THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL & CANNABIS ON THE BODY
CONSEQUENCES In addition to the impact on your brain and body, choosing to drink alcohol or use cannabis before you are 21 can cause serious
problems in a lot of other ways. Imagine being caught after making that choice. Having your family embarrassed or disappointed in your choices doesn’t feel good. But feeling the same way about your own choices can feel even worse. Add that to a list of other ways that those choices cause problems to your home life, school life, and future goals.
Your brain and your organs are growing and changing every minute. Did you know that your brain is not finished growing until your mid-20s? That means the part of your brain that helps plan, think ahead, and resist bad decisions hasn’t fully formed yet. Because of this, you might not think about what dangerous things could happen after making an unsafe choice or taking chances. For example, you might not think about how drinking alcohol or using cannabis can hurt your body both today and in the future. Check out some of the ways that these drugs can impact your developing body. It’s Biology, Not Maturity
Life Changing
Social & Academic Legal & Financial
Bad grades or failing scores Impact to your permanent record School suspension or expulsion Being kicked off a sports team or out of a school club After school detention
Increased risk of addiction Hurting or injuring yourself or others Increased risk of sexual violence, unsafe sex, or unplanned pregnancies Permanent IQ loss and brain damage Death from alcohol poisoning or car crash
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Expensive fines and legal fees Mandated community service hours Court ordered classes Juvenile detention • • • •
• Difficulty concentrating • Slower reaction time • Passing out / coma • Headaches / dizziness
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Brain
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• Bronchitis • Lung damage
Lungs
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• Stroke • Heart attack • High blood pressure
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Heart
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• Increased risk of liver problems
Liver
REFLECT: None of the consequences above are worth the risk. Think about the life you want in the future and how any of these events could prevent you from getting there.
Stomach
• Nausea / vomiting
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Power To Take A Stand
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