Know About Drug Overdose
by Laura Hoffacker
Staff Writer
“Two Mentor High Students Hospitalized: Three Charged” was the headline for the article in the News Herald. By now everyone knows the story.
How do you know if someone is under the influence, or is addicted to drugs? Well the answer to that varies, and depends on the type of drug. Some symproms are chronic cough or worsening asthma, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, or slowing heart rate and reduced respiration, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea and vomiting, paleness, sweating, abdominal pain, and yellowing of the skin.
To put it simply if someone is acting overly different than normal you should consider drug overdose. Simple signs of drug abuse are compulsory use, using them during difficult situations or to make you feel better.
What should you do if you find out someone has overdosed? Tell a teacher. Even though people may make fun of you for being a tattletale or teacher’s pet, it is better than your classmate or friend dying.
How can you stay drug free throughout your high school career? This is not an easy thing to do and there is no simple answer.
One thing you can do is to make sure your friends understand what your beliefs are and, if they try to force you to do drugs, they are probably not the friends you want to have.
For additional information on drugs or drug abuse you can visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov