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In Your Community > What Kids Believe about Drugs
Kids believe that heroin and crack are some of the "worst" drugs because they are capable of killing or "hooking" them on the first use. Kids also perceive these drugs to be "antisocial" — done alone or with a small group. Other drugs, like marijuana, are considered less dangerous and more social because they are perceived to be less addictive and are used socially to "have fun."
Most kids have not had a lot of experience with prescription drug abuse. For this reason, kids are generally not sure where abuse of prescription drugs fits on the "danger" scale.
Kids tend to believe prescription medications are relatively safe, since they are "legal," doctor-prescribed, and FDA-approved. However, there is a general feeling that taking someone else's prescription to get high is a rather "desperate" act.
Kids who have had some experience with prescription drug abuse know that it can have the same devastating results as illicit drug abuse.
Kids believe addiction to prescription drugs can lead to a loss of dignity and self-respect.
The severe physical side effects of prescription drug abuse, which include diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness/passing out, seizures, heavy sweating, and severe shaking, can all lead to public humiliation. Fear of embarrassment in front of, and alienation from their peers is something kids want to avoid at all costs.
Kids believe that addicts lose control of their lives and are driven only by their need to get more drugs. They lose their individuality and stop caring about the things that were important to them before they became addicted (friends, family, appearance, interests, grades).
Kids believe that addiction can lead them to betray the trust of people close to them, i.e., they will steal, lie, or cheat their friends and family in order to support their habit. They know that once they lose someone's trust, it is very hard to get it back.
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PAINFULLY OBVIOUS® — "Be sure to check out all of the other sections."
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