Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 101 I WAS CURIOUS. > It is natural to be curious. But drugs are > not worth the risk. > Drugs can affect your judgment and your > decision-making skills, which could lead > > you to join in dangerous activities. For > example, you might drive while under the > influence or get in a car with someone > driving under the influence. > You do not know how you or somebody else > will react to a drug. You might suffer from an > overdose of the drug and even possibly die. I SAW IT ON TELEVISION OR IN A MOVIE. > What people think is popular can be > strongly influenced by television shows and > movies. Their images of drug use are > unrealistic. > These media images rarely show the true > consequences of drug use. In real life, > using drugs often leads to: > » poor performance at school and at work, > » changes in your personality, > » conflicts with family and friends, > problems with your health, and > » possible injury and/or death. > You may think that avoiding drugs will > make you unpopular. But it is healthier for > you to show people who you are by your > activities and your friends. I AM NOT ADDICTED. I CAN STOP AT ANY TIME. > Even the people who are now addicted to > drugs once believed they could stop using > any time. > People become addicted slowly over time. > Once addicted, it can be very difficult to > stop. Stopping can trigger withdrawal > symptoms, which may be very unpleasant. > People often begin to use drugs again in > order to avoid these unpleasant symptoms. > If you become addicted, realizing this fact > is the first step to recovery. Ask your > health care provider for help. You may > need the support of friends or family to > cope during this difficult time. REASONS TO SAY NO TO DRUGS (continued) DRIVING IMPAIRED BY A DRUG People impaired by a drug are not safe drivers because they are not able to concentrate fully and react quickly. This not only risks the driver’s safety, but also the safety of their passengers and others on the road. Driving impaired by a drug is illegal. Being a passenger with someone who is driving impaired by a drug is also very dangerous. RISKS WHILE DRIVING IMPAIRED BY A DRUG When you drive a vehicle, your brain needs to be alert and focused. Even small amounts of a drug can affect your ability to drive safely. Different drugs act on your brain in different ways, but almost all affect your: > motor skills, > balance and coordination, > attention, > judgment, > reaction time, and > decision-making skills. Serious accidents can easily happen when you drive while impaired by a drug. Many drivers who have collisions may have both drugs and alcohol in their system. Police can test impaired drivers for alcohol using breathalyzer tests. While no roadside test for drugs is currently available, police across continued
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