Last Updated on April 20, 2016 by Morris Green

It’s nearly summer! School is almost out of session, vacation plans are in the works, and you have approximately 10 whole weeks to do anything you want. You’re no doubt planning to hit the beach, road trip with friends, and checkout some exciting events. So why not make Summer Vacation 2016 the summer you complete the Just Once Substance Free Challenge? Don’t know what it is? Let’s start with a little backstory.

In the 2013 Mecklenburg County Summary Report, under the topic of Substance Abuse Prevention, it was stated that an estimated “24 million or 9% of Americans age 12 and older are current illicit drug users and more than half of Americans 12 and over report alcohol use.” In North Carolina, 24% of teens in 2011 were using marijuana, 20% were abusing prescription drugs, and 18% had binged on alcohol while another 34% had drank alcohol within the past 30 days.

Awareness and education are two pivotal keys to decreasing the number of people adversely affected by drugs and alcohol. According to the report, “the best interventions for substance abuse are prevention and treatment. These are enhanced by policy [and] environmental changes like changing alcohol advertisements or campaigns to reduce stigma…The benefits of substance abuse prevention well outweigh the costs of providing the service.”

As a local provider of substance services to the Charlotte and Concord communities, we know firsthand the costs involved after the fact. Alcohol and drug charges incur financial repercussions, including fines, court costs, and treatment.

Three Major Concerns in Mecklenburg Country

The 2013 Mecklenburg Country Summary Report is an eye-opener. In the area of substance abuse, it brings to light three major public concerns facing our local community:

1. Underage Drinking: Classified as “an urgent issue” in Mecklenburg, underage drinking has rapidly become a local epidemic. Alcohol is seen as a rite of passage for underage youth, and this attitude is partially behind why North Carolina launched the Drinking Pilot Program, which has made major strides toward curbing the growth seen in the number of underage drinking cases in Mecklenburg County and throughout the state of North Carolina.
2. Marijuana Use: Marijuana ranks prominently on the list of the eight most commonly abused drugs in the United States. In recent years, marijuana use has become a major concern in Mecklenburg and the surrounding counties due to frequently changing laws across the US. As some states allow the use of medical and/or recreational marijuana, greater access to this harmful drug increases. As a result, many are seeing marijuana as a harmful substance versus a gateway drug.
3. Prescription Drug Abuse: RX drug abuse can be just as dangerous as the use of illegal drugs. Most people, especially youth, fail to recognize this fact. Any prescription drug taken for a reason or in a manner not intended by a doctor (or taken by someone other than the patient), can result in drug abuse and addiction. The NC Attorney General hosted a video contest specifically geared toward preventing teen prescription drug abuse last year to raise awareness and promote prevention.

Dozens of programs overseen by the state and local community leaders have targeted these three public concerns. You can do your part in minimizing them by taking a very simple pledge to have…

A Summer without Drugs and Alcohol

What if we told you that consuming alcohol isn’t a rite of passenger, nor is it necessary to having fun? Have you ever felt pressured to drink? Have you ever felt like you didn’t need to consume alcohol, but your peers made you feel like it was necessary? You are not alone.

Now, what if we told you that illegal and prescription drugs are dangerous to your health and future? Have you ever wanted to take a prescription that wasn’t yours because you wanted to be more alert or perform better? Have you ever thought are trying a drug—illegal or otherwise—because everybody does it, so why not you, too? There’s nothing wrong with the way you feel.

But drugs and alcohol can singlehandedly destroy your future! Consider this:

• Smoking marijuana, snorting cocaine, or injecting heroin just once can start an addiction.
• Binge drinking just once can cause severe heart, brain, or liver damage that leads to chronic pain or instant death.
• Mixing alcohol with driving just once can injure or kill you, your friends, or a total stranger in a matter of seconds.

But you know all of that. So let’s look at this from a different angle:

• Saying no to illegal drugs just once can stop peer pressure in its tracks and show your peers that you are not willing to cave to their desires.
• Saying no to underage drinking just once can save you from losing the respect of your family and friends.
• Saying no to drugs and alcohol just once can stop you from landing in a potentially dangerous situation where you might be hurt, taken advantage of, or abused.
• Saying no to drugs and alcohol just once can safeguard you from ever knowing the pain of substance abuse or addiction.

Think about your favorite celebrity. Chances are you know their backstory better than anyone. Didn’t it take just one break for their career to launch?

One decision has the power to make or break your future. So why not make a single decision that is guaranteed to be 100% right?

Take the Just Once Challenge

For the summer of 2016, take the Just Once Substance Free Challenge. One you. One choice. One outcome. Say no to drugs and alcohol this summer because just once can and will be the difference between life and death, not just for you but for everyone in our community.

Need some ideas on how to enjoy the summer free of dangerous substances? Then check out these awesome how to articles:

1. How to Have Fun without Alcohol
2. How to Have Fun without Drugs
3. How to Have a Safe Summer Vacation