3 reasons to say no to underage drinking and drug misuse

We’ve all seen it – the movies or social media posts highlighting the “fun” or casual side of underage drinking and drug use. These visuals underscore a world where drugs and alcohol fit seamlessly into a young person’s life with little to no consequences.

But these filtered moments don’t capture the true impacts of addiction. What’s more, many students and youth actually aren’t drinking or using drugs as much as mass media portrays. In fact, research shows only about six percent of 8th graders, 14 percent of 10th graders and 28 percent of 12th graders in the United States consume alcohol. But when youth see frequent alcohol and drug use in the media, they think it’s the norm, and their actions often align accordingly.

The most effective way to counteract these harmful portrayals is to learn the facts about what saying yes and no can mean. Most notably for Native American youth in Osage county, saying yes to positive lifestyle choices insteadof drugs and alcohol can lead to healthier habits and improved lifestyle choices for years to come.

Here are three benefits worth considering.

Improved health

In the United States, Native American youth and young adults are prematurely dying at rates higher than any other race or ethnic group. When it comes to underage substance use, Native Americans bear the brunt of the negative effects. And causes of death, like chronic liver disease, suicide, and overdose, are worsened by underage substance abuse.

Teens on Native American reservations continue to be more likely to report using alcohol, marijuana and other illicit drugs than peers elsewhere in the U.S. and starting these substances at significantly younger ages.

Drug and alcohol use can affect both short-term and long-term health outcomes. When a person is under the influence, their judgement is impaired, leading to risky behaviors that could result in life-threatening accidents. Substance misuse can have immediate effects on a person’s heart rate and body temperature regulation and can lead to psychotic episodes, overdose and death. Consistent use of drugs and alcohol can also result in long-term medical consequences like hypertension, liver disease and cancer.

When you say no to drugs and alcohol today, you’re saying yes to a life with fewer health complications. 

Sharper mind

For teens, when substances sit in the driver’s seat, other responsibilities like school, time with family and friends, and extracurriculars can get left behind.

Adolescence is a significant time in a person’s life. Teens learn new information, grow physically and develop interests and habits that follow them into adulthood. Human brains don’t stop growing until age 25, but drugs and alcohol can negatively impact a person’s neural development and hinder the brain’s ability to learn and retain new information. In addition, long-term substance abuse can trigger mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which may severely impact a person’s ability to focus or feel motivated to reach their highest potential.

Avoiding substance use at a young age is statistically shown to correlate with academic success. For example, one study found students with a 4.0 GPA drank a third fewer alcoholic beverages than the average student.

Quality education leads to increased knowledge, greater financial security and a brighter future. Removing the physical and mental impacts of drugs and alcohol create more opportunities to achieve in the classroom and succeed outside of it.

Increased happiness

Early alcohol and drug use may seem harmless, but it can trap teens in an endless cycle of addiction and stress. The “buzz” or relaxing feeling associated with substance use is only temporary, and after it subsides, a person is left with fatigue and irritability, not to mention the repercussions of poor decisions made during a time where the brain isn’t functioning at its full capacity. Long-term use can also trigger mental health issues like depression and chronic anxiety.

When it comes to underage alcohol and drug use, science plays a key role. Some drugs can produce an intense feeling of euphoria via dopamine, which tricks the brain into relying on drugs to reach any level of pleasure. Things a person once loved, such as eating good meals and spending time with loved ones, no longer feel enjoyable. A person’s tolerance grows over time, requiring higher amounts of the substance to reach a “normal” level of pleasure.

By finding other ways to relieve stress or trigger pleasure teens can jumpstart more productive routines and avoid becoming trapped in the endless cycle of addiction and substance abuse. Interests like exercise, meditation, sports, art, reading or diving into a specific cultural practice like pow wows and dancing are all ways Native youth can more deeply enjoy their lives and invest in their futures.

Without the burden of alcohol and drugs, Native youth are free to improve in school, lead a healthier lifestyle, try new things and invest in their innate talents and interests. Understanding the effects and removing poor influences are the initial steps in avoiding the negative feedback loop of addiction and reaping the profound benefits of a substance-free life.  

The Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) in partnership with SAMHSA and Native American Youth Influencers (NAYI) believe in the hope of a better tomorrow for Native communities. Learn more about how you can say no to drugs and alcohol and yes to so much more at sayyesaaip.org.