To "Just Say No" to drugs and alcohol, one must have a reason and that reason must be that there are more interesting, and productive activities to choose from. It also helps to have an answer to peers who may offer these substances to you.

Be strong as sometimes you may have to lie about how much drugs you have had that night, e.g: "I have already had far too much tonight", or, "sorry dude, it doesn't agree with my chest, I get really bad asthma".
  When declining the offer keep strong but calm, if you become too abrasive to the dealer there could be consequences, for they are most likely interpreting your decline differently than your meaning. Keep in mind, people who offer you drugs, are most likely on drugs.

 
   
  Steps

 
 
1
Realize that abusing drugs may lead to devastating events in people's lives. These could include prison, homelessness, serious medical problems such as an overproduction of serotonin and even death.
 
2
Think about what other things in life you can achieve such as activities that are more fulfilling than drugs. Maybe investing in a career, or practicing an instrument. Drugs can destroy family ties, so spend time strengthening bonds with your family and friends.
 
3
Examine all activities broadly, to help you Discover What You Really Want from a New Career. Think about the compliments received from utilizing your skills, the rewards of pursuing an interesting career, or how much your new found self-esteem really means to you. Write down your goals and tick each goal as you achieve it. Don't set your goals too high, make sure they are reasonable, or you will just set yourself up for failure.
 
4
Compare the results, long term and short term, of your new lifestyle. If you were taking drugs, the results would never be as good.
 
5
Realize that enjoying life and pursuing new interests is more satisfying and EASIER (long term anyway) than abusing drugs
 
6
Prepare yourself for occasions where strangers may offer drugs to you. It could be a street corner or a party. By now, you should be able to tell the person why you choose to refuse or chose not to participate in what they are offering. If in a moment of weakness you choose to try drugs again, first, think it through very carefully. Second, make sure you are in a safe environment with people you love and trust.
 
7
Try to associate with people who do not use drugs, and avoid situations where they will be used and given to you. Try immersing yourself in activities that are made more difficult by drugs, such as driving, talking on the phone, learning something new, or jogging.
 
 
8
Have a good friend who you can talk to about any situation where you are tempted to take drugs. This will help you be more accountable, and it should provide you with positive feedback from someone who genuinely cares about you.
 
9
Remember that the future is full of promise and abusing drugs might rob you of those beautiful things in life.
 
10
Look at the list of people who have been destroyed, even killed, by drugs. Just because many Rock Stars, actors or friends use them doesn't make them cool; you must make your own decisions. For every star who looks cool taking drugs, there is one who is in rehab, or has died.
 
11
Forgive yourself if you feel you made a mistake by trying drugs. If you don't make mistakes in life, how will you learn? Accept your mistakes and don't be hypocritical when you see people around you making the same mistakes. The thing that matters is what lies ahead of you, not what is in your past. [Leave the Past Behind]. The past has taught you a valuable lesson. Learning from your mistakes has made you a stronger person today.
   
  Tips

 
 
  • Be aware of your talents and skills Write your accomplishments down so you can think of them in times of trouble Have Hope.
  • Realize that you can create your own "buzz" by caring about others and planning for your future.
  • The Past. You can succeed no matter what you have done in the past.
  • Think about what you like doing the most.(Enjoy Life)
  • You can never look back at a substance-abusing episode with the attitude that it is going to hold you back or interfere with your goalsTake Pride in Being a Perfectionist. Always remember how you utilized your skills in the past and learn from it. Analyze Your skills and Job Options.
  • Closely examine what has made you feel valuable in the past.
  • You could start a support group with your drug free friends.
  • Have activities and interests that do not involve drugs and alcohol.
  • Have the willpower and confidence to know that you don't need drugs.
  • Just remember that DRUGS ARE BAD, say it in your head over and over and over again. If you're in a sticky situation with a drug dealer trying to offer or persuade you into taking drugs just say no. Even trying drugs once,or just having a little taste, can suck you into it. Don't be abrasive. Just say no in a non-threatening manner.
   
  Warnings

 
 

If necessary seek medical advice or treatment facilities as withdrawing from drugs can be dangerous or even life threatening.
   
  Say No To Smoking

 
 

Smoking: Don't Let It Steer You Wrong: Facts for Teens

What's in cigarettes?
Cigarettes contain disgusting things that you would never think about putting in your body. For example, cigarettes contain tar, carbon monoxide and chemicals like DDT, arsenic and formaldehyde (a gas used to preserve dead animals).

The tobacco in cigarettes also contains nicotine--the drug that makes smoking addictive. All of these things are bad for your body. Nicotine raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. Tar and carbon monoxide cause serious breathing problems. And you know tobacco smoke causes cancer.

What's the real deal with tobacco?
Tobacco is toxic (poison) to your body. It causes health problems and may lead to early death. On top of that, tobacco is addictive. This means that once you start using it, your body starts to need it. The longer you use tobacco, and the more you use, the harder it is to stop. Everyone who smokes started by "just trying it." That's how the habit and the addiction begin.

Is chewing tobacco as bad as cigarettes?
Yes. Both cigarettes and chewing tobacco are toxic to your body. You may hear more about the harm cigarettes do to the body, but chewing tobacco can also hurt your health. Chewing tobacco can cause sores and white patches in your mouth, as well as diseases and cancers of the mouth, gums and throat. Chewing can give you bad breath, discolor your teeth and cause tooth loss. And one chew contains 15 times the nicotine of a cigarette (meaning the risk of addiction is much higher).

It's never too late to quit.
If you smoke, it's not too late to make a change. To quit, you must break your addiction to nicotine and your habit of smoking. Your habit is the behavior that goes with your tobacco use, such as getting out of school and lighting a cigarette.

Reasons not to smoke

  • Expensive
  • Bad breath
  • Stained teeth and hands
  • Cough/sore throat
  • Problems breathing
  • Feeling tired and out of breath
  • Wrinkles (more, sooner)
  • Arguments with parents, friends
  • Cancer risk
  • Heart disease risk
  • Gum disease risk
  • Bad smell in your clothes, hair, skin
  • Cigarette burns in your car or on your clothes
  • Risk of secondhand smoke to people around you

Things to do instead of smoking

  • Chew sugarless gum.
  • Call a friend.
  • Chew sunflower seeds, ground mint leaves or caffeine-free herbal tea leaves.
  • Go to a movie or another place where you can't smoke.
  • Take a walk or work out.
  • Remind yourself why you want to quit.
 

Steps to make quitting easier:

  • Pick a stop date. Choose a date 2 to 4 weeks from today so you can get ready to quit. If possible, choose a time when things in your life will change, like when you're about to start a break from school. Or just pick a time when you don't expect any extra stress at school, work or home. For example, quit after final exams, not during them.
  • Make a list of the reasons why you want to quit. Keep the list on hand so you can look at it when you have a nicotine craving.
  • Keep track of where, when and why you smoke. You may want to make notes for a week or so to know ahead of time when and why you crave a cigarette. Plan what you'll do instead of smoking (see list above for ideas). You may also want to plan what you'll say to people who pressure you to smoke.
  • Throw away all of your tobacco. Clean out your room if you have smoked there. Throw away your ashtrays and lighters--anything that you connect with your smoking habit.
  • Tell your friends that you're quitting. Ask them not to pressure you about smoking. Find other things to do with them besides smoking.
  • When your stop date arrives, STOP. Plan little rewards for yourself for each tobacco-free day, week or month. For example, buy yourself a new shirt or ask a friend to see a movie with you.
   
  Memories From The Past

 
 

As a small child in Hamilton Ontario witnessing the Salvation Army band from the sidewalk of East 38th, street, I heard someone sing " Put a nickel in the drum, save another drunken bum.

I think "these are the hands that heal" William Booth the founder of the Salvation Army is very much alive in people like Eileen, still marching into human history as an icon of virtue we can all follow. Every where we go together, men stop and smile at my girlfriend as they recognize her contribution to their own healing with the food she prepared when they were clients.I feel lucky to have met her.Struggling is what humans do I thought, thats what keeps us alive.

I think of the temperance movement years ago,and the ladies sitting in their booths dispensing their ideas. I want to be part of that, to warn young ones away from being caught on the "lifetime intoxication treadmill" So I had some peel and stick warning labels printed for the school kids to stick on the "old mans" beer fridge, and photo copied the newspaper article announcing "beer wine and liquor discovered to be drugs" and bent the ear of our local candidates,and school trustees at election time to send my package home with the youngsters, but was dismissed as a crank.So these most recent peel and sticks that depict a rat trap with pills and booze as bait, can be stuck around the elementry schools and removed and restuck on their books, lockers, friends backs and maybe one one their principals forehead.

As a last born I delight in mischief and poking at the entreprenuers who pedal booze for profit seems like energy well spent. So keep up the struggle folks, intoxication is not part of the hierarchy of needs.

 
 
   
  Sources and Citations

 
 

Talk to Frank