Assemblyman
Nelson L. Castro asks...
Nelson L. Castro asks...
Do You Know
How To Say
NO?
How To Say
NO?
Dear Friend,
As we get older, we face more responsibilities — and more choices. Sometimes it’s not easy to make the right decisions. Especially when our friends offer us drugs or alcohol.
It should be easy to say no, but peer pressure can be difficult to stand up to. If you believe in yourself and your decisions, saying no will be easier. Your real friends will respect your choices. And you will feel good about it.
Never let anyone talk you into doing something you really don’t want to do. A person who does is not your friend.
If you have any questions about drugs and alcohol, or need help saying no to drugs, you can call the phone numbers at the bottom of this letter.
Remember, it’s your right to say NO.
Sincerely,
Nelson L. Castro
Assemblyman
2488 Grand Concourse, Suite 310-11
Bronx, NY 10458
718-933-6909
•
Room 921 LOB
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5511
•
Simply say, “No.”
Give a reason or excuse.
Be a broken record — say no over and over again.
Walk away.
Change the subject.
Avoid the situation.
Give them the cold shoulder.
Remember there is strength in numbers. Say no with your friends.
________ Alcohol is not an addictive drug.
________ A wine cooler is not an alcoholic drink.
________ It takes about one hour for a person’s body to break down the alcohol in one drink.
________ High school students use cocaine and marijuana more than alcohol.
________ People who have alcoholic parents are more likely to develop alcoholism.
________ Using alcohol is more dangerous for young people than adults.
________ Alcohol does not have any lasting effects.
________ Coffee helps people sober up.
________ Milk coats the stomach and keeps a person from getting drunk.
________ People suffering from alcoholism can be cured.
Ask Questions
If someone offers you something you do not recognize, ask “What is it?” and “Where
did you get it?” If there’s going to be a party, find out who else will be going, where it
will be and whose parents will be there.
Say NO
Don’t argue, don’t discuss. Say no and show you mean it.
Give Reasons
Say “I’m doing something else tonight” or “The coach says drugs will hurt my game.” Also,
don’t forget the oldest reason: “My parents will kill me.”
Suggest Other Things To Do
It’s tougher to say no if your friend offers you alcohol or other drugs. Suggesting something
else to do — like going to a movie or playing a game — shows that you are rejecting the
drugs, not your friend.
Leave
If you have tried all of these steps, get out of the situation immediately. Go home, go to class,
see your friends or talk to someone else.
...eight out of ten 7th to 10th graders have tried alcohol?
...students who drink the most, use alcohol to handle stress and boredom?
...a person doesn’t have to be an alcoholic to have problems with alcohol?
...marijuana use doesn’t neces- sarily make people feel happy? Some users experience anxiety, panic or episodes of paranoia.
...repeated marijuana use can cause brain damage? Even small amounts of marijuana can harm your memory, distort your perception, affect your judgement and hurt your coordination.
...using cocaine can cause strokes, seizures or heart attacks — it could even kill you?