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The persons whose photographs are depicted in the slides are models. Any characters they are portraying are fictional.

This presentation gives only basic facts about the health effects of drugs. Be sure to talk with your doctor, nurse, or other health-care provider about all of your health needs.

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1. How real is the problem?

2. Why do children use drugs?

3. Gateway drugs

4. Illegal drugs–The old and the new

5. Strategies for parents

6. Warning signs

Agenda

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knows about drugs.

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Take a guess.

What percent of high school seniors have used drugs at least once?

a) 19% b) 35%

c) 57% d) 78%

(not including tobacco and alcohol)

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More than half of high school seniors have tried drugs (not including tobacco and alcohol).

have tried drugs

have not tried drugs

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More children have been using drugs.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

8th Grade10th Grade12th Grade

National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2000

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Why do children use drugs?• personal traits

• don’t see “harm”

• think it’s “normal”

• peer influence

• parents are tolerant of drugs

• drugs are very available andtolerated in the community

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Preteens (“tweens”) are high risk.• 10- to 14-year-olds are between

childhood and adolescence.

• They are easily influencedby others.