Negative effects of drug and alcohol abuse Our Draw the Line submission is a list describing ten negative effects of drug and alcohol abuse, from a youth group that is being led by Terros staff members that coordinate the Weed and Seed Grant and the Drug Free Communities Grant. The youth are from inner-city Phoenix. The group is focused on substance abuse reduction and awareness. We chose to create this list with the youth group to enable their voice to be heard and to empower their perspective on the negative effects of drug and alcohol abuse. We encourage parents and educators to share this list with their respective kids to engage in a discussion on the negative effects of drugs and alcohol abuse, and to create their own list to share.

List of Negative Effects of Drugs and Alcohol:

• Doing drugs and alcohol can destroy yourself and your family.
• Doing drugs and alcohol can destroy your appearance and physically hurt your body.
• Doing drugs and alcohol can make people not want to be around you and make people not trust you.
• Drugs and alcohol are very addictive, and cause people to change their lifestyle in a negative way.
• Drugs and alcohol can make you lose control of your life and destroy your dreams.
• Drugs and alcohol can negatively affect your intelligence and potential in life.
• Drugs and alcohol can cause you to be violent towards people and things.
• Drugs and alcohol can cause you to lose your attention span.
• Drugs and alcohol can negatively affect your sleeping and eating patterns.
• Drugs and alcohol make you lose brain cells.

-- Inner-City Youth Group organized by Rigo Soto and Jeff Welch