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Dubuque Drug Task Force
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is hurt by drug use?
When a person uses drugs, they are being careless with their health and well-being. Drug use can harm a person’s body and mind. Some drugs can cause damage to a person’s brain, lungs or heart. Some drugs can cause a person to be addicted to them. Using drugs is not safe.
Drug use not only hurts the drug user but those who care about them.
When a person uses drugs they harm not only themselves but the people around them—moms, dads, brothers, sisters, children, other family members and friends.
What happens when your friend uses drugs?
If your friend uses drugs, he or she may have difficulty staying in school or going to work. This can affect their immediate and long term future.
If your friend uses drugs on a regular basis, he or she may become addicted to a point where treatment will be necessary.
If your friend uses drugs he or she is not living up to their full potential and not reaching for goals or dreams because the drugs make them physically and mentally unable to do everyday things.
If your friend does not get help, his or her drug use may result in permanent damage to their body and mind and possibly death.
A person can die from drug use. Some drugs can be fatal with just one use.
If your friend lives where drugs are made…
Some drugs are made with very dangerous chemicals. Some people make these drugs at their home. When people make drugs at home, they mix many different chemicals together. Mixing these chemicals together can cause very poisonous gasses, fires, explosions, toxic remains and residues. If you or a friend are in a house where drugs are being made, you can be severely injured or killed by these mixed chemicals or the poisonous gasses they produce. Leave the house immediately.
What can you do to help your friend?
If you are worried about your friend, it is important for you to speak to someone in private with whom you can trust like a parent or teacher.
If you feel uncomfortable when you visit a friend’s house because of drug use---leave immediately. If you smell a strange odor, see items around the house or feel uncomfortable because someone is using drugs---leave the house immediately and discuss what you saw with a parent, teacher, police officer or other adult that you can trust. Take care of yourself, and try to help your friend stay out of danger, and be safe.
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