Growing up, you hear a lot of information about drugs. Different people will tell you different things, and this can be confusing. It is up to you to make informed decisions for yourself. Use this section as a resource for honest facts about drugs and to help you and your friends with these tough choices.

First, take a minute to think about what a drug is:

• A drug is any substance (other than food) which changes the way the body or mind functions.


• Drugs may or may not have medicinal properties or purposes.


• Drugs can come from plants or be made in labs, most are a little of both.


• Drugs can be legal, illegal, helpful or harmful.

If you choose to use drugs, you will find useful information about the risks you face as well as ways to limit or control some of those risks.

If you choose not to use drugs (after all, the easiest way to avoid drug problems is to not use them), you will find useful information that you can pass on when someone you know is making choices about their own drug use, to help them make safer and more responsible decisions.

<---- Browse through the drugs listed on the left to learn specific facts.