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Teen Survival Guide

Home : Teen Survival Guide : Taking care of a beautiful you, inside and out : Fighting germs

Alcohol and other drugs

Want to know the real truth about drugs and alcohol?

girl refusing a drink at a party
  • Drugs and alcohol change the way your brain and body work.
  • Drugs and alcohol can cause life-long damage to your body.
  • Alcohol and many drugs are addictive, which means it can be super hard to quit.
  • Drugs and alcohol make it harder to make safe choices and protect yourself.
  • Your body can have a bad reaction to alcohol and drugs—you can become really sick or even die. This happens to teens every day.
  • It's against the law to drink alcohol before you are 21 years old. It's also against the law to have certain drugs, no matter what your age. If you are at a party with alcohol or illegal drugs—even if you are not using—you could be arrested. Don't allow anyone to give you drugs without you knowing it.
  • Don't accept drinks from people you do not know or just met.
  • If possible, get drinks that are unopened and open them for yourself.
  • Watch your drink and keep it with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom. If you didn't watch it the whole time, get rid of it!
  • Don't share drinks with anyone.
  • Don't drink from punch bowls or other large open containers. They may already have drugs in them.
  • Don't drink anything that tastes, looks, or smells strange.

Teen tip: Making weekend plans? Ask someone you trust, such as a friend or older sibling, to go along. Sticking together will keep both of you safe and make it easier to make smart choices.

Activity: So you know that drugs and alcohol can cause awful problems. Now what? Practice so that you can be ready to tell your friends or anyone who offers you drugs or alcohol "NO." Check out page 53 for tips on saying "no" and dealing with peer pressure.

To: girlshealth.gov
From: Danni (age 13), Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

What are date rape drugs?

Date rape drugs, such as rohypnol and GHB, are used to force sexual contact with someone. Often, they have no color, smell, or taste, which makes them easy to add to a person’s drink without anyone knowing. These drugs make victims helpless and unable to remember what happened. To protect yourself, open your own drink and keep it with you at all times. For more information on date rape, go to www.girlshealth.gov/safety/relationships/daterape.cfm.

Content last updated February 15, 2008

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health.

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