If you are a teen, you've already had to make decisions many times about whether to try drugs or not. That's because today's teens are savvy about drug use, making distinctions not only among different drugs and their effects, but also among trial, occasional use, and addiction. You've probably witness many of your peers using drugs - some without obvious or immediate consequences, others whose smoking and drug use gets out of control. Because most high school students are future oriented, they are more likely to listen to discussions of how drugs can ruin chances of getting into a good college, being accepted by the military, or being hired for certain jobs. Be idealistic and enjoy hearing about ways you can help make the world a better place. So make sure you understand the effect that drug use has on our society. Drug Myths vs. Reality Myth: Marijuana is not harmful because it is "all natural" and comes from a plant. Truth: Marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing compounds as tobacco, sometimes in higher concentrations. Myth: It's okay to use marijuana as long as you're not a chronic user or "stoner." Truth: Occasional use can lead to frequent use. Myth: Because sniffing powdered heroin doesn't require needles, it isn't very risky (40% of the high school seniors polled do not believe there is a great risk in trying heroin). Truth: Heroin is dangerous no matter how it's ingested. Once addicted to heroin, users may eventually switch to injecting the drug because it's cheaper. Myth: Drugs are not that dangerous and I can handle it. Truth: Drug use is extremely unpredictable and affects people differently. Anyone can become addicted to drugs. Myth: Everyone is doing it. Truth: Research shows that more than four out of five eighth graders have not used drugs in the past month. Even among high school seniors (the group with the highest rate of marijuana use), only a quarter of those polled in a national study reported using the drug in the last month. In any given school, most students aren't doing drugs.