ADHD meds, cocaine, and methamphetamine don’t sound like they have much in common, but they’re all considered stimulants. ADHD meds like Adderall and Ritalin are considered prescription stimulants. These types of drugs can also be used to treat narcolepsy (a condition where people spontaneously fall asleep).

Don’t take prescription stimulants that haven’t been prescribed to you. Maybe you have a huge exam coming up and need to pull an all-nighter to study. But taking someone else’s Adderall or Ritalin isn’t a good idea. “Study drugs” don’t help if you don’t have ADHD—prescription stimulants can actually make it harder to study. ​ Don’t mix stimulants with other drugs, especially depressants like opioids and alcohol. Mixing stimulants and depressants doesn’t balance or cancel the other out. In reality, combining drugs can be unpredictable, often altering or even masking the effects of one or both drugs. This can fool you into thinking that the drugs are not affecting you, making it easier to take too much and overdose. ​ So what are you supposed to do when you’ve got a paper due for English, a Spanish quiz, and a huge calc exam? Here are some tips: ​ If you’re truly having a hard time focusing, talk to your parents, school counselor, or doctor first. Don’t diagnose yourself with ADHD and grab pills from a friend. If you legitimately have ADHD, taking prescription stimulants—that are actually prescribed to you—can help. If you’re riding the procrastination struggle bus, ask your school’s counseling office if they have any resources. Get a good night’s rest. Pulling an all-nighter can feel tempting, but it’s likely to backfire and leave you feeling miserable. We know that A really matters, but remember that in the long run your mental and physical health are way more important than your report card.

Taking a friend’s ADHD meds may not seem like a big deal, but it actually comes along with real risks, just like misusing other drugs. Misusing ADHD meds even occasionally—like just around midterms and finals—can be risky. When prescription stimulants aren’t used the way they were prescribed, they can send your nervous system into overdrive, potentially leading to panic and anxiety attacks. ​ At high doses, prescription stimulants can lead to a dangerously high body temperature, heart failure, and seizures. And yes, it is possible to overdose on prescription stimulants.

Stimulants work by increasing brain activity. Prescription stimulants increase the activity of brain chemicals like dopamine, which makes us feel “good,” and norepinephrine, which affects blood vessels, blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, and breathing to make us more alert. ​ For people with ADHD, prescription stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy so they can focus better on everything from a history lesson to driving. Because they activate the nervous system, they can make other people feel excited, confident, focused, or even anxious or panicky. Stimulants can also create physical effects on the body like increased heart rate, increased body temperature, and nausea or sickness.

Like any substance, never drive after using marijuana, avoid using it in combination with other substances, and be really careful about using it in situations where it’s important that your decision-making ability and memory stay on point. ​ When it comes to driving, marijuana can slow your reaction time, impair your coordination, and distort your perception, all things you need to be a safe driver. You’ve probably heard a lot about the dangers of drunk driving, but driving high can be super dangerous, too. Want to remember that epic party or night out with your friends? Or maybe you’re hanging out in a new place or with people you don’t know too well yet? Remember that marijuana can directly impact your memory and decision-making, so make sure you really consider when and where using marijuana is safer or riskier for you. ​ There are also synthetic cannabinoids to look out for. They sound like cannabis, but they’re not marijuana. They’re man-made chemicals that can be smoked or vaped, but it’s hard to say what’s really in them. They have unpredictable chemical contents, and if you’ve ever seen a chem lab experiment go wrong… you know that’s never a good thing. These synthetic cannabinoids can affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana does, causing anything from nausea and anxiety to seizures, heart rate issues, and severe injury or death. Since synthetic cannabinoids aren’t regulated, outbreaks from contaminated batches can sometimes make their way through a community. ​ If you have edibles around the house, make sure they’re out of reach of younger siblings or pets. A weed brownie can look exactly like a Betty Crocker one, and you definitely don’t want your sibs getting sick.

The THC in marijuana has a really similar structure to chemicals in the brain called endocannabinoids that are involved in pleasure, memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions, and sensory and time perception. Because of this, THC can latch on to the same spots where these natural chemicals normally work in the brain (also called receptors). This creates the “high” feeling people associate with marijuana, but because the THC also blocks the natural chemicals in the brain from doing their jobs, it also disrupts those same mental and physical functions listed above. ​ Marijuana impacts people differently, so while some people say feeling “stoned” makes them feel relaxed and happy or lose track of time, others might feel confused, anxious, fearful, or panicky. This can depend on all kinds of things, like the mood you’re in, your biology (like your genetics), the mode of use (smoking, vaping, dabbing, edible), how much THC is in the product you use, previous experience, and how much you take.

Marijuana is the name many people use to talk about the drug that comes from the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant. Whether you know it as marijuana, cannabis, weed, pot, kush, or another name, it contains a compound called “THC” (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is a mind-altering substance that creates a “high” and can affect brain development in young people. ​ The cannabis plant also contains other compounds you might have heard of, like CBD (cannabidiol), which doesn’t get you high. Marijuana is usually smoked, vaped, or added into products to eat or drink (aka “edibles”).

Just because marijuana is legal in New Jersey doesn’t mean it’s safe for you. Marijuana is legal in New Jersey only for people 21+ in part because your brain is actually still developing until your mid-20s. While your brain is still developing, you’re way more susceptible to harmful effects of marijuana and THC: ​ THC disrupts the brain’s ability to form memories and learn new things by messing with processes in the hippocampus (a part of the brain responsible for forming memories and processing information). THC directly affects brain areas responsible for decision-making, coordination, reaction time, and emotions. Although some people consume marijuana to chill, regular use can also harm your mental health. It has actually been linked to anxiety, depression, and even self-harm, especially for teens with a family history of mental illness. ​ And while some risks of marijuana can depend on the way it’s consumed—from smoking to vaping to edibles—scientists have no way of saying that one method is safer than another. If you’ve heard someone swear that one marijuana method is 100% safe, that’s not true. Here’s what you should know: ​ Smoking marijuana can expose you and the people around you to harmful chemicals. Marijuana smoke has many of the same toxins and cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco smoke. Vaping and dabbing involves oils and concentrates that often contain really strong THC. They can also contain additives or even be contaminated. Researchers are looking at exactly how using concentrated THC affects people, but one risk may be a higher likelihood of developing cannabis/marijuana use disorder, which is the technical name for marijuana addiction. Consuming edibles (food and drink products infused with marijuana) can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to kick in. Because of these delayed effects, people might consume more than they meant to, increasing the risk of poisoning or serious injury. It’s also hard to track how much THC is in a cookie or brownie someone makes, and even edibles purchased from a dispensary may not have reliable information about THC levels.

Opioids, including those that come from a doctor, are highly addictive. Even when taking them as prescribed, everyone is at risk of developing a tolerance and becoming dependent or even addicted to them. You can become dependent on opioids after just FIVE days. A person becomes dependent on opioids when the parts of the brain responsible for releasing feel-good chemicals don’t function normally unless opioids are in their system. Dependency and addiction can happen to anyone, no matter their age, neighborhood, the grades they get, or whether they’re the star of the basketball team.​ Overdose is a serious risk no matter what kind of opioid a person takes. Opioids are frequently linked with overdoses and overdose deaths for a few reasons that are important for you to know: Our brains are programmed to want more of these drugs over time, and taking too much can slow down a person’s breathing to the point of stopping altogether, which can be fatal if someone doesn’t get medical help right away. Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous opioid. Just 2 milligrams (or about 10-15 grains of salt) can cause a fatal overdose. And it’s become increasingly common for fentanyl to be hidden in other types of drugs without a person knowing it. ​ It’s also super dangerous to mix opioids with alcohol or other drugs like benzos (a medication for anxiety) because they’re all depressants/downers. If you were already feeling warm, you wouldn’t pile on a jacket and a scarf, right? But while too many layers of clothes will make you sweat, using multiple depressants at once can lead to brain damage, overdose, and even death.

Opioids include a range of drugs from prescription pills that are used to treat pain, like hydrocodone (Vicodin) and oxycodone (OxyContin), to fentanyl and illegal substances like heroin, as well as many others. Opioids prescribed by a doctor and illegal opioids like heroin are chemically similar and interact inside the body in the same way—by binding to opioid receptors.

Opioids block feelings of pain and trigger the release of dopamine, which gives our body a rush of good feelings. Opioids can lead to feeling relaxed, sleepy, or even euphoric. But over time, the body can develop a tolerance to opioids. This means people need to take them more often or in higher amounts to feel the same effects, which increases the risk of dependence and addiction. Opioids are classified as a “depressant” or a “downer,” meaning that they depress the central nervous system (your brain) and can slow down important bodily functions, including breathing.

The best way to avoid the risks of opioids is to avoid them entirely and always take prescription opioids only as directed by your doctor. If you’re experiencing a lot of pain, ask a medical professional about alternatives to opioids. In many cases, Tylenol or Advil can help relieve pain without the risk of addiction. Only take opioids that came from a legitimate pharmacy, and never share someone else’s opioids. You’ve likely heard about how dangerous fentanyl is and that it can be difficult to know if it’s hidden in other drugs. That is all true. Even a tiny amount of fentanyl can be deadly. It’s really cheap to make, so it’s often added to other drugs without someone’s knowledge. But it’s not just in opioids: Counterfeit pills that claim to be other prescription drugs can also be laced with fentanyl. That’s why it’s so important to not take pills from anyone else—even if they swear they’re legit. ​ Never mix different opioids, alcohol, and other substances; the more depressants you take, the greater risk you’re at for an overdose. Mixing opioids with stimulants (like cocaine or ecstasy) does not balance or cancel the other out. In reality, combining drugs can be unpredictable, often altering or even masking the effects of one or both drugs. This can fool you into thinking that the drugs are not affecting you, making it easier to take too much and overdose. ​ If you’re going to be in a place where there’s a chance of drug use, it’s a good idea to know the signs of an opioid overdose. The major signs include: Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils” Falling asleep or losing consciousness Slow, weak, or no breathing Choking or gurgling sounds Limp body Cold and/or clammy skin Discolored skin (especially lips and nails) ​ You know that friend who’s always prepared, no matter what? They’ve got Band-Aids, hand sanitizer, gum… Well, another way to be extra prepared is to carry naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. You can get naloxone (often called Narcan) at most pharmacies without a prescription. And New Jersey’s Good Samaritan law means you don’t have to worry about getting in trouble if you call 911 in the event of an overdose. We promise your parents would rather you save someone’s life than worry about being grounded.

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Alcohol refers to a wide range of drinks, including wine, beer, and liquors (like vodka or tequila). The scientific name for the chemical in all of these drinks that affects your brain and body is “ethanol." ​ ​The effects of alcohol depend on how much a person drinks and also on other things, like a person’s size, whether they’ve had alcohol before, what they’ve eaten, or if they’re drinking water. Alcohol can make people feel relaxed, chatty, or extra social, but it can also make some people feel anxious or aggressive. It often exaggerates the mood you’re in when you start drinking. The more someone drinks, the drunker and more impaired they become—and the more likely it is that they’ll have a hangover the next day… aka headache, irritability, sweating, muscle aches, and other not-so-fun symptoms.

When you drink alcohol, your stomach and small intestines absorb it, and alcohol enters into your bloodstream. Your body recognizes alcohol as something bad, so your liver then works to filter it out of your blood. If you’re drinking faster than your liver can process the alcohol, your blood alcohol concentration or “BAC” increases and you start to feel “drunk,” also called intoxication.

Drinking alcohol, even only occasionally, comes with immediate and longer-term risks. Drinking too much at one time can make you physically sick (like puking sick) or even lead to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol also impairs your judgment and can lead you to make decisions you wouldn’t normally make. ​ The official definition of binge drinking is having four (for girls) or five (for guys) drinks in about two hours. Binge drinking can increase your risk of injuries (including from falls, accidents, or assaults) or damage to your brain and other organs. Drinking too much too quickly can also lead to alcohol poisoning, affecting vital functions and impacting breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and gag reflex—which can put you in the hospital or even be fatal. ​ Mixing alcohol with other drugs adds extra levels of risk that you should be aware of. Drinking alcohol while also taking other “downers” like opioids or anxiety meds, or combining alcohol with stimulants like cocaine or ADHD meds, puts you at increased risk of overdose and serious damage to the brain, heart, and other organs. ​ In the longer term, binge drinking and drinking alcohol frequently are harmful to many parts of your body and brain. Over time, it can lead to problems like high blood pressure, stroke, liver disease, and even cancers, as well as developing alcohol use disorder (aka becoming addicted to alcohol).

Never (ever ever ever) drive after consuming alcohol or let someone else who’s been drinking drive. Always plan to have a designated driver or call an Uber to get home. Even if it’s a short trip or you’ve only had a little to drink, getting behind the wheel after drinking any amount puts yourself and everyone around you at risk. ​ How much you drink matters. But the same number of drinks affects each person differently. You shouldn’t try to keep up with how much someone else is drinking. It’s likely they’re a different height/weight, ate different foods that day, and have a different history with consuming alcohol. You do you. ​ On a related note… if you see or hear of people trying to “blackout” on purpose, just a reminder: Doing that is really dangerous. Not only can it lead to a puke sesh and put you at risk for alcohol poisoning, it can also significantly impair your judgment and decision-making. Not remembering your decisions because you “blacked out” could be even worse, especially if you hear about it or see pics later. ​ Don’t mix alcohol with other drugs. Mixing alcohol with other drugs can increase your risk of overdose and serious damage to the brain, heart, and other organs. Alcohol is a “depressant” with similar effects to other downers like benzos (Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium) and opioids like hydrocodone (Vicodin). Mixing alcohol with other downers puts you at much higher risk of an overdose. Mixing stimulants (like cocaine or ADHD medication) with a downer like alcohol doesn’t balance or cancel the other out. In fact, combining these substances can be unpredictable, often altering or even masking the effects of one or both substances. This can fool you into thinking that the drugs are not affecting you, making it easier to overdose. Mixing alcohol with stimulants can also lead to serious heart and liver problems.