Learn how smoking pot can affect your whole future, especially when it comes to your IQ.

Looking forward to getting into a good college? Think twice before you smoke weed. Marijuana doesn’t just have side effects when you smoke it. It can actually affect your brain permanently. This is your IQ on dope.

What’s an IQ?
It’s not a number your employers are likely to ask for, but it is a good indicator of your intelligence and your ability to problem solve in the real world. A significant drop in your IQ would be an indicator of genuine loss of intelligence.

How much does your IQ drop?
A large-scale study conducted in New Zealand recently showed that people who used marijuana heavily in their teens and continued as adults had a significant drop in IQ between the ages of 13 and 38. What’s a significant drop? Participants who met the criteria for cannabis dependence lost an average of 8 points.

What about long-term affects?
A study published in Brain magazine also showed long term effects of marijuana on the brain. In fact, friends and family members of the participants were given questionnaires. These people noticed changes in the behavior of the participants after long term marijuana use. Users were forgetful, misplaced things, and showed other signs of loss of cognitive function.

As you focus on your schoolwork and think about your future, remember that smoking pot can literally affect your ability to succeed in college and your career. It can have lasting, long-term changes on your brain’s function and your IQ.

Learn more about LiveFree! and its mission to reduce youth substance abuse.

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Learn how to get started talking to your kids about drugs.

Dreading the drug talk? You’re not alone. It’s reasonable to expect resistance from or awkwardness with your teen when you talk about drugs. With young kids, it can feel very strange to talk about drugs, but the unfortunate truth is that kids are trying drugs at younger and younger ages. This is a talk you can’t afford to put off. Here are some conversation starters to help jump start your drug talk.

Bring up cigarettes when you see them on TV.
According to Healthfinder, many kids start using tobacco by age 11 and are addicted by age 14. Use tobacco in the media as a conversation starter. Be armed with facts about addiction and side effects of tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco.

Talk about prescription drugs when you pick them up at the pharmacy.
Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem in the United States. From an early age, talk to your kids about drug abuse. Talk about the difference between recreational drug use and using drugs as prescribed by a doctor for specific health concerns.

Ask your child if he knows kids who use drugs.
Remember, you’re not asking your child to tattle on other kids. Make that clear from the start. Allow your child to be honest about what he’s witnessed at school and around peers. This is a good opportunity to talk about ways to say no to drugs and alcohol and to answer questions your child might have.

Ask your child to ask you questions.
Allow your child to ask you about your experiences with drugs and alcohol. Be honest within reason. Teens are savvy, and they’ll know if you’re glossing over too many of your own experiences. Answer questions about addiction, safety and health as best you can. Admit when you don’t know answers and do research together.

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Make sure teens have a safe, drug & alcohol-free Halloween.

Parental responsibilities don’t end when your kids get too old for trick-or-treating. When your children outgrow those nights of checking candy piles for unwrapped items, safety gets even more complicated and hands-on. Learn how to help keep teens safe this Halloween.

Avoid unsupervised parties
Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol are common at unsupervised teen parties and parties thrown by college-aged kids. Help your teen find alternatives if she’s disappointed by being unable to attend parties that could involve drugs and alcohol. Let her know that when she’s older, she’ll have many opportunities to celebrate Halloween with responsible drinking, but for now it’s out of the question. Let your teen know that you’re available as a ride (no questions asked) if your teen is confronted with a drunk driver or a driver under the influence.

Talk about drugs often
Talk about drugs before Halloween and throughout the year. Chances are, your teen already knows other kids who are using drugs. According to DrugAbuse.gov, 6.6 percent of 12th graders reported using marijuana daily in 2011. If you ignore the presence of drugs and alcohol in your teen’s life, you’ll miss key opportunities to talk about the consequences of drug use and abuse.

Encourage safe activities
During Halloween, teens may be presented with opportunities to engage in dangerous behaviors. Talk to your teen about avoiding behaviors such as pranking, running around neighborhoods at night, and attending parties. Talk to your child about safety issues such as avoiding dark areas alone, as well as responsible ways to treat others. Whether your teen is sexually active or not, it’s a good time to talk about safe sex.

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Get involved in substance abuse prevention.

Like substance abuse recovery, substance abuse prevention takes a community. Whether that community is a small family unit, a group of friends or an entire nation, you can take part by helping prevent substance abuse. Learn how to help during National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.

Support teachers and schools
Do what you can to help school-based substance abuse prevention programs. This could mean volunteering your time, donating money or asking the school administration how you can help out. Schools are a huge part of teaching kids how to respond appropriately to peer pressure and how to identify and prevent substance abuse, both among peers and family. If you’re a parent, support and review the lessons and advice shared at school.

Talk to your friends and family
Communication and support help prevent substance abuse. Spend time on your relationships. Check in with family and friends. Be there for someone who is hurting and don’t be afraid to reach out if you’re afraid a friend or loved one has a problem with drugs or alcohol. Avoid putting a stigma on substance abuse. Shame and judgment are roadblocks for those seeking recovery.

Be good to yourself
If you or a loved one is dealing with stress of any kind, seek help. If you are affected by substance abuse, find someone to talk to, whether it’s a friend, teacher or medical professional. Substance abuse isn’t something that can be dealt with or prevented alone. Focus on being healthy, including eating well and getting exercise. These activities help you manage the stress of school and work.

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Get the facts on September’s National Recovery Month.

If you or a loved one has recovered from substance abuse, you understand why that achievement should be celebrated–and why it may be difficult to talk about. National Recovery Month helps open a dialogue about substance use and abuse, giving those who have recovered or who are in recovery a voice. Whether you know someone who has abused drugs or alcohol or not, National Recovery Month is an initiative worth supporting. Drug abuse affects individuals and families, including teens. You may not be aware that you have friends affected by substance abuse.

According to the National Recovery Month website, this month:

• Celebrates people in recovery
• Lauds the contributions of treatment and service providers
• Promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible

Do you want to get involved with National Recovery Month? Here are some ways you can:

• Put a widget on your blog or Facebook page
• Attend a local event
• Participate in the Flickr challenge
• Share flyers at school, clubs or at your place of worship

You may be surprised at how many people this issue affects directly. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 23.5 million people 12 and up needed treatment for illicit drug or alcohol abuse problems in 2009. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance involved in treatment, with opiates falling closely behind.

National Recovery Month promotes and celebrates not only those in recovery, but the treatments, friends and family that helped make recovery possible.

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Learn how to say no to friends who offer you alcohol.       

Chances are high that you’ll be offered alcohol during your teenage years. In fact, according to the CDC, a survey in 2009 found that 42% of high school students had consumed alcohol during the past 30 days. Kids you know are probably drinking or have tried drinking. Learn techniques for saying no to alcohol so you can avoid becoming an underage drinking statistic.

Be reasonable
You don’t need to use scare tactics or worse case scenarios to convince your friends that drinking underage is a bad idea. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying it’s just not worth it. You don’t want to get in trouble with your parents or with school. The end.

Deflect
Try coming up with an alternative to drinking. “I was actually going to go to get some ice cream,” is a valid excuse. Maybe you have a movie to get to or you have to get up really early anyway.

Talk about side effects
Studies have tied underage drinking to stunted growth and a higher risk of accidents and sexual assault. You want to reach your full potential and enjoy being a teen. There’s plenty of time to drink responsibly when you’re of legal age.

Avoid having to say no
Sometimes the best way to avoid alcohol is to avoid friends who use alcohol. If you know your friends are going to pressure you, they may not actually be your friends. It's difficult to cut people off, but you’re not the bad guy if you just want to be treated with respect.

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Learn how to get the party started without drugs or alcohol.

Summer isn’t complete without fun parties and backyard BBQs. Need a reason to skip the alcohol this summer? Consider this: The CDC reports that excessive alcohol consumption contributes to more than 4,600 deaths of underage drinkers each year. Throw a safe party this summer. Learn how to get together at home, at the beach or on the go without using drugs or alcohol to have a good time.

Let the music play
Get the party started with music, not alcohol. Create a party playlist on your MP3 player or use a fun streaming music service like Spotify or Pandora to play virtual DJ. Music can affect mood and how you feel. Use it to your advantage. Set up a karaoke station or get guests moving on the dance floor.

Set the scene
Choose a party activity that will keep guests occupied and interested. Throw a pool party, schedule some group games or set up a fun activity. Consider gathering at a bowling alley, beach or theme park.

Watch your guest list
The people you surround yourself with have an impact on your life and lifestyle. The same goes for gatherings. Avoid inviting guests who may bring drugs or alcohol to the party. If a friend has expressed issues with a dry party, consider that a red flag. You should have fun at your summer gathering. Your time shouldn’t have to be spent policing your guests. The best gatherings are those with like-minded friends.

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In 2009, studies showed that 37 percent of 8th graders and 72 percent of 12th graders had tried alcohol, according to the CDC. These statistics can be very scary from the perspective of a parent. Whether your child is in middle or high school, now is the time to talk about and continue talking about the dangers of underage drinking.

Talk to your teen about statistics
Your kids are used to reading facts at school in textbooks. Talk about drinking in factual terms. Make sure that your kids understand that underage drinking, particularly underage binge drinking, contributes to serious injury and death.  For example, according to the CDC, in 2008, there were approximately 190,000 emergency rooms visits by underage drinkers. While it may be an uncomfortable topic, discuss the fact that drinking increases the risk of sexual assault. Discuss this topic regardless of your teen’s gender. Visit SAMHSA to discover talking points to share the risks of drinking with your teen.

Do not allow supervised drinking
SAMHSA reports that most underage drinkers get alcohol from a friend or family member. Some parents mistakenly believe that underage drinking is safe if kids are supervised when drinking. Regardless of parental supervision, drinking can still lead to accidents and all known risks. Supervision promotes a sense that underage drinking is safe when it’s not. Never offer your teen a drink or allow teens to drink in your home or another parent’s home. If you have older children, actively discourage them from providing alcohol to your teen. Make sure other parents are aware of your stance.

Support teens at school and at home
Teens need support to say no to underage drinking. Studies by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism show that parents have the ability to prevent underage drinking by improving parent-child relations in ways such as providing discipline, listening and communicating, monitoring kids and strengthening family bonding. School resources are also important. Encourage your teen to get involved in extra-curricular activities and meaningful relationships with friends. Be available to your teen as a resource for her emotional needs as well as a sounding board to talk about drugs and alcohol.

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According to the CDC, people from 12 to 20 years drink 11 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States. That is a stunning statistic considering that it’s against the law to drink when you’re under 21. As a community, we can work together to prevent underage drinking and the associated risks and dangers.

Know the Facts
Kids who drink are in danger of health risks, problems at school, drug abuse and a higher risk of suicide. Underage drinkers often binge drink, putting them at risk of death from alcohol poisoning, accidents and assault among other risks. With these facts in mind, is it really worth it?

Don’t Encourage It
According to SAMHSA, most children who use alcohol get it from a friend or family member. If you’re a parent, older sibling or friend, don’t become part of the problem. It may be tempting to be cool or seem smart to supervise kids while they drink, but the fact is that you shouldn’t be giving alcohol to minors ever.

Talk to Kids
Make sure kids know about the dangers of drunk driving. Never drink and drive in front of your kids. If you set a bad example, you can’t expect your kids to listen to you. Ask tough questions, get to know your kid’s friends and be open with your life as much as possible. You and your child are in this together.

Work Together
Parents should involve friends, peers, family members and teachers in a group effort to talk to kids about underage drinking early and repeatedly. With a strong support system in place, kids will be less likely to drink underage.

Get Involved
On April 3 at 5:30 PM at Pinellas Park High School, the 2012 Florida Kids and Alcohol and Prescription Drugs youth led Town Hall meeting will address underage drinking. Join your peers to discuss the real dangers of underage drinking, ways to prevent underage drinking and how drinking has affected members of the Pinellas community.

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Everyone has heard a spring break horror story. Don’t be one of those statistics this year. Instead, play it safe, avoid peer pressure and have fun. The best spring break memories are the times you spend with friends and the time spent having adventures you can’t have at home. Learn how to have a safe, fun spring break.

Plan activities
Instead of arriving at your destination with nothing to do, create a busy itinerary. You’ve been studying for weeks. This is your chance to let loose. Go on hikes, rent water crafts or try a new activity you’ve never done before. Visit local attractions and keep yourself busy. You’ll be less likely to fall into a habit of binge drinking on your vacation if you have plenty of fun things to do.

Travel with safe friends
The best way to avoid peer pressure is to surround yourself with peers who respect you and those you admire. Ditch the friends who do things that make you uncomfortable and make you feel bad about yourself. On vacation, it’s more important than ever to be with people you trust and enjoy hanging out with.

Be street smart
Travel in groups and never go somewhere with a stranger. Keep your identification and health insurance on you and keep an copy of your driver’s license and passport somewhere safe. Make sure someone knows where you are at all times, and use a system of checking in with your friends so that everyone is accounted for. Avoid going to someone’s residence if you’ve just met them, even if you’re in a group.

Don’t binge drink
According to the CDC, about 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinking. Binge drinking can lead to violence, injury, alcohol poisoning and risky sexual behaviors. During spring break, don’t let this risky action put you and your friends in danger. The CDC also states that in 2008, there were approximately 190,000 emergency rooms visits by people under 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol. Think about how much you’ve been looking forward to your break and the chance to get away and relax, not end up in the hospital.

The LiveFree! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is a coalition of community advocates who strive to address substance abuse in Pinellas County. To see how you can get involved in this cause to help make our community a better place, visit us online.

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