(COVER)
Issues for Girl Scouts
In the Zone
Living Drug Free
Friends
Positive choices
Hobbies
Family
For Junior Girl Scouts

(INSIDE BACK COVER)
Girl Scouts Where Girls Grow Strong
National President
Connie L. Matsui
Interim National
Executive Director
Jackie Barnes
Senior Vice President,
Program, Membership and Research
Sharon Woods Hussey
Director, Program Development
Harriet S. Mosatche, Ph.D.
Director, Membershlp and Program Initiatives
Verna Simpkins
Project Director
Melissa J. Algranati
Co-Authors
Melissa J. Algranati
Karen Unger
Contributor
Wendy DeGiglio
Book Design
Media Plus Design
Illustration
Sharisse Steber
Inquiries related to “In the Zone: Living Drug Free” should be directed to:
Membership and Program Initiatives
Girl Scouts of the USA
420 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10018
The Girl Scouts name and mark, and all associated insignia and slogans, are the sole and exclusive property of Girl Scouts of the USA.

In the Zone: Living Drug Free was created by the Academy for Educational Development under contract to Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. as part of the White House Office of National Drug Control
Policy’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.
Published in 2002

(page 1)
It’s Your Choice!
Life is full of choices. The older you get, the more freedom you have to make more of your own choices. Some choices are simple, like choosing which clothes to wear to school. Other choices are harder, like deciding who your friends will be. Many of your choices will be good ones. For example, you may start dancing and love it. You like it so much and do it so well that you are on your school’s dance team and win a competition. That’s an example of how a choice you make now — to dance and stick with it — can have long-term consequences.
Sometimes life throws choices at you that you really may not want to make. For example, when you and your friends started the school year, two of them who were your closest friends started hanging out with a group of kids you really didn’t want to be around. They bragged about how they shoplifted at the mall — something that you would never do because you know it is wrong.
So how do you choose not to be friends with someone any longer? That’s very hard to do.
This book will give you information to help you control your own future. You will get help to find out what kind of person you want to be. How will your life turn out? You can choose to be on the path that encourages good health and positive living, or choose to damage your health by smoking, using drugs, eating poorly and not exercising. It’s up to you. Use this book to get the facts, and start deciding if you’re going to make healthy choices that will keep you “In the Zone:
Living Drug Free.”

(page 2)
Drugs and Medicine
Check out your drug IQ.
Can you answer these questions? Try to answer each question below. Then find all the answers in the word search.
1. What is a substance used for treating an illness?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
2. What is the name of an illegal drug that is often smoked and interferes with concentration?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
3. Your parent, school nurse, __________ and other trusted adults are the only people who should give prescription medicines to you.
__ __ __ __ __ __
4. Penicillin is an example of a ________ drug.
__ __ __ __ __
5. What products are legal for adults to purchase, but may not be sold to anyone under the age of
18?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __
6. What drug decreases your brain activity, slows your reflexes and is illegal if you are under the age of 21?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __
7. There are more than 1,000 household products that can be harmful when used as this type of drug.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
8. What do you call a substance that can either hurt or help the body, depending on how it is used?
__ __ __ __
9. What product, when smoked, can cause wrinkles, yellow teeth and make your breath, hair and clothes stink?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
10. Cocaine and crack are two examples of this type of drug?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Need a little help? Check out the “Drugs 101” section on pages 4 and 5 or “The Real Deal” boxes throughout the book to get the facts on drugs.
Answers on page 34.

(page 3)
Find the quiz answers in this word search.
G L T O B A C C O G
D A B D T J M D E U
M G E R G D A G F S
O E G O Z B R U O E
C L D G D W I U L T
L R G I O G J C G T
K X E H C I U Y S E
C T N D T I A V M R
H I L Q O G N G O A
I G M C R F A E U G
R Q T N A L A H N I
A L C O H O L G A C
M T N A LU M I T S
Answers on page 34.
The Real Deal
Marijuana

Marijuana is often called “weed” or “pot.”


Marijuana is a drug that can lead you to do something embarrassing and risky.
Using marijuana interferes with your concentration and judgment.

(page 4)
Drugs 101
Did you know that all medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are considered medicine? How is that possible?
Take a look ...
Drug: A drug is a powerful chemical that can change the way you feel or affect your body's activities. Some drugs are legal and some are not. They are defined below.
Illegal Drug: Illegal drugs are harmful substances that are not permitted by law to be bought, possessed, used or sold. These drugs are not prescribed by doctors and nurses and are not used for medical purposes. Marijuana is one example of an illegal drug. Illegal drugs can harm your body and mind. They can damage your ability to make good decisions. Involvement with illegal drugs can get you into serious trouble with your parents, at school and even with the police.
Alcohol is illegal if you are under the age of 21 and using tobacco before you turn 18 years old is against the law.
Legal Drug: Legal drugs are drugs that are permitted by law or the established rules in your community or state. At your age, the only drugs that are legal for you to take are medicines that are prescribed for you by a doctor or nurse, such as allergy medicine, penicillin, insulin or
Ritalin. There are some medications that your parents can buy in a store without a prescription
— such as cough syrup or cold medicine — but only your parents should give these drugs to you.

(page 5)
Medicine: Medicine is a substance or drug used in treating a disease or an illness. You should take only medicine given to you by a doctor, nurse, parent or other trusted adult. If you need medicine, your doctor or nurse will give you a prescription for the exact amount needed to make you better.
Some young people need to take medicine regularly to keep a medical condition under control.
For example, girls who have asthma are prescribed medicine that helps them breathe easier and feel better.
* Remember: Any drug can be harmful if you take it when you don’t need it or take more than you are supposed to!
Fact Check
Here are some facts you should know about illegal drugs.
• Drugs (but not medicines) can take away a person’s ability to make good decisions. You can end up hurting yourself or others, or be hurt by someone else, when you’re under the influence of drugs.
• Drugs can be addictive. Addiction is an extremely powerful force that makes you want to use a drug over and over and over again, even when you know it’s not good to do so.
• Drugs harm your body. Some drugs can make you sick to your stomach, give you headaches or make you feel depressed. They can also damage your heart, liver, lungs, brain and other parts of your body.
• If you use drugs, you can hurt the people close to you. You may begin to feel that drugs are more important than your family and friends. You will lose the trust of people who care about you, who will be upset and disappointed with you if you use drugs.
• Drugs can affect your mind and make it harder for you to do well at school, in sports and at home.
The Real Deal
Marijuana



Marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco smoke, sometimes in higher amounts.
Marijuana is an illegal drug.
Most kids don’t use marijuana! Four out of five eighth graders don’t use it.

(page 6)
Values: Values are the things that are important to you. Values help you decide how to behave.
Your family, friends, faith and experiences help you decide what your values are.
What Are Your Values?
You may have the same values as your friends — or different ones. The most important thing to remember is that you need to respect other peoples’ values and other people need to respect yours.
Here’s a way to find out what other girls think is important. Each girl should rate the values listed below using the following scale: “1” equals the most important value on the list; “12” equals the least important value on the list. Post the numbers 1-12 on the wall around the room.
After everyone has completed her list, choose one girl to call out the values, starting with
“Friends.” Everyone who ranked “Friends” as number one should stand near the sign on the wall with a “1” on it. Those who rated “Friends” second should stand under number 2, and so on. You can share the reasons why you gave “Friends” the number you did. Then have another girl call out “Health” — the next value — and move under the number you chose in your rating.
Repeat the exercise with the remaining 10 values in the list below.
For fun, someone can be the DJ and play music as all of you move under the numbers.
Remember: “1” equals your most important value and “12” equals your least important value.
You need to give every value its own number.
Friends ______
Health ______
School ______
Love ______
Appearance ______
Honesty ______
Family ______
Faith/Spirituality ______
Talents (art, singing, athletics) ______
Intelligence ______
Respect ______
Money ______
The Real Deal
Tobacco


Tobacco can be smoked, sniffed or chewed.
Tobacco in cigarettes can cause wrinkles and yellow teeth. Smoking gives you bad breath
 and makes your hair and clothes stink.
Tobacco products may not be sold to anyone under the age of 18.

(page 7)
What’s Your “Anti-Drug?”
What choices do you make to stay healthy and away from illegal drugs? Do you choose to hang out with your family and friends who believe, like you do, that staying healthy is important? Do you choose to do a sport like swimming or have a hobby like playing music or reading? Does your faith or do your beliefs or values help you make healthy choices? You could call these positive choices your “Anti-Drugs,” and you may have more than one of them.
Your Anti-Drugs are the things that are more important to you than using drugs.
Ami has no clue what her Anti-Drug is. She needs help. She wants to stay away from drugs, but she doesn’t know how. Help her search the maze and find at least eight things that could be her
Anti-Drug. The answer is on page 34 of this booklet.
(music, friends, sports, girl scouts, family, school, dancing, karate, life, hobbies, me)
Start
Finish
Math
The Real Deal
Did you know?

Tobacco is expensive. If you smoked a pack of cigarettes a day, you could spend more than
$1,000 each year. That $1,000 could buy 75 CDs, 30 pairs of cool jeans or a new computer.
Just think about what else you could buy with $1,000!

(page 8)
My Anti-Drug is: _______________________
You can write more than one Anti-Drug in the space above.
With friends, share and describe your Anti-Drugs. Why does having an Anti-Drug make it easier to choose positive things to do with your time?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________
The Real Deal
Tobacco



Tobacco is the main ingredient in cigarettes. Over time, tobacco use can cause disease, such as lung cancer and mouth cancer. Cigarette smoking can hurt your heart, lungs, liver, skin and teeth. Smoking can make you short of breath and cause you to cough a lot.
Tobacco smoking puts the health of your friends and family at risk because your cigarette smoke can be harmful to other people.
Most kids don't smoke! Four out of five young people ages 12-17 don't smoke.
Share your Anti-Drug with the world!
Write the name of your Anti-Drug or draw it on a T-shirt, post it on your notebook or pin it on the bulletin board in your bedroom. Your friends can do the same.

(page 9)
Straight Scoop
Here are stories about healthy choices some girls have made and the hard lessons they have learned about drug use. Do any of their stories sound like your own or those of someone you know?
“My Anti-Drug is my family. They’re the people who give me the love and support that I need to succeed every day. Everyone in my family is involved with something positive. My little sister plays the piano. My brother plays soccer and the violin. My mom paints and draws. My dad plays basketball and baseball. And I...well...I do it all (just kidding)! My parents have always been really supportive of me. They’ve also taught me that no one has the right to misuse or abuse his or her own body, physically or mentally. Each person has special talents. Illegal drugs can take all that away.”
Esti, 10
“I’m not going to give a long speech to tell you that using drugs is stupid. You already know that. I will tell you this: You can’t be helped unless you want to be helped. Drugs cause pain and trouble. Take control of your life. It is too precious to waste on drugs.”
Gena, 13
“My Anti-Drug is downhill mountain biking. If I smoked or used drugs, I would limit my chances of being like my heroes. Downhill mountain biking clears my mind of all my problems.
Using drugs would make me unable to do the sport that I love, and I would end up depressed and stressed out. My other Anti-Drug is my good grades. Good grades will help me get into a good college. I want an excellent education so that I can get a good-paying job. Someday, my goal is to afford a top-quality bike similar to the ones my heroes use.”
Ellen, 12

(page 10)
“My Anti-Drugs are my life and music. I don’t do drugs because I have a future ahead of me. I want to live my life to the fullest and make the best of it each and every day. When I listen to music, I’m able to escape into my own little world. Music helps me to relax and not worry so much. I love all types of music. I express my feelings through music, not drugs!”
Ching-Fong, 11
“Don’t think you can control drugs, because you can’t! Once you start taking drugs, they take over your life. No matter how strong you think you are, you’re never strong enough to compete with them.”
Nikita, 14
“I have never used drugs or smoked a cigarette. Believe me, I’ve been pressured to smoke by kids I don’t know very well. But I’m not going to do something stupid because of peer pressure.
If you have really good friends, they won’t ask you to do anything you really don’t want to do. I know, I have some awesome friends.”
Christina, 12
The Real Deal
Alcohol


Alcohol — including beer, wine, liquor, wine coolers, hard lemonade and other “alcopops”
— can affect your judgment and make you unable to think clearly. It may cause you to get sick and act violently.
Alcohol has a lot of calories and no nutritional value.

(page 11)
Your Story
Let’s hear about your Anti-Drug and the healthy choices that you are making. Share the things in your life that are so important to you that you don’t want to risk them by using harmful drugs.
Maybe you can tell the story about the time you were brave enough to stand up for yourself and say “NO!” to drugs or to another activity that could hurt you.
Whatever your story is, write it on the lines below, share it with a group of friends or post it on the Web at http://jfg.girlscouts.org/Space/thcatch or www.Freevibe.com.
The Real Deal
Alcohol

Alcohol makes your brain and reflexes slow down and can make you more likely to do things

 you wouldn’t normally do.
Alcohol use can make you depressed.
Alcohol use, over time, can damage organs such as the liver and brain and can lead to coma.

(page 12)
Speak Out –
The Real Stories About Drugs
Make your own book. Collect all the stories your friends wrote on the “Your Story” page of this book. Ask your friends to draw pictures or include photos to illustrate their stories in your book.
After you create the book, make copies of it and share it with your friends and family.
Idea: You can include a different one of these stories in each month’s school newspaper or Girl
Scout newsletter.
I don’t do drugs because I have a great FUTURE ahead of me. I live LIFE to the fullest!
Best friends stay drug-free! My friends are so great — we stay away from drugs!
The Real Deal
Alcohol


Alcohol may not be sold or served to anyone under the age of 21.
Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States.

(page 13)
Decisions, Decisions
Life is full of decisions. Should you go to the mall with your friends or go to soccer practice? No matter what choice you face, knowing the facts and understanding the big picture can help you make the right move.
Use the following six steps to help you make smart decisions.
1.
Figure out the real problem. If you can’t decide between the mall and soccer practice, try to figure out why. Are you feeling as though you and your friends are growing apart, so you want to spend extra time with them at the mall? Are you bored with your practices?
2.
Get the facts and think about the consequences. Are you just imagining that there are problems with your friends? If there are problems between you and your friends, will going to the mall solve them? What will happen if you skip your practice? Will you be ready for next week’s game?
3.
Get advice. Talk to someone you trust — someone who has been through the kind of decisions that you are trying to figure out.
4.
Think of other possible decisions. Create a list of more choices that you could make.
5.
Make a decision. Select one of the options from your list and use it to help you make a decision. Remember: when you make a decision, it may not always turn out the way you expect. It is okay to learn from mistakes.
6.
Think about the results. After you have acted on your decision, go back and think about it.
What did you learn? Would you make the same choice next time?

(page 14)
It’s All About Choices
Here’s a cartoon about best friends who are faced with difficult decisions. Read the comic strip below and circle any frame in which you think an important decision is being made.
If you were in these teens’ shoes, what would you do?
Yesterday at 3:00 p.m.
Hey Danielle, coming to practice?
Yeah, I’ll see you in a little bit. I just need to get something from my locker.
At her locker Danielle is reading a note from her best friend, Njeri.
I will see you at dance team practice after school. Don’t forget—we have a study date. – Njeri.
Bryan, the boy Danielle has a crush on, walks over to talk to her.
Hey, Danielle. How’s it going? Susie’s parents won’t be home and a few of us are hanging out at her house after school. Wanna come?
Well…I don’t know. I have practice and….
Ah, come on! Missing one practice won’t kill you.
Well, I guess so. Just let me leave Njeri a note.
Njeri, I’m going to miss practice but we’ll definitely going to study together tonight. I’ll see you at 6 o’clock.
At Susie’s House.
See Danielle, I told you, you have nothing to worry about. Sniffing this is safe, and it makes you feel good.
Oh, no…! I promised Njeri… I gotta go!
That’s cool. See you later.
6:30 p.m. at Njeri’s house.
Sorry… I’m late.
That’s okay. So what was so important to make you blow off practice?
I was… hanging out …with Bryan… and a couple of… his friends.
So how was… Hey, what’s that smell? It smells like a gas station in here.

I don’t… smell anything. Look,… let’s just study. I’ll fill you in… on Bryan later.
An hour later, Danielle is having trouble focusing and looks like she is sick and really tired.
I’m sorry, Njeri,… I am really out of it…. I am… going to go home… and crash.
Okay, but the test is tomorrow. Danielle, is there something wrong?
Nah,… I’m okay. See you… tomorrow.
Later that night.
Tanya, I need to talk to you. I think Danielle was messing with inhalants. I knew Bryan was no good.
She just blew off one practice. What makes you think she’s using drugs?
She smelled like gas or paint and was really out of it. I’m really worried. What should I do? lf you were Njeri, what would you do?

(page 16)
Write or draw your own ending to the cartoon in the blank frame below. What happens to Njeri and Danielle?
The next day after school:
Here are some things to think about:
What happened to Danielle?
Why do you think Danielle decided to try inhalants?
What would you do and say if someone asked you to use inhalants?
The Real Deal
Inhalants

Inhalants include a large group of substances, and many — more than 1,000 — are common household products. Some inhalants are products that are packaged in aerosol cans.
Intentionally misusing these common products is like taking poison.

Inhalants can harm your brain and your body. In fact, inhalants can harm you as much as or more than many dangerous illegal drugs, like cocaine and heroin!

(page 17)
Should you tell on your friends if they do something dangerous or illegal, or should you keep it a secret? Why or why not?
What makes a good friend?
For fun , act out the cartoon using your own ending with a bunch of friends. Have everyone play a different part. You can even add extra parts. Who knows… this could be your first step on the road to Hollywood!
The Real Deal
Inhalants

Inhaling, breathing or “huffing” fumes from many products can make you sick to your

 stomach and cause sneezing, coughing, tiredness and lack of coordination. Sniffing inhalants can starve the body of oxygen causing irregular heart and breathing rates.
Inhalants can cause brain damage and death because of the harmful chemicals they contain.
Most inhalants are legal substances, but using them for purposes other than those for which they were intended is illegal in most states.

(page 18)
You Can’t Fool Me
Advertisements are everywhere — on TV, in magazines, on billboards and even on clothes.
Businesses try to convince you to buy their products with flashy pictures and catchy slogans.
Sometimes advertisers may be sneakier, like showing one of your favorite movie or music stars smoking a particular brand of cigarettes or drinking a particular type of beer in a movie or video.
Cigarette and alcohol companies think that if you see someone you admire smoking or drinking, you will want to do it, too. What’s wrong about that idea? Why is that the wrong way to think?
How can knowing how to make good decisions help you resist sneaky ads?
Some things to try:




Collect magazine advertisements that encourage people to smoke or drink. Look at the ads and brainstorm reasons why the ad doesn’t show the truth. For example, the smoker may look beautiful, but smoking actually makes your face show wrinkles much faster than it would if you didn’t smoke.
With a group of friends, write a letter to the magazines that have ads promoting alcohol and cigarettes and encourage them to include stories about the dangers of drugs.
Write letters to radio and TV station managers and to newspaper editors asking them to cover stories about the good and positive things young people choose to do instead of drugs. Tip:
When contacting the media, give an example of a person or community group that would make a good story subject.
Collect advertisements that encourage people not to use tobacco or drugs. With the ads you collect, make a poster with a drug-free message. Ask permission to post it in your school, community center, local grocery store or at your Girl Scout meeting place.

(page 19)
Countdown
In the movies, on TV and on the radio, you may hear and see images that make drugs seem cool.
Now, you get to decide what is “hot.”
With your friends, write your own “Top 10” list of songs that are about living a positive, drugfree lifestyle. Share your list with family and friends. At your next school dance, have the DJ play your “Top 10” songs.
Give Me a Beat!
Did you ever dream of being a rock star? Now you can live that fantasy. Write your own antidrug song. Choose a cool beat and write a song highlighting why living drug free is the way to be.
For some extra fun, ask a parent or other adult to tape the performance so you can create a cassette tape or music video of you and your friends. Include dancers and a cool backdrop and create some audio and video “special effects.” Share your masterpiece with friends and family.
The Real Deal
Hallucinogens


Hallucinogens are drugs that make people see, hear or smell things that aren’t there. They also affect how you move and react to situations. Examples of hallucinogens include LSD
(acid), PCP and angel dust.
Hallucinogens can make you feel mixed up and scared because they make your brain get its messages all wrong. They can make you think you can do things that are dangerous or even impossible — such as flying.

(page 20)
The Hunt
Play the “Drug-Free Scavenger Hunt” to learn how to stay one step ahead of negative influences.
With a group of friends, review the list below. Before the scavenger hunt begins, feel free to add other items to the list.
Split up into teams. There should be at least two people on a team. Each team has at least two days to complete the scavenger hunt, although you can make the hunt longer if you like. When the game is over, total your score. Each team earns a point for every item collected or recorded.
The team with the most points wins.
The scavenger hunt list can include, but is not limited to:

The Web address of an anti-drug site on the Internet.

A drug-free sticker. (What’s Your Anti-Drug?)

An article from a magazine or newspaper about drugs harming young peoples’ lives.

An example/picture of your Anti-Drug — the thing in your life that is so important that you choose it instead of using drugs.

A drug-free pin.

A poem about staying drug free.

The name of a store with a sign that says, “No one under the age of 21 can purchase liquor.”

(page 21)

The phone number for Al-Anon/Alateen, an organization that helps alcoholics and their families.

The name of a celebrity whose career was harmed because of drugs.

Names of two people you can go to for help or with questions about drugs.

A drug-free pledge signed by your scavenger hunt team and the parent/guardian of each team member.

An anti-drug advertisement. When did you see it on TV?

The name of a book about staying drug free.

An ad promoting drug-free living.

The name of a store in your neighborhood that has a sign that says, “Will not sell cigarettes to anyone under 18.”

The name of a TV show that did an episode on the dangers of using drugs or smoking.
Drug-free pledge
Healthy choices

(page 22)
Friends
Friends — they make you laugh and are there to share your deepest secrets. Friends support you when you have a problem and celebrate with you when things are great. Friends can influence your life in a good way, or they can pressure you into making harmful choices. Check out this section to learn more about friendship, how to deal with peer pressure and how to make positive choices.
B.F.F. ?
Best Friends Forever
Take this quiz to see how well you and you best friend know each other.
You and your best friend should take this quiz separately. Then ask each other the questions and see what your answers are. Taking this quiz is a great way to learn more about each other and share a few laughs.
1.
Your best friend’s favorite song is: __________________
2.
Your best friend could watch this movie over and over again: __________________
3.
What kind of shows does your best friend watch on TV?
A. Cartoons
B. Comedies
C. Soap operas
D. Sports

(page 23)
4. Where did you two first meet? a. In school b. In your neighborhood c. In an activity outside of school d. Can’t remember because it seems like you’ve always been together
5. Your best friend’s closet is filled with: a. Comfy jeans b. Funky T-shirts c. Stylish skirts d. Dirty clothes on the floor
6. After school, your best friend likes to: a. Play sports b. Go to dance practice c. Hang out d. Study
7. Your best friend’s favorite snack is: a. Pizza b. Fruit salad c. Girl Scout cookies d. All of the above
8. Your best friend’s dream date would be: a. A movie star b. Her favorite singer c. The cute boy in class d. The school jock
9. Your best friend likes to bum around in a. Sneakers b. Cool sandals c. Stylish shoes with thick soles d. Bare feet (P-U!)
10. Your best friend is best described as: a. The class clown b. The queen of confidence c. A chatterbox d. A social butterfly
11. Your best friend’s funniest moment happened when: __________________
12. In class, your best friend is: a. The first one to raise her hand b. Doodling or passing notes c. Taking a quick nap d. Flirting with boys

Score yourself!
Give yourself one point for each correct answer.
If your score was 9 to 12: You two must practically live together to know as much about each other as you do! You are a caring friend who is always there to share, listen and laugh. If you both had scores that were this high, consider yourself very lucky friends.
If your score was 5 to 8: You know each other pretty well, but as with any great friendship, there is always a chance for you to learn more about each other. This is what makes having friends so much fun — you’re always finding out something new. Hey, some “pal” time is a great excuse to spend Saturday hanging out at the mall.
If your score was 0 to 4: Isn’t it great that you took this quiz and realized that there is so much more to learn about each other? Have a sleepover and spend the night talking and sharing secrets.
Friendship is one big adventure, so enjoy!
History

(page 24)
Ask Dr. M
Friendship, like life, can be confusing and complicated. Sometimes you need advice.
Dr. M and her daughter Liz are here to help you. They answer questions girls like you send to http://jfg.girlscouts.org/Talk/DRMNEW/index.htm.
To get their advice about friendship, read on….
Dear Dr. M,
My friends aren’t bad or anything, but at a party they tried smoking a cigarette. They asked me to try and I said “no.” They have never smoked before. I think they just wanted to see what it was like. Should I be friends with them?
—Lisa, age 10
Dear Lisa,
First, congratulate yourself for saying “no” to peer pressure. That’s great!
Second, remember that friends sometimes do things that disappoint us or make us uncomfortable. As a good friend, you can try to help them avoid smoking in the future so they won’t end up with a habit that will be very tough to kick. One mistake shouldn’t end a friendship, but if your friends start acting in ways that continue to go against what you know is right, you might have to find new friends who share your values.
—Dr. M
Dear Lisa,
If smoking was a one-time thing for your friends, and they realized it was a mistake, you might want to talk to them about what happened but continue to be friends with them. If they continue to smoke, encourage them to stop, maybe by getting help from adults they trust. You can still be friends with them unless they continue to pressure you to do other things that are wrong and are bad for you.
—Liz

(page 25)
Dear Dr. M,
My best friend is getting on my nerves. She doesn’t seem to leave me alone. How can I get some private time or tell her I don’t want to be friends any more?
—Betty, age 9
Dear Betty,
Friendships — even very close ones — do not always follow a smooth course. You are dealing with one of those times when a friendship feels more like a burden than a joy.
Think about whether this friendship is worth saving. If the real issue is your desire for some time away from your friend (you noted that you need some private time), let her know that even best friends need some time apart. Each of you should have time to explore individual interests.
Assure your friend that time away doesn’t diminish the bond of friendship.
However, if you really want the friendship to end because the two of you have grown in different directions and your friendship just doesn’t work anymore, tell your friend in as direct and honest a way as possible. You might say something like: “I don’t think our friendship is working for us any longer. You’re much more interested in… and I’m very involved in….”
—Dr. M
Dear Betty,
Even good friends get on each others' nerves when they spend too much time together. Limit your time with your annoying friend for a couple of weeks—make some plans with other friends or with your family. Then see how you feel about the friendship. If she still bugs you, have a serious talk about the issues between the two of you. If the friendship is really not working, maybe she could be a regular friend instead of your best friend.
—Liz
Dear Dr. M,
School just started, and not a single friend is in my class. How am I going to get through this year?
—A lonely fourth grader
Dear Lonely,
It’s hard to think about spending all day in school without your friends. But the school year just started. Look around the class — there are probably other kids who are also wondering how they’re going to survive without their friends from last year. Ask one of them a question, such as
“What have you heard about this teacher?” to get a conversation going. One of those conversations is sure to turn into a friendship. And remember, you don’t have to give up your old friends. It will just take a little extra effort to see them. But there’s always lunch, recess, after school and weekends.
—Dr. M

Dear Lonely,
Who says you have to give up your friends? Find ways to still see them. And spend a little time just watching the kids in your class. Then hang around one or two who seem like the type you’d like to become friends with. It’ll happen!
—Liz

(page 26)
What Would You Do?
Now that you have thought about your Anti-Drug, how to make good decisions and deal with peer pressure, test your smarts. With a friend, act out what you would say or do in the following situations.

A boy you have a crush on offers you a cigarette.

Your friend tells you she’s bored and wants to find something “exciting” to do.

Your friend tells you she thinks it’s cool to try drugs.

You hear your cousin telling a friend that she smokes pot.

You hear about a classmate who went to the hospital because he was sniffing gasoline. Now one of your friends wants to try the same thing.

Your parents ask you what you know about drugs and ask whether you would ever try them.

Your health teacher tells the class that most kids don’t do drugs. Your friends say they don’t believe her.

(page 27)
Can You Help?
Kim and Angelique are hanging out in Kim’s room. Kim has been acting kind of strange recently and Angelique is worried.
“Kim, what’s up? You’ve been acting kind of strange,” Angelique said.
“Well…,” Kim hesitated.
“Come on! You can tell me,” Angelique urged.
“Okay,” said Kim. “Remember the guy I met at the mall? Jenny’s older brother, Kevin?
Anyway, I was hanging out with Kevin, Jenny and a couple of their friends. Some of the kids in their crowd smoke cigarettes and weed. They asked me if I wanted to smoke, and I told them it wasn’t my thing. They seemed okay with the fact I wasn’t doing it, but I felt like such a baby.
What do I do?”
“It’s hard to be the only one not doing something,” Angelique said. “Maybe we can check out this site I heard about on the Internet to see if there’s any information that can help you.”
Kim and Angelique went to Kim’s computer. Angelique typed the site’s address.
“Wow, this is a great Web site!” Kim exclaimed.
“Look, it has information on everything from weed to drinking to cigarettes,” Angelique added.
“Check this out,” Kim said. “Did you know that there are more than 11 million kids in the United
States whose parents are addicted to alcohol or drugs?”
“Wow!” exclaimed Angelique. “Now let’s check out the ‘Ask Anything’ section. Maybe we can get some good advice about your problem.”
Angelique then clicked on the “Just Ask” box, and the computer suddenly began to talk to the girls.
“Hey there,” the computer said. “I am here to answer any questions you have. Using your keyboard, type in your question, and I will answer it within minutes. No question is too hard for me to answer. What do you want to know?”
“Let me type the question,” Angelique demanded. “Maybe we’ll get some good tips.”

(page 28)
Angelique typed, “What is the key to resisting peer pressure and staying drug free?”
“Come on! That’s the toughest question you can ask?” the computer teased.
Within seconds, the answer was displayed on the screen.
“I don’t get it,” Kim said. “The answer is written in some type of computer code. What are we going to do?”
Can you help? Break the computer code above to find the answer.
Answers on page 34.
Want to know more?
Check out www.Freevibe.com, a cool Web site with answers to all your questions about drugs.
Remember: YOU are the one who has the power to resist peer pressure and stay drug free.
Let’s Go Surfing!
With the help of an adult, identify five Web sites that help girls deal with peer pressure and stay drug free. E-mail these site addresses to a friend. If the sites have cool games, hold a drug-free game tournament. Compare scores with your friends.

(page 29)
Can We Talk?
Did you know studies show that 74 percent of all fourth graders wish their parents would talk to them about illegal drug use?
Don’t be afraid to talk to people about your questions and fears, and don’t feel bad that you don’t have all the answers. No one does, including your parents, brother or sister and other people you admire. However, it is possible that they were once in the same spot as you are now. So ask them—your family, troop leader, school nurse or guidance counselor—about the things that concern you. If they don’t know the answers, you can figure them out together. Talking is a good thing!
Tips for talking with adults:

Talk in a comfortable setting. Bring up things when you are taking a walk, in the car or anywhere you won’t be interrupted. If it feels “safe” to talk to them during dinner, then do so.

Ask questions.

Share your feelings.

Listen. Maybe you’ll hear something that surprises you, makes you think or helps you see something in a new way.

Be honest about your fears, concerns and opinions.

Write down all your questions. There is no such thing as a dumb question.

Remember that the conversation is not limited to one day. If you feel you need to talk again later or ask more questions, don’t be afraid to do it.

(page 30)
Talk to your friends and see if you can come up with more tips about talking to adults. Write them in the space below. You could even practice what you would say with your friends.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Tips to help adults talk to young people
1.
9.
10.
Here’s another idea: Put these tips to use. Act like a TV or newspaper reporter and interview your parents or other adults about what it was like for them growing up, compared with what it is like to grow up today. You can use the conversation as a starting point to share the list of tips with them.
The Real Deal
Stimulants


Stimulants are drugs that increase your blood pressure and speed up your heart rate. Cocaine, crack, nicotine (a substance found in cigarettes) and methamphetamine (speed) are examples of stimulants.
Stimulants can cause heart failure or make you stop breathing.

(page 31)
It’s Up to You!
You have the power to make your dreams come true.
The best way to stay on the right path is to stay drug free .
Whenever you need help, look at this book and think about your Anti-Drug to remind yourself of all the reasons not to smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs. Family, friends, your Girl Scout leaders and other people who care about you are there to help you and give you advice when you need it.
Your future is up to you — choose wisely!

(page 32)
Where Can I Get More Information ?
If you or a friend are using cigarettes, alcohol or drugs and want help, call the National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-788-2800 or visit the Web site http://ncadi.samhsa.gov. This organization can provide information about where to get help in your area, as well as general information about drugs.
Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group
Al-Anon helps families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with the problem drinking of a relative or friend. The organization works to help young people understand that it is not their fault if they have a parent who drinks too much. Alateen is a recovery program for young people.
1600 Corporate Landing Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
888-4AL-ANON www.al-anon.alateen.org
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids works to keep kids tobacco free by countering tobacco industry marketing to youth and changing public policies to restrict youth access to tobacco.
1400 Eye Street, N.W.
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20005
202-296-5469 www.tobaccofreekids.org or www.kickbuttsday.org
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protects the health and safety of people at home and abroad, provides information to enhance health decisions and promotes health.
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
800-311-3435 www.cdc.gov
Girl Power!
Girl Power! is the national public education campaign sponsored by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to encourage and motivate 9- to 14-year-old girls to be healthy and make the most of their lives.
11426 Rockville Pike
Suite 100

Rockville, MD 20852
800-729-6686
800-487-4889 (TDD) www.girlpower.gov
Girl Scouts® of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s largest organization for girls. It shows girls how to set and reach goals and gives them opportunities to build skills for lifetime success.
420 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10018
1-800-gsusa4u (478-7248) www.girlscouts.org
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a community-based organization that seeks effective solutions to drunk driving and underage drinking problems and supports those who already have experienced the pain of the consequences, including the death of a loved one.
511 E. John Carpenter Freeway
Suite 700
Irving, TX 75062
800-GET-MADD www.madd.org

(page 33)
National Association for Children of Alcoholics
The National Association for Children of Alcoholics is a non-profit organization that conducts public education and advocacy efforts on behalf of all children and families affected by alcoholism and other drug dependencies. The organization works to help young people understand that it is not their fault if they have a parent who drinks too much.
11426 Rockville Pike
Suite 100
Rockville, MD 20852
888-554-COAS www.nacoa.org
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug
Information, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, is the world’s largest resource for current information and materials concerning substance abuse. The Clearinghouse distributes information from the
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, National
Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and Office of
National Drug Control Policy.
11426 Rockville Pike
Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20852
800-788-2800
800-487-4889 (TDD) http://ncadi.samhsa.gov
National Inhalant Prevention Coalition
The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition is a public-private effort created to promote awareness and recognition of the underpublicized problem of inhalant use.
2904 Kerbey Lane
Austin, TX 78703
800-269-4237 www.inhalants.org
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
A program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Campaign targets youth ages 9-18, and their parents and other adults who influence young people to be drug free. www.freevibe.com and www.mediacampaign.org

Partnership for a Drug-Free America
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a non-profit coalition of professionals from the communications industry who develop and use anti-drug advertising and other forms of media communication to decrease demand for drugs.
405 Lexington Avenue
Suite 1601
New York, NY 10174
212-922-1560 www.drugfreeamerica.org
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Students Against Destructive Decisions is a school-based organization dedicated to addressing the issues of underage drinking, impaired driving, drug use and other destructive decisions and killers of young people.
SADD National
P.O. Box 800
Marlboro, MA 01752
800-787-5777 www.saddonline.com

(page 34)
The Girl Scout® Connection
The Junior Girl Scout® Handbook:
• Living the Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Girl Scout Good Deed Catcher
• Chapter 2: Being an Active Citizen
• Chapter 3: It’s Great to Be a Girl, especially “What Do You Value?”
“Dealing with Feelings” and “Liking Yourself”
• Chapter 4: Family and Friends, especially “Family Fun Jar,”
“Communication” and “The Peer Pressure Cooker”
• Chapter 5: How to Stay Safe, especially “A Safety Game,”
“Making Decisions” and ”Cigarettes, Drugs & Alcohol Aren’t Cool”
• Chapter 6: Be Healthy, Be Fit
• Chapter 7: Let’s Get Outdoors
• Chapter 8: Create and Invent, especially “Make a Friendship Anklet,”
“The Wonders of Writing” and “Share a Hobby“
• Chapter 9: Investigate and Broadcast, especially “Mix It Up as a Cook,”
“How Computer-Wise Are You?” and “Making Music”
The Junior Girl Scout® Badge Book:
• High on Life
• Highway to Health
• Environmental Health
• A Healthier You
• Stress Less
• Fun and Fit
• Food Power
• Environmental Health
• Adventure Sports
• Court Sports
• Sports Sampler
• Walking for Fitness
• Winter Sports
Girl Scouts® Against Smoking
Girl Power! How To Get It
Girls Are Great for Junior Girl Scouts®
Media Know-How for Junior Girl Scouts®
Answers to “Drugs and Medicine” quiz on page 2 and word search on page 3:
1. medicine
2. marijuana

3. doctor
4. legal
5. tobacco
6. alcohol
7. inhalant
8. drug
9.cigarettes
10.stimulant
Answers to maze on page 7:
Answers to code on page 28:
YOU ARE THE KEY! AND HAVING GOOD FRIENDS HELPS, TOO!

(page 35)
Additional Resources
To learn more about the themes in In the Zone: Living Drug Free , check out the following books at your school or local library.
Baker, Camy. Love You Like a Sister: 30 Cool Rules for Making & Being a Better Best Friend.
Memphis & Melrose Publishing Co. 1998.
Canfield, Jack, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen and Irene Dunlap. Chicken Soup for the
Preteen Soul. Health Communications, Inc. 2000.
Frost, Shelley and Ann Troussieux. Throw Like a Girl: Discover the Body, Mind & Spirit of the
Athlete in You! Beyond Words Publishing, Inc. 2000.
Kemp, Kristin. Hello Gorgeous: A Guide to Style. Scholastic, Inc. 2000.
Mostache, Harriet S. Girls: What’s So Bad About Being Good: How to Have Fun, Survive the
Preteen Years, and Remain True to Yourself. Prima Printing. 2001.
Mylin, Deborah, ed. Body Language: New Moon Talks About Growing Up. New Moon
Publishing, Inc. 1999.
New Moon Books Girls Editorial Board. New Moon Friendship: How to Make, Keep, and Grow
Your Friendships. Crown Publishers, Inc. 1999.
New Moon Books Girls Editorial Board. New Moon Money: How to Get It, Spend It, and Save
It. Crown Publishers, Inc. 1999.
New Moon Books Girls Editorial Board. New Moon Sports: What Sports Can Do for You and
What You Can Do With Sports. Crown Publishers, Inc. 1999.
New Moon Books Girls Editorial Board. New Moon Writing: How to Express Yourself with
Passion and Practice. Crown Publishers, Inc. 2000.
Packer, Alex J. Highs! Over a 150 Ways to Feel Really, Really Good Without Using Alcohol and Drugs. Free Spirit Publishing, Inc. 2000.
Schaefer, Valorie Lee. American Girl Library: The Care and Keeping of You. Pleasant Company
Publications. 1998.
If you find other good sources of information, list them here!

(BACK COVER)
Girl Scouts of the USA
420 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10018-2798 www.girlscouts.org
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign www.freevibe.com