Drugs are very dangerous! You or your friends could be taking drugs, if so, stop now! They are mostly illegal and could ruin your life, maybe even kill you, but as you know, people like taking risks. Either they like the rush of it or don’t have much common sense!

Why take risks?

Adolescence is a time of many conflicting emotions. Childhood has been left behind and adulthood is just round the corner. It can be difficult to find your place in this new world.

To counteract this, many feel the need to talk to their friends and classmates, meaning peer pressure is at its highest.

Its not just friends who encourage risk-taking: there are countless adverts and films that paint this behaviour as glamorous and hip, but I can tell you now, it is definitely not! No one wants to be described as naive or clueless, but risk-taking isn’t an easy way to find adulthood.

It may be a way to gain new experiences, but there’s no guarantee you’ll like the end results or that it will impress your peers, and there can be permanent consequences to your well-being.

Why don’t parents like us to take risks?

Curiosity and experimentation are common and good. They help you to find and develop a greater understanding or yourself and society. But some risk-taking can have long-term consequences for your health and even put your life in danger. This is at odds with the safe environment that parents want for children.

What can you do to protect yourself?

It isn’t as simple as sticking to legal versus illegal drugs. Going to the pub may be a regular part of peoples lives, but it still has the potential harm, if it leads to binge drinking. This can then lead to aggressive behaviour, etc.

So what can help you to minimise any likely harm?

Knowledge and responsibility: Try to find out the good and bad effects of drugs and alcohol. This will give you a chance to take responsibility for what you decide to do.

Communication: Try to get yourself to talk to your parents or other adults. Sometimes, you will have to educate them. Remember, they were teenagers once too, but the world they grew up in was very different; so don’t expect them to instantly understand. But if they care about you (which they probably do!) they will try!

Self-esteem: You must be confident, because high self-esteem is powerful. Not only will you be able to stand firm against pressure from the crowd, but you could start to feel that the crowd starts to follow you.

How do you know if you or your friends are using drugs?

1. Change in behaviour

2. Decline in school performance

3. Hanging out with new friends and dropping others

My opinion

I think drugs are very bad and no one should take them! But obviously, I cannot control what you do – it is your life! But I’m telling you now, you will not like the end results! Sure it will give you a kick for a bit, but what will it do to the rest of your life? Think about that if your taking drugs or want to.

I would love to hear your views and opinions!

This story was donated by TheSprout.co.uk. To share your personal story email post@red-button.org. This was written by a young person in Cardiff. The views expressed in it are their own and not those of Red-Button.

IMAGE: ddaa