Why do people drink and do drugs?

People usually take drugs and drink because they want to change something in their lives:

• "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi

  To feel good
• To fit in
• To escape or relax
• To relieve boredom
• To seem grown up
• To rebel
• To experiment

People often think drugs and drink are a solution. But eventually, drugs and drinking are the problem.

How do drugs and alcohol work?

Drugs and alcohol are essentially poisons. The amount ingested determines the effect from speeding you up, to slowing you down to killing you. Alcohol and drugs block sensations, wipe out ability and muddy your thinking.

IMPACT Grand Prairie provides citizens the ability to be part of a solution. By joining, you can work with other concerned citizens to help reduce and prevent youth substance abuse. When we work together, we can:

• Empower youth;
• Improve the community;
• Reduce violence and prevent crime;
• Help schools be more effective;
• Strengthen families; and
• Build a safe and drug-free community;
• To experiment.

IMPACT Grand Prairie works to limit underage access to alcohol and drugs, and change social norms to decrease youth substance abuse.

IMPACT changes policies, enhances law enforcement efforts and educates the community on the consequences of substance use. The goal is to create an attitude that decreases the probability of youth substance use and abuse.