YOU control your life and the direction you choose to take it!

To meet your most basic physiological needs, people need air to breathe, water, food, clothing, shelter and adequate sleep just to survive (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs). Anything beyond these core needs requires a personal choice and a decision by you. You decide whether you choose to be active everyday, foster strong family relationships, get a job, find and maintain good friends, get your homework completed…etc

Every choice you make in your life takes you down the path to your future. We encourage you to make positive choices to ensure that you make it to that destination!

Choose To Use… Know The Risks

If you choose to use substances, you are putting yourself and your future at risk. When you take in substances that alter the perception of your reality, there is a point at which you loose control over yourself and ultimately your future.

Negatives of substance misuse:

• Expensive
• Sexual assault
• Fights
• Problems with school, job, family, etc.
• Damage to your property
• Injuries
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Impaired Driving (being caught/charged, injuring yourself or others, etc.)
• Using a substance that may be laced with other dangerous ingredients (another drug or chemical)
• Substance induced psychosis
• Developing a tolerance over time and becoming addicted
• Suicide
• Unintended pregnancy
• Overdose
• Death

Why teens turn to substances?

Feels good – Teens like the way they feel when under the influence.

Stress – Teens feel stressed out with and use substances as a way to take their minds off of their problems for an escape. Learn how to deal with stress at www.mindyourmind.ca

Pressure –Teens have a social need to fit in with a certain group of people and often will misuse substances to fit in with a group of friends.

Boredom – Teens believe they have little or nothing else to fill there time with. Plan fun activities in advance to avoid being bored.

Mental Illness – Teens use substances to mask an underlying mental illness

Risky Choices – Teens often engage in risky behaviours because their brains are not developed enough.

Educate yourself about substances

Wise choices must be made in order to keep you safer once you have made the personal choice to misuse any substance whether it is alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, marijuana, etc. Knowledge is power, and we recommend that you arm yourself with credible substance information about the risks associated with their use.

Credible Substance Information Websites:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Alberta Health Services – Youth Site
Xperiment