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I got a clear understanding of my addiction – how far I have comewith my recovery. I lost my friends’ and family’s trust and respectbecause I lied to them so much. I’m looking forward to gaining itback. Now that I am in recovery, I am changing my life and I love it.”— Rebecca W.Risk factorsMany risk factors affect a youngadult’s risk for substance abuse,including community deficienciesthat contribute to high-risk alcoholor drug use, such as perceived risk,social norms and access to help.But many protective factors canreduce a youth or young adult’srisk for substance abuse and otherproblem behaviors, such as:• Strong positive bonding to parents/caregivers, family, friends, school• Healthy beliefs and clear standards• Constructive recreationopportunities• Parental disapproval of problembehavior• Parent/child connectedness; feelingunderstood, loved, wanted and paidattention to• Parental presence before school,after school, at dinner and at bedtime• Academic achievement, regularschool attendance, pro-socialopportunities• Development of critical thinking andproblem-solving skills• Education about social and healthrelated costsSource: DACCOAll drugs have the potential to bedangerous, whether alcohol, illicitdrugs or prescription drugs. Alcoholcontinues to be the most commonlyused drug in Hillsborough County andits abuse is a leading cause of carcrashes, injury, homicide and suicide.There also has been a significantincrease in local deaths related toprescription drugs such as OxyContin.According to data from the countyMedical Examiner Department, in 2009an alarming 92 percent of HillsboroughCounty drug-related deaths involved atleast one prescription drug.According to a 2008 national survey,the intentional misuse of prescriptiondrugs is now second, only to marijuana,as the nation’s most prevalent drugabuse issue. And 70 percentof prescription painrelievers usednon-medicallyin our nationcame fromfriends orrelatives.Source: DACCOStopping drugand alcohol abusebefore it startsStopping drug andalcohol abuse before itstarts remains the key to reducing drugabuse locally, as well as nationally. Themost effective way to address drugand alcohol abuse and its devastatingconsequences is through education.Did you know that researchconfirms that if young people make itto adulthood without experimentingwith drugs, they are far less likely tostart using later in life? Successfulprevention will result in fewer trafficfatalities andinjuriesas wellas less crime, violence, disease, childabuse, lost productivity and addiction.According to the National Office ofDrug Control Policy, current researchdemonstrates that for every dollarinvested in research-based prevention,$10 is saved in treatment costs alone.Of course, no dollar amount can beplaced on the human suffering andanguish that results when parentswitness a child descending into alifestyle of drug use that can end withaddiction, prison or death.Recent scientific findings on theeffects of substance abuse on theadolescent brain also underscore thevital importance of prevention efforts.During early childhood, the brainundergoes rapid growth. Importantareas of the brain continue to developand mature through adolescenceand young adulthood. Substance useduring adolescence can disrupt andimpair brain function in the prefrontalcortex and other important areas4 tampabay.com/nie