Decision 5: Addictions

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Decision 5 Addictions
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Top 10 Things You Oughta Know About Addictions
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Decision 5 Addictions
Its Not Hard to QuitIve Done It a Dozen Times
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• We live in an addiction infested society.
• Drinking, smoking, and drugs are one of the top
  challenges teens face.

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• If you become addicted to something, you give up
  your power to choose your freedom.
• When offered drugs, you can take the high road by
  respecting your body by saying no.

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Three Brutal Realities
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Brutal Reality 1 They Can Become Stronger than
You

• Addicts are not weak and selfish.
• It can strike the best and brightest among us.
• No one is immune.
• The only thing that separates them from the rest
  of us is the few choices they made, usually
  during their teen years.
• Dont ever underestimate the power of addiction.
  It can become stronger than you.

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Brutal Reality 2 Its Not Just About You

• Your choices impact others (friends, family,
  community, etc. )

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Brutal Reality 3 Drugs Destroy Dreams -

• If you make a mistake with drugs it could cost
  you years of your life or even worse your life.
• Most addicts began by experimenting with
  alcohol and weed soon they progressed to more
  serious drugs.
• A few people can do drugs and not become
  addicted this is not the case for everyone.
• A high percentage will become addicted.
• Everyone responds a little differently to
  addictive substances.

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Striking at the Root

• No one every starts out thinking, I cant wait to
  become an addict. You do it because you have a
  deeper need that is not being met.
• We too often focus on the symptoms of drug abuse
  instead of getting to the root of the problem. To
  tackle addition, you must strike at the root.
  Its usually one of six things.

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The Roots of Addiction

• Your friends are doing it and you feel pressured
  by them.
• You feel insecure and desperately want to belong
• You are trying to hid pain from the past, like a
  death in the family, a divorce, or being abused.

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• You want to escape from your current problems.
• Youre bored or curious.
• You feel confined and want to rebel.

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The Anti-Drug

• The following is a list of possible alternative
  addictions to help you fill the potential holes
  in your life.
• SpoExercise Working out releases endorphins
• rts It will help you meet new people and will
  keep you busy
• Music Music can lift you up when you are down.

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• Service Helping others helps you forget your
  own problems.
• Hobbies Find something you love to do and get
  good at it.
• Learning Pour your heart into learning.

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• Family If you are burdened your family will
  listen. Turn to them, not drugs.
• Faith Practicing religion gives you meaning and
  purpose in your life.
• Friends Talk to friends when you are troubled.
• Journal Writing Your journal can be a place
  where you can let out all your emotions.

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Defeating an Addition

• Admit it First you must admit you have a
  problem.
• Get help Seek help from your parents, a good
  friend, a support group, or a counselor. There
  are all kinds of treatments, programs, and
  support groups that can help. You will be so much
  better off if you dont try to battle it alone.
• Do it Now If you thing you may have a problem
  you probably do. Dont procrastinate.

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The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing but

• FAQs
• Arent beer and wine safer than liquor?
• No. One 12-ounce beer 1.5 ounce shot of liquor
  5 ounce glass or wine, or wine cooler.
• Why cant teens drink if their parents can?
• Teens bodies are still developing and alcohol
  has a greater impact on their minds and bodies.

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The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing but

• FAQs...
• Isnt smokeless tobacco safer to use than
  cigarettes?
• No. There is no safe form of tobacco. Smokeless
  tobacco can cause mouth, cheek, throat, and
  stomach cancer. Smokeless tobacco users are 50
  times more likely to get oral cancer than
  non-users.
• Isnt smoking sexy?
• Only if you think bad breath, smelly hair, yellow
  fingers, and coughing are sexy.

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The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing but

• FAQs
• Isnt smoking marijuana less dangerous than
  smoking cigarettes?
• No. Its even worse. One joint affects the lungs
  as much as four cigarettes.
• Is the marijuana used today stronger than when my
  parents were teens?
• Yes. The marijuana smoked today is much stronger
  than when the drug became popular in the 1960s.

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The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing but

• FAQs
• Arent prescription drugs safer than street
  drugs?
• No. Many teens think prescription drugs are safe
  because they have legitimate uses, however taking
  them without a prescription can be as dangerous
  as street drugs.
• Arent teens getting these drugs from doctors?
• No. Most get them from classmates, friends, and
  family members, or they steel for those with
  legitimate prescriptions.

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The Truth, the Whole Truth Nothing but.
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Club Drugs

• FAQs
• If somebody slipped a club drug into your drink,
  wouldnt you realize it immediately?
• Probably not. You cant smell or taste club
  drugs.
• Are there any long-term effects with taking
  ecstasy?
• Yes, studies on both humans and animals have
  proven that regular use of Ecstasy produces
  long-lasting, perhaps permanent damage to the
  brain.
• If you took a club drug at a rave, wouldnt you
  just dance off all of its effects?
• Not necessarily. Some effects have been reported
  to occur even weeks after the drug is taken.

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The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing but

• FAQs
• Are steroids addictive?
• Yes, they can be
• How long do steroids stay in your system?
• It varies from a couple of weeks to more than 18
  months.
• How can I excel in sports if I dont use
  steroids?
• Naturally. Eat well, vitamin supplements, sleep
  well, and work out hard.

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The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing but

• FAQs
• Since inhalants are found in household products,
  arent they safe?
• No. When they are used as inhalants they are
  dangerous.
• Doesnt it take many huffs before youre in
  danger?
• No. One huff can kill you, or the tenth, or the
  hundredth. Every huff is dangerous.
• Can inhalants make me lose control?
• Yes. Inhalants affect your brain and can cause
  you to suddenly engage in violent, or even deadly
  behavior.

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The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing but

• FAQs
• Isnt crack less addictive than cocaine because
  it doesnt stay in your body very long?
• No both cocaine and crack are powerfully
  addictive.
• Dont some people use cocaine to feel good?
• Any positive feelings are fleeting and are
  usually followed by some very bad feelings.

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The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing but

• FAQs
• Isnt methamphetamine less harmful than crack,
  cocaine, or heroin?
• No. Its more dangerous. Some users get hooked
  the first time they snort, smoke, or inject meth.
  Because it can be made from lethal ingredients
  like battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel,
  and antifreeze, there is a greater change of
  suffering a heart attack, stroke, or serious
  brain damage with this drug that with others.
• Isnt using crystal meth like using diet pills?
• No. Although is know to cause extreme weight loss
  the effects are not permanent. Many regular meth
  users experience adaptation the weight loss
  stops as the body becomes used to the effects of
  the drug. Then they gain the weight back.

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Striking at the Root

• To tackle addition, you must strike at the root.
  Its usually one of six things.

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The 3 Knows

• How do you get the power to resist
• Learn the 3 Knows
• Know the facts
• Know Yourself
• Know the Situation

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The 5 NosHow to say no

• 1. Be direct
• Be blunt. Say No Thanks.
• 2. Use humor
• No, thanks I like my brain cells.
• 3. Blame it on your parents
• Try this, say my parents will kill me if they
  find out and they find out everything.

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The 5 NosHow to say no

• 4. Suggest an Alternative
• Some teens do Drugs because they are bored.
  Suggest an alternative.(movies, bowling,)
• 5. Get up an go
• If you are in a messy situation that just
  doesnt feel right, trust your instincts and get
  away fast.

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Defeating an Addition

• Admit it First you must admit you have a
  problem.
• Get help Seek help from your parents, a good
  friend, a support group, or a counselor. There
  are all kinds of treatments, programs, and
  support groups that can help. You will be so much
  better off if you dont try to battle it alone.
• Do it Now If you thing you may have a problem
  you probably do. Dont procrastinate.

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