Substance Use Prevention

If you or someone you know is struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, help is available! You have options, including counselors, doctors, and in-patient treatment centers. Reaching out for help is the most important first step.

Signs of a Substance Use Disorder or Addiction

Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
Deterioration of personal hygiene or appearance
Frequent, unexplained bruises or other injuries
Skipping class or declining grades
Sudden change in relationships and friends
Missing money / stealing
Sudden mood changes – irritability or outbursts
Appearing withdrawn, anxious or paranoid

Resources

Tips For Parents - Teen Parties

Know the Facts
- Tips for when your teen hosts a party
- Tips for when your teen attends a part
Legal, Health, and Safety Issues
Party Tips
- What to do if there’s been a party in your home
- What to do if you’re going to be out of town
- What to do if your teen is going to a party
Texting Tips
- Tips for texting your teen during parties
- Before and during the event
- Early evening
- Late evening

Drunk/Impaired Driving

Driving after drinking is deadly, yet it continues to happen. Every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 45 minutes. Annually, drunk driving crashes cost the US $44 billion. Drunk driving crashes are preventable!

How does alcohol impact our brain/body?

Alcohol is a substance that reduces the function of the brain, impairing thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination. All these abilities are essential to operating a vehicle safely.

Alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and small intestine. Then it passes into the bloodstream where it accumulates until it is metabolized by the liver. A person’s alcohol level is measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. This is called Blood Alcohol Concentration, or BAC. At a BAC of .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood, crash risk increases. Because of this risk, it’s illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, except in Utah where the BAC limit is .05.

The Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (BAC) IN G/DL ON DRIVING	TYPCIAL EFFECTS	PREDICTABLE EFFECTS
.02	Some loss of judgement Relaxation Slight body warmth Altered mood	Decline in visual functions (rapid tracking of a moving target) Decline in ability to perform two tasks at the same time (divided attention)
.05	Exaggerated behavior May have loss of small-muscle control (e.g., focusing your eyes) Impaired judgment Usually good feelings Lowered alertness Release of inhibition	Reduced coordination Reduced ability to track moving objects Difficulty steering Reduced response to emergency driving situations
.08	Muscle coordination becomes poor (e.g., balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing) Judgement, self-control, reasoning and memory are impaired	Concentration Short-term memory loss Speed control Reduced information processing capability (e.g., signal detection, visual search), impaired perception
.10	Clear deterioration of reaction time and control Slurred speech Poor coordination Slowed thinking	Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake appropriately
.15	Far less muscle control than normal Vomiting may occur (unless this level is reached slowly or a person has developed a tolerance for alcohol Major loss of balance	Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing

The Consequences of Drinking & Driving

Drinking and driving is a dangerous crime. Those caught drinking and driving face jail time and many legal fees. On average, a DUI can set you back $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing, and more. And, drinking and driving can result in losing your driver’s license and your car, further impacting your future.

More information about Michigan laws regarding drinking and driving.

Be a Responsible Driver – If You Are Drinking, Don’t Drive

The most effective way to stop drunk driving is to prevent it from happening. We all share the roads and must all work together to keep them safe. Making responsible decisions not only ensures our safety, but the safety of others on the road.

Other Tips to Avoid Drunk Driving / Keep Yourself and Others Safe

Plan your safe ride home before you start the party, choose a non-drinking friend as a designated driver.
If someone you know has been drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help them arrange a sober ride home.
If you drink, do not drive for any reason. Call a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a sober friend.
If you’re hosting a party where alcohol will be served, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
Never feel pressured to drink alcohol.
Always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement. Your actions could help save someone’s life.
Calculate your BAC using the Virtual Bar
Other infromation on drinking and driving

Prescription Drugs

DHD#10 – Prescription Drug Use/Misuse

Marijuana

Synthetic/Emerging Drugs

Other Drug Fact Sheets

Vaping

Take Back Your Meds

Disposing of your medicines at a local pharmacy or law enforcement office can help prevent prescription drug abuse. By properly disposing unused, unwanted, or expired medications you can ensure medicines will not be stolen from the garbage, will not enter our environment, and prevent abuse and overdoses at home.

Prescription Drug Disposal Locations

Syringe Service Program/Hard Reduction Info