Power of You(th)

You have more power than you think when it comes to saying no to alcohol and other drugs

Power of You(th)® is one of MADD’s programs that provides you with research-based information on the dangers of underage drinking and other drug use.

We want to prepare you with the tools to resist peer pressure and empower you to take the next step and influence your friends to make the right choices. Your future is determined by the decisions you make today.

Check out our resources and take the quiz. Share these resources with your peers to keep your friends safe and informed.

There's POWER in numbers.
Less teens are drinking than you think, and even fewer are using cannabis. 7 out of 10 teenagers don't drink alcohol, and 8 out of 10 don't use cannabis.

Power of You(th) is made possible by our
generous National Presenting Sponsor:

Amica Insurance a MADD partner

RESOURCES

Power of Youth Quiz

Myths & Facts

FACT:  It’s not maturity, it’s biology. The young body cannot handle alcohol the way an adult one can. (NIAAA) Alcohol impairs judgment and reflexes. It increases the chances that you will make terrible choices that you never would have made sober. (NSDUH)

FACT: Time is the ONLY thing that can sober a person up. Alcohol is a water soluble drug. In order for your body to get back to normal and your brain be able to get back to its normal self, the body needs to flush out the bad. Coffee only creates a wide awake drunk and a shower only creates a wet one. (NIH)

FACT: Every year over 4,300 youth die as a result of underage drinking. (CDC) Additionally, the younger youth start drinking, the higher the likelihood for developing alcohol dependence later in life. (SAMHSA)

FACT: The main active ingredient in cannabis, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), stimulates brain cells to release the chemical dopamine, which creates a feeling of pleasure. 1 in 11 adults who use cannabis becomes addicted. And the younger someone starts smoking, the higher the risk. One in six people who start in their teens will become addicted. (NIDA)

FACT: THC affects a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is necessary for learning. These affects can last long after the “high” is gone. In fact, college students who use are much more likely to drop out than those who do not.

FACT: Driving is a divided attention task. THC mutes the senses needed to drive safely and the ability to react to changing dangers while driving. (NHTSA) Some of the effects experienced by drivers are: slower reactions, lane weaving, decreased coordination, and difficulty reacting to signals and sounds on the road.