
• Nancy Reagan

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Why "Just Say No" Doesn't Work

A popular program for preventing teen drug use does not help. Here's what does

By Scott O. Lilienfeld & Hal Arkowitz

“Just say no.” In 1982 First Lady Nancy Reagan uttered those three words in response to a schoolgirl who wanted to know what she should say if someone offered her drugs. The first lady's suggestion soon became the clarion call for the adolescent drug prevention movement in the 1980s and beyond. Since then, schools around the country have instituted programs designed to discourage alcohol and drug use among youth—most of them targeting older elementary schoolchildren and a few addressing adolescents.

There is good reason for concern about youth substance abuse. A large U.S. survey conducted in 2012 by psychologist Lloyd D. Johnston and his colleagues at the University of Michigan revealed that fully 24 percent of 12th graders had engaged in binge drinking (defined as five or more drinks on one occasion) in the past two weeks. Moreover, 42 percent had consumed at least some alcohol in the past month, as had 11 percent of eighth graders and 28 percent of high school sophomores. In addition, 1 percent of 12th graders had tried methamphetamine, and almost 3 percent had used cocaine in the past year.

In an attempt to reduce these figures, substance abuse prevention programs often educate pupils regarding the perils of drug use, teach students social skills to resist peer pressure to experiment, and help young people feel that saying no is socially acceptable. All the approaches seem sensible on the surface, so policy makers, teachers and parents typically assume they work. Yet it turns out that approaches involving social interaction work better than the ones emphasizing education. That finding may explain why the most popular prevention program has been found to be ineffective—and may even heighten the use of some substances among teens.

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Rehearsing Refusal The most widely publicized teen substance abuse prevention program is Drug Abuse Resistance Education, better known by the acronym D.A.R.E. Created in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department, D.A.R.E. asks uniformed police officers to go into schools to warn students about the dangers of drug use and underscore the pluses of a drug-free way of life. In most cases, the officers do so once a week, typically for 45 to 60 minutes, for several months. D.A.R.E. is immensely popular; according to the program Web site, it has been put in place in 75 percent of U.S. school districts and 43 countries. D.A.R.E. bumper stickers, D.A.R.E. T-shirts, and police cars emblazoned with the word D.A.R.E. are familiar fixtures in many U.S. communities.

Despite this fanfare, data indicate that the program does little or nothing to combat substance use in youth. A meta-analysis (mathematical review) in 2009 of 20 controlled studies by statisticians Wei Pan, then at the University of Cincinnati, and Haiyan Bai of the University of Central Florida revealed that teens enrolled in the program were just as likely to use drugs as were those who received no intervention.

A few clues to D.A.R.E.'s deficiencies come from psychologist Pim Cuijpers of the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction in Utrecht. In a review of 30 studies published in 2002, she attempted to pinpoint the common elements of successful programs. Cuijpers reported that the most effective ones involve substantial amounts of interaction between instructors and students. They teach students the social skills they need to refuse drugs and give them opportunities to practice these skills with other students—for example, by asking students to play roles on both sides of a conversation about drugs, while instructors coach them about what to say and do. In addition, programs that work take into account the importance of behavioral norms: they emphasize to students that substance use is not especially common and thereby attempt to counteract the misconception that abstaining from drugs makes a person an oddball.

In a 2011 review of various substance abuse prevention programs, epidemiologist Melissa Stigler of the University of Texas School of Public Health and her colleagues buttressed these conclusions. They further observed that programs that unfold during many sessions—ideally, over several years—garner especially strong results, probably because they provide students with lessons that are reinforced over time, as children mature and encounter different environments.

D.A.R.E. lacks some of these key elements. It typically lasts only months rather than years. Moreover, it affords students few opportunities to practice how to refuse offers of drugs. Indeed, Cuijpers noted that purely educational programs that involve minimal or no direct social interaction with other students are usually ineffective. Merely telling participants to “just say no” to drugs is unlikely to produce lasting effects because many may lack the needed interpersonal skills. Programs led exclusively by adults, with little or no involvement of students as peer leaders—another common feature of D.A.R.E.—seem relatively unsuccessful, again probably because students get little practice saying no to other kids.

Good Intentions That Backfire Worse, D.A.R.E. programs might occasionally backfire when it comes to the use of milder substances, such as alcohol and cigarettes. In a 2002 review psychologist Chudley Werch, now president of PreventionPLUSWellness in Jacksonville, Fla., and health educator Deborah Owen of the University of North Florida reported a slight tendency for teens who went through D.A.R.E. to be more likely to drink and smoke than adolescents not exposed to the program. Small negative effects for D.A.R.E.-like programs on drinking and smoking were also reported in a 2009 study by public health professor Zili Sloboda of the University of Akron and her colleagues. The reasons for these potential boomerang effects are unclear. Yet by emphasizing the hazards of severe drug abuse, D.A.R.E. may inadvertently convey the impression that alcohol and tobacco are innocuous by comparison.

These scientific findings stand in stark contrast to the belief, held by scores of schoolteachers and parents, that D.A.R.E. works. One reason for this discrepancy, clinical psychologist Donald R. Lynam, now at Purdue University, and his colleagues wrote in a 1999 article, is that teachers and parents may overestimate the prevalence of substance use among children. As a consequence, they may assume a decline in use when students of D.A.R.E. abstain from alcohol and drugs. But that conclusion is erroneous if children who did not receive drug prevention education display levels of drug use that are just as low, if not lower. In addition, as Lynam and his colleagues observe, D.A.R.E. makes intuitive sense: it seems plausible that most children exposed to authority figures who warn that drug use is dangerous would hesitate to disobey those admonitions.

The good news is that some proponents of D.A.R.E. are now heeding the negative research findings and incorporating potentially effective elements, such as role playing with peers, into the intervention. Research on these revised programs should soon tell us whether they will make a dent in the considerable problem of substance abuse among vulnerable youth.

Scott O. Lilienfeld is a psychology professor at Emory University.

Hal Arkowitz is a psychology professor at the University of Arizona. The authors thank Lori Marino for her generous help with this article.

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11 Effective Ways to Turn Down Drugs and Alcohol

Last Updated: August 13, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Tala Johartchi, PsyD and by wikiHow staff writer, Ali Garbacz, B.A. . Dr. Tala Johartchi is a Clinical Psychologist based in the Los Angeles, California metro area. With expertise and advanced training in Evidence-Based Practices and therapeutic/behavioral frameworks, Dr. Johartchi specializes in working with individuals, couples, and families experiencing Substance Disorders, Love Addiction and Codependency, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as common co-occurring disorders such as Depression, Anxiety, and Relational/Attachment difficulties. She earned an MA and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from The American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, San Francisco. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 548,369 times.

When it comes to peer pressure, usually a simple “No thank you” will keep others from pushing you to try drugs and alcohol. However, there also might be times when you need to be a bit more firm to get others to stop. We know it can be a bit nerve-wracking to stand up to others, especially if they’re your friends. So to help, we’ve come up with a bunch of different ways to say no. We’ll start with some simple options that usually work for most situations, but we’ll also be sure to give you more specific advice in case you’re still feeling pressured.

Things You Should Know

• Make up an excuse for why you can't participate. For example, say you have to wake up early the next day or are meeting up with a friend later.
• Tell them you're the designated driver for the night and therefore need to stay sober.
• If someone continues pressuring you, don't be afraid to be firm. Say, “I said no. Please don’t ask me again."

Make an excuse.

• “No thanks, my parents will probably know if I come home high.”
• “I can’t stay long, I have to go help my dad with something.”
• “I’m supposed to meet my friend in a few minutes, so I can’t.”
• “I promised my friend I’d take them home soon.”
• “My job does routine drug tests, so I’d rather not risk it.”

Use a little humor.

• “No thanks, I need all the brain cells I can get.”
• “Doesn’t that stuff stunt your growth? I’m too short already!”
• “No thanks. My friends already have enough embarrassing videos of me from when I was drunk.”
• “I’d love to, but I have to chaperone my friends over there. Who knows what they’ll get up to?”

Change the subject.

• “I’m good. Wanna go play basketball?”
• “No thanks. Let’s go grab some food.”
• “How about we go and check out the new cafe down the street instead?”
• “Nah, I’m good. Hey, did you hear about what happened to Billy the other day?”
• “No thanks. So what do you guys think about taking a trip this summer?”

Offer to be the designated driver.

• “Hey guys, I’ll be our DD tonight. No drinking for me!”
• “I’m all good, I’m staying sober so I can drive everyone home tonight.”
• “I’m cool with driving tonight so don’t worry about me.”
• “I think it’s my turn to be DD.”

Act like you’re too busy.

• “No thanks! I’m way too busy!”
• “And leave the dance floor? Nah, I’m good!”
• “Sorry, but my friend and I haven’t seen each other in a while and we wanted to catch up.”

Explain the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

• “No thanks. That stuff is so bad for you.”
• “Haven’t you heard about the kids on the news who died from doing that?”
• “Your health can get pretty messed up from doing that. I just want to stay safe.”
• “I heard that your teeth turn super yellow from smoking. So I’d rather not.”
• “No thanks. It’s really bad for your liver.”

• “No thanks. I just really don’t like the taste/smell.”
• “My parents would kill me if they found out.”
• “I could get kicked off the team for doing that.”

• “My uncle did drugs in high school and I saw what it did to him. I’d rather not have that happen to me.”

Keep saying no.

• Them: “Hey, do you want a drink?” You: “No thanks.” Them: “You sure? It’s pretty good.” You: “No, I’m good.” Them: “Seriously? It’s one drink.” You: “I said no.”
• If a simple “no” really isn’t working, move on to a different method, like using humor or making up an excuse.
• If you need to be more forceful, say something like, “I said no, and I’m not going to change my mind. Please stop asking.”

Explain that you’re in recovery.

• “No thanks, I’m actually 6 months sober as of today.”
• “I’m all good. That stuff really messes me up, and I’m trying to kick the habit.”
• “I’ve been making really good progress, and I don’t want to start back from square one.”
• “I’m really trying to make better choices and would appreciate it if you’d respect my decision.”

Take a nonalcoholic drink with you at parties.

• Try pouring your drink into a plastic cup so other people can’t tell it’s only something like soda or iced tea.
• If your friends are doing shots, ask for a water shot so you can still participate with them.
• If someone offers to get you a drink, say, “I'm definitely open to grabbing a drink, but could you get me something that's nonalcoholic?”

Leave the situation.

• “I’ve got practice in 20 minutes.”
• “I’ve really got to study for this test.”
• “My curfew is at 10, and if I’m late my parents are going to be so mad.”
• “My friend is calling me. I need to take this.”
• “I don’t feel so well. I’m going to go outside for a bit of fresh air.”

Expert Q&A

• If someone is constantly pressuring you to do drugs or drink alcohol, talk to a trusted adult. [12] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
• Make friends who respect your decision to stay away from drugs and alcohol. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1

• If you go to a party or event where there may be drugs, never leave your drink unattended. There’s a possibility that someone could put drugs into it without you knowing. [13] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://treatmentsolutions.com/blog/15-ways-a-teen-can-say-no-to-alcohol-and-drugs/
• ↑ https://www.poehealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RefusalSkills_WEBPDF-1.pdf
• ↑ https://www.oxfordclinicalpsych.com/view/10.1093/med:psych/9780199334513.001.0001/med-9780199334513-appendix-24
• ↑ https://health-education-human-services.wright.edu/sites/health-education-human-services.wright.edu/files/page/attachments/HOPECurriculum_Grade8_Lesson2_August2020.pdf
• ↑ Tala Johartchi, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 16 July 2021.
• ↑ https://illuminaterecovery.com/blog/how-to-get-through-the-holiday-season-as-a-recovering-addict/
• ↑ https://www.girlshealth.gov/substance/drugs/sayno.html

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Adolescence

Don’t just say ‘no’ to drugs – say ‘yes’ to life, new research shows how your teen's hobbies can protect them from drug use..

Posted May 2, 2016

• What Changes During Adolescence?
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Transitioning from middle to high school is a huge shift for many teens. After leaving the relative safety of a familiar school, they’re suddenly thrown in to a brand new school with older peers (i.e. 10th -12th graders) who are at a totally different stage of development – farther along in puberty, with different social hierarchies and romantic or even sexual relationships. On top of this, the majority of students try alcohol or other drugs for the first time in high school. For these reasons, substance use researchers focus on the transition to high school as a key window for intervening to prevent or delay substance use initiation as much as possible.

Teens who drink before age 15 are about twice as likely to report having alcohol-related problems later in life than teens who were older when they started drinking (Fergusson et al., 1994). Moreoever, about 11% of teens meet criteria for a substance use disorder diagnosis (Merikangas et al., 2010). These statistics are striking. Why are these numbers so high? And what can we do to prevent teens from developing substance use disorders?

Unfortunately, these are not easy questions to answer. Substance use disorders are complex and determined by many factors, including influences from peers, genes , and the family environment. For example, genetic factors explain 40-60% of the risk for alcohol use disorders (Prescott & Kendler, 1999). That leaves about half of one’s risk towards alcoholism being associated with environmental factors – something that may be more malleable since we can’t change someone’s genes (yet).

The concept of “alternative reinforcers” has been getting recent attention from researchers working in this area. These are activities (i.e. hobbies, sports, dancing, arts, school, etc.) that represent alternative ways of obtaining pleasure outside of substance use. Alcohol consumption tends to decrease when adults have greater access to alternative reinforcers (Vuchinich & Tucker, 1996). However, there has been very little research to illustrate how alternative reinforcers might work in adolescence .

A recent study from the University of Southern California attempted to understand how access to alternative reinforcers might influence substance use in teens. This study tracked approximately 3,400 9th grade students in Los Angeles and looked at the number of hobbies a student had and how much pleasure they gained from them. Engaging in fewer activities outside of substance use (e.g., sports, arts, acting, volunteering, etc.) was associated with increased substance use (Leventhal et al., 2015). Similarly, research from the University of Pennsylvania found that young adults with more depressive symptoms engaged in less alternatively reinforcing activities, and engaging in less alternatively reinforcing activities was related to more smoking (Audrain-McGovern et al., 2011). Young adults with depression may withdraw from their outside environment and turn towards smoking as one of their only sources of pleasure.

These studies are all part of a growing body of research showing that substance use occurs in the absence of alternative reinforcers. In other words, substance use becomes more attractive to teens who don’t have other means of getting pleasure and satisfaction. This idea is particularly important given researchers believe that the more a teen is exposed to substances, the more likely it is that he or she will need higher levels of pleasure to find an activity enjoyable. In other words, using substances raises the bar for teens to find other things fun. Thus, that afternoon tea outing with grandma won’t be as interesting after that house party from the night before. Neuroimaging research supports this idea showing a decrease in the brain’s response to natural reinforcers in the environment among drug-addicted individuals (Hatzgiakoumis, Martinotti, Giannantonio, & Janiri, 2011).

“Alternative reinforcers” is an interesting theory, but what does it mean for substance abuse treatment?

One particular Auburn University study randomly assigned 133 students to either increase their activity level or reduce their substance use by 50% (Correia et al., 2005). These two groups were compared to a group that was instructed to not change their behavior. Both the substance use reduction group and the activity increase group significantly decreased their substance use at the end of the 4-week follow-up period. But participants told to engage in other activities not only decreased their substance use, but also showed increases in both exercise and creative behaviors. This finding is particularly interesting given that students were not specifically told to reduce their substance use, but that it appeared to have naturally happened as a byproduct of engagement in other activities. Thus, this provides some evidence that it’s possible to intervene on substance use behaviors without directly changing use behavior itself but through changing the environment.

So what can be done from an environmental policy perspective? The National Recreation and Parks Association released an overview of the public health impact that having parks and recreation services can have on a community. They noted that lower income neighborhoods have less access to parks and related services. More public funding of parks, community centers, mentorship programs, and sports can help us create more alternative reinforcers on a societal level. This is particularly important given that music, arts, gym, and health education are the first to go with budget cuts. Additionally, more research needs to be done in how we can more effectively and efficiently involve teens in healthy activities as well as tailoring certain types of activities (e.g. sports vs. arts) to the unique personality of teens. This may be particularly important early on in childhood and adolescence prior to substance use engagement.

As researchers and policy makers pursue these goals of preventing and delaying substance use initiation, we can start right where we are and get teens committed to hobbies before high school even starts. So when your 9th grade son or daughter meets a new 11th grade friend in their Biology class who asks if they want to go to this pool party where alcohol will be around, your son or daughter can say “No” because they already said “Yes” to hiking with friends.

Dr. Rubin Khoddam is a Clinical Psychologist currently working in private practice in Los Angeles, CA as well as at the West Los Angeles VA as the Team Lead in the residential rehabilitation program for individuals dealing with issues related to substance use and homelessness. Dr. Khoddam currently provides individual, couples and family therapy , as well as group therapy. He also runs the IMPROVE: Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Program, a low-demand, harm reduction substance use treatment program for individuals hoping to decrease their substance use or examine the impact of their substance use in their life. For more information, visit his site www.DrRubinKhoddam.com and follow him on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

Audrain‐McGovern, J., Rodriguez, D., Rodgers, K., & Cuevas, J. (2011). Declining alternative reinforcers link depression to young adult smoking. Addiction, 106(1), 178-187.

Correia, C. J., Benson, T. A., & Carey, K. B. (2005). Decreased substance use following increases in alternative behaviors: A preliminary investigation. Addictive behaviors, 30(1), 19-27.

Hatzigiakoumis, D. S., Martinotti, G., Giannantonio, M. D., & Janiri, L. (2011). Anhedonia and substance dependence: clinical correlates and treatment options. Front Psychiatry , 2(10).

Leventhal, A. M., Bello, M. S., Unger, J. B., Strong, D. R., Kirkpatrick, M. G., & Audrain-McGovern, J. (2015). Diminished alternative reinforcement as a mechanism underlying socioeconomic disparities in adolescent substance use. Preventive medicine, 80, 75-81.

Merikangas, K. R., He, J. P., Burstein, M., Swanson, S. A., Avenevoli, S., Cui, L., ... & Swendsen, J. (2010). Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in US adolescents: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication–Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(10), 980-989.

Prescott, C. A., & Kendler, K. S. (1999). Genetic and environmental contributions to alcohol abuse and dependence in a population-based sample of male twins . American Journal of Psychiatry.

Rubin Khoddam, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist in the Los Angeles area.

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Saying no to drugs

Arul thangavel.

1 Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0320 USA

Bradley Sharpe

2 Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA

Illicit drug use, and the associated health problems, is a frequent issue encountered by medical providers. Because of its salience as a piece of health care information, drug use history is often included in patient charts and presentations by house staff and medical students. However, if used and recorded inappropriately, drug use history can have significant long-lasting effects on the perception of patients in a system where they have little agency.

It was my first day on my Obstetrics rotation, and I was flustered, running late and feeling damp from the blistering Fresno heat. I stepped through the hospital doors and wandered down a hallway replete with moans, yells and whimpers. I found the physician rounding room and glimpsed a white board divided into a grid, one line for each patient, rife with acronyms too arcane to decipher.

The chief resident saw me agape and assigned me my first patient, Ms. Lisa Valle 1 . I didn’t know what this assignment meant, but I understood enough to listen closely to the resident’s presentation. She quickly summarized the patient: ‘A 19-year-old G1P0 at 22 weeks. Methamphetamine user with PPROM on hospital day 12.’ The only word I understood was ‘methamphetamine,’ and I was petrified. I envisioned a large billboard back home in San Francisco that featured an emaciated woman, eyes glistening with psychosis, with only a lone tooth, depicting, hyperbolically, the disastrous effects of methamphetamine on the body.

The next morning I steeled myself for my first meeting with such a methamphetamine user. After reviewing Ms. Valle’s chart, I knocked, entered her room, and was taken aback. Here was a startlingly healthy woman. She had all of her teeth. She wasn’t emaciated. Disarmed, I stumbled through my questions—questions I’d prepared for a more hostile recipient. Lisa answered my questions calmly and asked important and pertinent questions about her baby’s health. As I went over her baby’s prognosis and the likely length of her hospital stay (not cheerful answers on either account) her demeanour paradoxically brightened a bit. She promised to think of more questions for me.

I learned more about her over the following week, including her ‘substance abuse history.’ She’d tried meth once years ago, a poor decision borne from late-night alcohol-fuelled peer pressure. When I first started my presentations in front of the entire team, I emulated my resident, pronouncing my patient’s drug history in my opening line. But eventually her methamphetamine use sank down through my presentation, until finally I didn’t mention it at all. It was a remote history written on the board, and even this seemed unjust.

Lisa’s drug history was a profound piece of health information for me. It was a perplexing thing; the word ‘methamphetamine’ scared me, but also set my mind whirring. If methamphetamines directly caused her condition, my cognitive response to her drug history could have been vital. But the relevance of remote, one-time drug use was more murky. The billboard’s emaciated, toothless spectre arose with little benefit to Lisa’s care.

After 2 weeks, Lisa’s condition had not changed. Each morning, at the end of her case discussion, a small pause ensued, as if to insulate such a hopeless patient from those more hopeful ones who came after. It was devastating to watch; my first ward as a someday doctor relegated to the corners of medicine, where treatment has yet to catch up with diagnosis.

Over the next few weeks, I visited Lisa frequently, watching her grow increasingly tired. One Wednesday, she was particularly alight, and when I asked after her good mood, she said she’d felt her baby moving. But when I asked the team about this hopeful turn, they were sceptical: the ultrasounds hadn’t shown any movement at all.

One morning, a classmate who had been on call the night before told me that Lisa’s temperature had risen and her blood pressure had dropped. Her baby had died and she had quickly turned septic. Her 25 weeks of pregnancy culminated in an emergent C-section. In the end, her baby had been doomed for weeks, a victim not of methamphetamine but a prematurely ruptured amniotic sac. As physicians pulled her baby from her, they saw the child had only a single, sad eye placed squarely in the centre of its head.

In clinic weeks later, I heard a voice call my name from across the hall. I looked up and saw Lisa standing on a scale with a medical assistant. I walked over, and she spoke animatedly about her time since leaving the hospital, with that same indefatigable cheerfulness I had encountered when we first met. She asked if I had heard what had happened to her child, and I said yes. I accompanied her into her appointment, and listened as the resident went through some compulsory questions and an examination. Her drug history came up once, the resident dutifully asking whether she was still using meth. A cloud passed over Lisa’s face. I realized sadly that she wasn’t privy to the prominent inclusion of her drug history in her daily presentations and discharge summary. Her sunny disposition faltered slightly on a confusion: is this what she was to people now?

In a medical system where patients have little agency, Lisa’s story highlights the power that health care providers wield. Lisa was no methamphetamine addict; her one-time drug use was tangential to her medical care. Yet, weeks later, ensconced in the medical record, this history haunted her care. In each medical appointment now, Lisa would explain to a new provider that methamphetamine addiction, for all its horrors, was not her burden to bear. Lisa’s story should remind us that we are patients’ stewards in an opaque system, and our behaviour, even at its most automatic and seemingly inconsequential, can profoundly affect their health care for years to come.

Disclaimers

The views expressed in this essay are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of any educational body.

Source(s) of support

Conflict of interest declaration.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Biographies

is a third-year Internal Medicine resident at the University of California, San Francisco.

is professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He also holds the positions of associate division chief for the Division of Hospital Medicine and the associate chief of the Medical Service at Moffitt-Long Hospital.

1 Name changed to protect identity of patient.

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Schools And The Fentanyl Crisis

'just say no' didn't actually protect students from drugs. here's what could.

Lee V. Gaines

Nicole Cohen

This story was originally published on Nov. 9, 2023 and has been updated to include an episode on the topic from Life Kit.

College sophomore Elias Myers thinks his friends are lucky to be alive.

The 19-year-old recounts a recent incident in which his friends got ahold of a drug that test strips showed was laced with fentanyl, a potent, often deadly, synthetic opioid.

"That's kind of when I decided that caution is not, like, a best practice, but a survival technique," says the University of California, Berkeley, student.

As more teens overdose on fentanyl, schools face a drug crisis unlike any other

And yet those survival techniques were never talked about in Myers' middle and high school drug education classes. In fact Myers says they didn't mention fentanyl at all. He says those classes failed to prepare him and his peers for an increasingly dangerous drug landscape in which a single high can have deadly consequences.

Myers says everything he learned about fentanyl has been from friends and older siblings.

"But it didn't have to be that way. We could have learned safety way ahead of time," he says.

For decades, students like Myers have been told to just say no to drugs. The message was repeated in public service announcements and in classroom presentations. But research shows this approach alone doesn't work. And now, overdose deaths among teenagers have skyrocketed — largely due to fentanyl. The synthetic opioid was involved in the vast majority of teen overdose deaths in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Many of those deaths involved fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills that didn't come from a pharmacy. And the problem has followed teens onto college campuses .

Some experts say drug education that focuses on harm reduction techniques – designed to keep people safe when they do choose to use – could help save lives. Here's what that looks like.

Teaching safety measures for when students do choose to use

"The most important tenet of drug education is to be honest," says professor Bonnie Halpern-Felsher. "And to have a balanced perspective. We cannot lie, we cannot exaggerate to teens."

Halpern-Felsher directs Stanford University's REACH Lab, which focuses on understanding, preventing and reducing teen and young adult substance use, among other risky behaviors.

Her lab maintains a high school curriculum called Safety First (initially developed by the nonprofit Drug Policy Alliance), which encourages young people to abstain from drug use while also providing them with information to reduce their risk of addiction and death if they or their friends do choose to use. The concept is called harm reduction.

First, Halpern-Felsher says, students need to know the facts about drugs — including their benefits and their harms.

For example, opioids like fentanyl have been used safely in healthcare facilities for decades to treat patients' pain. But when used recreationally — either purposefully or unknowingly — it's extremely dangerous, because very small amounts can lead to an overdose.

The latest college campus freebies? Naloxone and fentanyl test strips

Activities — not just lectures — should be used to demonstrate a lesson, Halpern-Felsher explains. The Safety First curriculum includes an activity that asks students to add sugar to one pitcher of water and salt to another.

"You cannot see the difference. But one can and potentially will really hurt you. And this is why it's so important for you to understand that you cannot just simply pick up a drug and go ahead and use it," she says.

The curriculum also outlines safety measures for when students or their friends do choose to use drugs. Messages like:

• If you're using drugs, the healthiest choice is to stop using, or at least cut down on how much and how often you use. 
• Ideally, you're using drugs only as recommended by a doctor or a pharmaceutical label. But if you're not, don't take a lot of any drug. Wait and see how it affects you before taking any more. 
• Consider your mindset before using drugs. What you're thinking and feeling before and during substance use can affect your experience. 
• Consider the setting. Where and with whom you're using drugs can reduce your chance of injury or death. 
• Check the substance before you use it. Testing a drug for things like fentanyl can reduce the risk of harm. But even test strips aren't always 100% accurate. 
• Don't mix drugs. The effects from combining drugs may be stronger and more unpredictable than one drug alone, and even deadly.  
• Know how to respond in an emergency: Spot the signs of an overdose. Call 911. Place someone on their side to prevent choking. Administer the opioid reversal medication naloxone, often sold under the brand name Narcan.

Halpern-Felsher knows some people might interpret harm reduction as encouraging teens to use drugs. But she says that's a misperception.

"The most important piece of this curriculum is not to use, but if they are using or if they're in situations where they might be using, we are just trying to keep them safe," she says.

Naloxone can save students' lives, but not every school has it

There are few studies that focus on harm reduction drug education programs in schools, and more research is needed to evaluate their efficacy. But experts told NPR that harm reduction could help save lives at a moment when teens are dying at alarming rates.

A pilot study of the Safety First curriculum found it significantly increased high school students' knowledge of harm reduction techniques and behaviors, and found a decrease in overall substance use.

What harm reduction looks like in the classroom

Last spring, Cameron McNeely stood in front of a group of high schoolers and told them they had a choice to make: will they or won't they use drugs.

"I'm not here to judge you for that," he told the Indianapolis teens. "But hopefully I can present you some information that gets you to understand the consequences of those choices — yes or no — a little bit better, and, hopefully, to get you to steer clear of substance use."

McNeely, 28, is the director of youth education for Overdose Lifeline, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that created a drug education program, with an emphasis on opioids, for students in grades six through 12.

In this presentation at Perry Meridian High School, McNeely shared statistics on drug-related deaths, explained how opioids affect the body, emphasized addiction is a disease — not a moral failing — and explained why it's a good idea to carry naloxone.

To hammer that point home, McNeely shared a personal story: One night, while in college, he and his friend took some pills to relax. Shortly after, he noticed his friend had fallen asleep, and it looked like he was struggling to breathe.

"Little did I know, about five feet away from me, my friend was having an overdose," McNeely told the students. He called 911 and emergency responders were able to revive his friend with Narcan.

"It saved his life," he said. "Narcan buys time, which is the most important thing to have in an overdose."

After the presentation, McNeely told NPR he had little to no drug education in high school.

"Nobody ever told me about how to drink safely and how, if I use pills, you know, they have different effects on you and what those effects are, and how it could just kill you — just one night, bad pill, it could all go down the drain."

McNeely's experience isn't uncommon. Drug education across the country is ad-hoc, often outdated or not provided at all. In a 2021 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, only about 60% of 12-17-year-olds self-reported that they saw or heard drug or alcohol prevention messaging in school. And there's no way to track what type of drug education programming is being offered in schools nationwide.

"I just wanted to fill in those gaps that I felt as I was growing up in my drug education," McNeely said.

The "just say no" messaging of the past didn't work

McNeely's presentation is a far cry from the drug education of prior decades — like the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, commonly known by the acronym D.A.R.E. Launched in 1983 , D.A.R.E. was taught by police officers in classrooms nationwide. Their presentations warned students about the dangers of substance use and told kids to say no to drugs. It was a message that was repeated in PSAs and cheesy songs . Former First Lady Nancy Reagan even made it one of her major causes .

Here's why the new Nancy Reagan stamp prompted backlash from the LGBTQ+ community

Teaching drug abstinence remains popular among some groups, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's messaging to teenagers still focuses on the goal that they should be "drug-free." But numerous studies published in the 1990s and early 2000s concluded programs like D.A.R.E. had no significant impact on drug use. And one study actually found a slight uptick in drug use among suburban students after participation in D.A.R.E. In 2009, D.A.R.E. rebranded with new curriculums for students dubbed "keepin' it REAL." But the programming doesn't focus on how students can minimize their risk of harm if they do choose to use drugs.

"It is clear that just saying no is not sufficient," says Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "We'd like the theoretical perfect: don't touch a drug — abstinence. But that's not necessarily the reality for everyone."

Volkow says the failures of past drug education programs haunt current efforts to inform young people of the risks of fentanyl.

For years, anti-drug curriculums exaggerated the effects of certain types of substance use, she says. For example: Students were taught that using cannabis would destroy their brain or make them dumb. And while there is data to suggest cannabis use can have detrimental effects — particularly for young people — that messaging didn't always match students' lived experiences.

College sophomore Elias Myers remembers the dire warnings. But he also had classmates who used the drug.

"I couldn't understand, like, if these people can smoke weed after class and be totally fine, how can this curriculum be true?" Myers says. "I remember coming away from that in like middle school and early high school feeling really unsatisfied with the education. I remember feeling as though what I was being told perhaps wasn't the truth."

Volkow says that loss of credibility makes it harder to give students life-saving information about drugs now.

"It has weakened our position because a lot of people know others that take marijuana and they are functioning and they don't see any evidence of ill effects," she says.

And now the consequences of drug use are deadlier than ever. Teens are dying after taking what they thought was Adderall or Percocet, but turn out to be fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills.

"They actually taught us when we were children: If you cry wolf too many times, when the wolf really comes, no one is paying attention," Volkow says. "And this is, I fear, where we are a little bit with fentanyl, because it is such a dangerous moment in the history of illicit drugs right now."

Meet young people where they are, not where you want them to be

Volkow and Bonnie Halpern-Felsher say school curriculums that teach kids how to reduce the harms related to drug use can help save lives — but they're not a cure-all.

Halpern-Felsher says schools alone can't solve the fentanyl crisis; rather, it requires a cultural shift. Educators, families and communities at large need to start having honest conversations about drug use.

"And until we do, you know, just having a 50-minute class on fentanyl is not going to be the sole defining moment for anybody."

Myers, in California, serves on the Youth Action Board for Halpern-Felsher's REACH Lab, and he's familiar with the Safety First curriculum.

"I think it's realistic," Myers says of the program. "You've got to meet children and teens and youths where they are, rather than meeting them where you want them to be."

Myers says he wishes he and his peers had had access to drug curriculums like this when he was in high school.

"I think that we would have adopted ideas of safety through school and not through having to actually experience times of danger," Myers says.

"I think that we were very lucky in so many different ways... You hear often about those who don't experience that luck. And I feel like those lives could have been saved."

Digital story written by Lee Gaines Digital story edited by Nicole Cohen Visual design and development by LA Johnson Life Kit audio story written by Lee Gaines and Nicole Cohen Life Kit audio story produced by Clare Marie Schneider Life Kit audio story edited by Meghan Keane All Things Considered audio story written by Lee Gaines All Things Considered audio story edited by Nicole Cohen All Things Considered audio story produced by Janet Woojeong Lee

Paragraph on Drugs

Students are often asked to write a paragraph on Drugs in their schools. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 200-word, and 250-word paragraphs on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

Paragraph on Drugs in 100 Words

Drugs are substances that can make people feel different when they take them. Some drugs, like medicine from the doctor, can make us feel better when we’re sick. But, other drugs, like cigarettes or alcohol, can harm our bodies. These bad drugs are not safe, they can make us feel sick, or even hurt our bodies very badly. It’s important to only use drugs that a doctor gives you, and never try the bad drugs. Always remember, our bodies are special, and we need to keep them safe and healthy.

Paragraph on Drugs in 200 Words

Drugs are substances that can change how our bodies and minds work. Some drugs, like medicines, are good for us when we are sick. They help us feel better. Doctors give these to us when we are not feeling well. But there are also bad drugs. Bad drugs, like cigarettes or illegal substances, can hurt our bodies and make us very sick. They can harm our lungs, hearts, and brains. They can also make us act in ways we normally wouldn’t. Taking bad drugs is a poor choice because they can stop us from being healthy, doing well in school, or having fun with friends. It’s important to always say no to bad drugs. Instead, we should focus on things that make us strong, like eating healthy food, getting plenty of sleep, and playing outside. Remember, your body is like a superhero, and it needs the right fuel to stay strong and healthy. Bad drugs are like kryptonite that can make your superhero body weak. Keep your superhero strong by saying “no” to bad drugs.

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Paragraph on Drugs in 250 Words

Drugs are substances that change how your body works. Some drugs, like medicine, can help you. Doctors prescribe these to fight illness or pain. They are safe if you use them the right way. Then, there are illegal drugs, like cocaine or heroin. People misuse these because they can give feelings of happiness or excitement. But, these drugs can be very harmful and even deadly. They can hurt your body and make it hard to think clearly. They can also make you addicted, meaning you can’t stop using them even if you want to. People who are addicted to drugs might steal or lie to get more. This can ruin friendships and families. Even drugs that are legal, like alcohol and cigarettes, can hurt you if you use them too much. They can give you diseases like cancer and can also make you addicted. Some people use drugs to try to escape their problems. But drugs can’t solve problems; they only hide them for a little while. In the end, drugs often create more problems than they solve. It’s better to face problems in healthy ways, like talking to someone you trust or finding a hobby you love. Remember, you have the power to say no to drugs. Keep your body healthy and your mind clear.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Substance Abuse — Impact of Drug Addiction on Society

Impact of Drug Addiction on Society

• Categories: Drug Addiction Substance Abuse

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Words: 904 |

Published: Feb 12, 2024

Words: 904 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

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