Did You Know?

  • Teenagers who drink are 50 times more likely to use cocaine.
  • Three out of five teens have had an alcoholic drink in the past month.
  • Although the majority of parents believe peer pressure to be the primary reason teens drink or use drugs, teens say:
    • 79% - being drunk / high feels good
    • 67% - helps to forget problems
    • 66% - others do it (peer pressure)
    • 47% - nothing else to do
  • 2.6 million teenagers did not know you could die from an overdose of alcohol.
  • 56% of students in grades 5 to 12 say that alcohol advertising encourages them to drink.
  • 33% of nearly 200,000 students nationally surveyed said that their parents often do not set clear rules.
  • Of the 20 million junior and senior high school students in America, half drink once a month.
  • You can have fun, and be part of the crowd by not drinking or using other drugs.
  • Say “No, thanks” when offered a drink, “I have better things to do!”
  • Don’t let advertisers trick you into thinking smoking will make you “cool.”
  • Talk to your parents frankly and frequently about alcohol and drug issues.

Myths & Facts About Underage Drinking


  • Myth: Alcohol affects everyone the same.
    • Fact: There are many factors that affect reactions to alcohol. Body size, gender, your body chemistry are just a few of the dozens of factors that can alter the way a person metabolizes alcohol. Research tells us that teens are particularly susceptible to alcohol abuse, since their bodies are still growing and changing.
  • Myth: Black coffee will "sober you up."
    • Fact: This is one of the biggest myths out there about alcohol use. With coffee, you're introducing a second "drug," caffeine, which simply makes you a "wide-awake drunk." Only time will make a person sober.
  • Myth: Drinking alcohol, will give you more energy.
    • Fact: Nothing could be farther from the truth. Alcohol is a depressant, meaning that it actually slows down your ability to perform tasks such as walking, breathing, thinking and moving, correctly. Do yourself a favor: if you want to increase your energy, try exercise, good nutrition, proper rest and healthy living.

How Teens Say "No" to Underage Drinking


A National Youth Movement on Alcohol Issues called "Take it Back" empowers youth to reduce alcohol problems and increase the health and safety of youth. Their goals are to:
  • Increase public awareness of the problems due to alcohol use and misuse by youth
  • Educate on a local and national level the complexity and breadth of the alcohol and youth issue
  • Reduce the number of alcohol-related incidents among youth
  • Change local policies that affect the availability of alcohol to youth
These youth are speaking out, asking:
  • Parents to "Grow up!"
  • Policy Makers to "Wake up!"
  • Enforcement Agencies to "Harden up!'
  • Store Owners to "Listen up!"
  • Schools to "Wise up!"
  • Communities to "Charge up!"
  • Youth to "Stand up!"
Are you UP for the challenge?