A division of the Saginaw County Youth Protection Council

Did You Know?

• Girls actually have less water in their bodies than boys. Water helps to dilute alcohol. So, Girls get drunk faster-but many don’t realize it. How dangerous and scary is that?

It will take less alcohol to influence you to make choices you will regret later, and you will also have less time to avoid alcohol poisoning!

• Eyes-Alcohol can make it hard to stay awake, and cause you not to sleep well. When you wake up, you will still be tired and possibly with a grumpy attitude.
• Mouth- Alcohol can make you mumble your words. You might talk really loud. You might say things that are out of character and very rude. Your breath might even stink. So gross!!!!
• Heart-Alcohol can stress your heart right out! You may have an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, a stroke, even heart failure! Yikes!
• Brain-Girls who drink can suffer memory problems, brain damage and even reduced brain size!
• Drinking might depress you.
• It affects your brain cells, which help you think and move normally.
• You can also develop a nasty headache that seems to last forever!
• Breast Cancer-Teen Girls who drink display higher levels of estradiol (an estrogen) and testosterone than do Girls who don’t drink. And high levels of estrogen are linked to diseases like breast cancer.

Girls Body Facts

How to say no to drugs, alcohol and tobacco and not “look un-cool”

Question:

Answers:

• If he really cares about you like he says he does, why would he want you to do something that could put you at risk? When you care about someone you want the best for that person….right?
• Drinking may start a habit that may continue way past when he is gone and out of your life!
• Look, not drinking could jeopardize the relationship…..But, choosing to drink with him puts you in jeopardy! Think about it….
• Drinking alcohol just to keep a relationship just doesn’t make sense. Is that really a reason?
• It is against the law to drink if you are under 21!

Question:

“My best friend is having a huge party this weekend and I know that there will be alcohol there. I am not planning on drinking, but if I do, how can I get home if everyone else is drinking? Do I call my mom to ask her to pick me up and risk getting in some big trouble?”

Answer:

• Yes! Talk to your parents before the party.
• Have a plan.
• Agree with your parents that you will call them if you get in a situation that becomes unsafe or if your only option is to drive home with someone who has been drinking.
• Know this….Your parents may not like that you have been around drinking or even drinking yourself, but most parents want their kids to be safe. And most parents want to build a circle of trust with you!

Question:

“How come I know people that drank in high school and they don’t have any problems? Are all those statistics about the brain and the body just scare tactics created by the “experts?”

Answer:

• No they are not scare tactics they are facts!
• If you are under 21, drinking alcohol is a huge problem!
• It is illegal
• If you are caught, you may have to pay a fine, perform community service or take alcohol awareness classes.
• How lucky the people are that you know who drank and didn’t have any problems… How can you tell for sure that if you choose to drink you won’t have any problems? You can’t…… Is it really worth the risk?