Teens

STORIES

Drowned I idolized you, I emulated you, I followed you. You were my hero, The harsh hand of reality crashed, Down upon my head. I love you, I worshiped you. You were my hero, The harsh hand of reality crashed, Down upon my heart. I talked to you always, I worried about you, I cried for you. The harsh hand of reality crashed, Down upon my soul. I no longer idolized you, I no longer emulate you, I no longer follow you. You are not my hero, That reality told me differently. We never talk, I always worry, My eyes, dry for six years. Have I been drowned? Have you drowned? Have you drowned us? -unknown, Book of Stories and Study Guide, Maine Youth Voices, 2005 Why I Do Not Drink I am an honor-roll student, I am a daughter, I am a teen, I am an athlete, I am a troublemaker, I am a clown, I am honest. I do not drink because I worry about safety factors. I do not drink because it is proper not to, or because I wouldn’t want to be known as a “teen who drinks”. But, just as a side note, I think that to be drunk is to embarrass yourself publicly. And I do far too many other things to embarrass myself-I would rather not add any more. Most stereotypes would never offend me. I feel as though I am a good human being and anyone who would say this is not so-just because I don’t have an alcoholic beverage occasionally-is not someone I would like to impress anyway. The reason I have chosen not to drink is because, in some ways, my future depends on int. I have so many goals for the rest of my life that to drink would ruin all of them…the consequences are far too high of a price to pay for a short buzz or satisfaction that I may feel. -unknown, Book of Stories and Study Guide, Maine Youth Voices, 2005

When You Take a Drink When you take a drink Do you really think? What could happen now or then? When you take a drink, do you really know If people will clap or laugh when you put on a show? When you take a drink, you really do not think, about your family or friends Your life falls at an end? So next time when you take a drink, think. About you, your health, your life, you’re friends and your family. Should you really take that drink? -unknown, Book of Stories and Study Guide, Maine Youth Voices, 2005  One Decision Decisions make you a certain way, You make decisions every day. With each of these decisions comes an amount of thought, And the way you should think could never be taught. So, it’s important that your thoughts are clear all the time, And beer will blur how you make up your mind. When you learn the effects of beer on your brain, Life may never be seen the same. You might do anything to take back that single hour, When those couple of drinks stole your decision-making power. But time is stubborn, once it’s gone, that’s it, And, in some cases, one decision is all you get. -unknown, Book of Stories and Study Guide, Maine Youth Voices, 2005

SERVING SIZE

The one question most often asked is “How much is a drink”.  The answer is not what you may think!  Most people believe that the cup they have in front of them is one drink.  In fact it may be considered two, three, or even four! Depending on the make-up of the drink.   Drinks are really measured by the amount of pure alcohol it contains.  A standard drink contains ½ ounce of pure alcohol.  So what does this look like?  Below is a diagram that illustrates what 1 drink would mean for beer, wine, and liquor.  
                        

     
     12 oz Beer     4 oz wine   1oz liquor

Is this different than what you thought?  Are you surprised?  Does this change the way you handle drinking?


Could I be experiencing problems?
If you are wondering if you or a friend is experiencing problems with alcohol take a look at these questions.  Some of these signs may be normal, but if several of them are true for you, you may want to talk to your friend(s) or an adult.

	OFTEN	SOMETIMES	NEVER
My mood changes more than before; I have a temper, am irritable, and/or get defensive easily
I am experiencing more problems at school-skipping, grades slip, getting into trouble
I defy my parents rules
I have new friends and don’t want my parents to meet them
I don’t care about anything
I have alcohol in my room, backpack, etc.
I can’t remember and can’t concentrate.

If you would like more information about any of these signs, or would like to speak with someone regarding drinking, please click here to get a list of resources.

WHAT'S REAL

MYTH: Some types of alcohol are more harmful than others, or better used when consumed in a certain order.
FACT: Alcohol is alcohol.  A standard drink of any type (12 oz/beer, 4oz/wine, 1oz/liquor) affects you equally.


MYTH: Pot isn’t dangerous; there is no such thing as a “pot related death”.
FACT:  Marijuana is anything but safe.  It can lead to mental and psychological impairment and affected judgment, causing addiction and fatal accidents.


MYTH:  Alcohol and energy drinks make a good combination, and are a safe way to have fun at a party.
FACT:  Energy drinks mixed with alcohol (an upper combined with a downer) intensifies your impaired judgment—but you can’t feel or notice it.  This chemical confusion can lead to more destructive decisions than from alcohol alone.


MYTH:  Prescription drugs are safe because doctors prescribe them.  The more warnings that appear on a prescription label, the more intense/fun they would be to try with alcohol.
FACT:  Prescription drugs are only safe when used by the patient they are prescribed to, and when used in the correct and assigned manner.  Failure to follow all directions with a prescription can lead to severe chemical imbalances, poisoning, or death.


MYTH:  I can function at work or school after drinking just fine, as long as I’ve “sobered up”.
FACT:  It takes 30 days for your brain to fully go back to its normal functioning level after drinking.


MYTH:  Everyone drinks, and it’s important to drink and to mix if you want to fit in.
FACT:  Studies show that the majority of youth from ages 13-20 in the state of Maine do not drink.  In addition, many youth feel that friends or classmates who chose to make poor decisions with drugs and alcohol are often seen as unimpressive rather than cool or mature.


MYTH:  Taking alcohol with other drugs intensifies effects with no worse consequences than from alcohol alone.
FACT:  The effects of any drug can be unpredictable, but even more so when it comes to mixing different substances.  It is harmful to your entire body and in many cases, to your life.


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