Important Information

Your brain is the last major organ to completely develop and is particularly susceptible to drugs and alcohol during your teen years, because ages 12-25 are some of the most critical periods of brain development. (National Institutes of Health) Check out more from The National Institutes Of Health.
 

There is a lot of confusion and controversy about Marijuana. Teens need to know that it is never safe or legal for them. Just because it is being used medically doesn’t mean it is safe recreationally. Check out more from DrugAbuse.gov.

Vapes produce an aerosol. This means that the chemicals in the vape juice are suspended in small droplets that deposit in your mouth, esophagus, and lungs. Any aerosol that someone who vapes breathes out can then affect the friends around them as well. Check out more from the CDC or from the Center On Addiction.
 

Nicotine is extracted from tobacco leaves. It is very addictive because it creates good feelings due to the release of Dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is the “reward” chemical for the brain that tells you to do that again. Check out more from DrugAbuse.gov.
 

Nicotine, Benzene, Lead, Ethylene Glycol and other dangerous chemicals are found in e-juice/JUUL pods. Breathing in these chemicals lead to cancer, heart disease, and lung disease…just like Cigarettes. Check out more from the CDC.

Addiction is a pediatric onset disease. This means it starts when you are young. 90% of adults with substance use disorder admit to starting to misuse drugs (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana) before age 18, most start at 11 or 12 years old. Check out more from the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.
 

A 2018 Georgia Public Health Department Study of 500,000 Georgia teens found 63.8% of teens who vaped began smoking cigarettes within 6 months. Check out more from the Georgia Dept of Public Health.
 

A study that looked at marijuana use over a 30-year period found that reduction in IQ for those who smoked pot heavily prior to age 18 was most pronounced: an average of eight points. This is enough to have a significant, negative impact upon your life. Consider that people with an IQ of 110 have an average net worth of $71,000 and individuals with an IQ of 120 have an average net worth of $128,000. Make the best choice to WIN for your Life. Check out more from DrugAbuse.gov.
 

December 20, 2019: federal legislation made it illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase or use tobacco, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, JUUL, or any vape products. Check out more from the FDA.
 

Paulding County Youth Data

Data collected by the Georgia Department of Education