A Better Life: Resources for Teens

Are you a teen looking to make a positive change? If you feel like your life might be spinning out of control or that you need help dealing with a particular problem, the websites listed below may be able to provide a starting point for help:

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

Check Yourself
www.checkyourself.com
Are you afraid you might have a problem with drugs and alcohol? This website provides quizzes that can help you gauge your substance use and whether it borders on abuse. It also offers games and “Moments of Truth,” first-hand accounts from other teens on their experiences.

FreeVibe
www.freevibe.com
This site is just for teens and has a lot of useful information, including drug facts, quizzes, message boards and ideas on how to react to scenarios in which you are offered drugs. Another cool feature on the site is the animated series, “Summit High.”

GANGS

Gangs: Awareness and Prevention
www.focusas.com/Gangs.html
This site provides insight into why teens join gangs, ideas on how to prevent gang involvement and risk factors for joining gangs.

Get Rid of Gangs
www.usdoj.gov/kidspage
This website offers tips for teens on how to avoid gangs, information on gang prevention programs and helpful links.

Getting Out of Gangs and Staying Out Of Gangs
www.nagia.org/getting_out_of_gangs__staying_ou.htm
It is possible to get out of a gang and this site provides solid ideas on how to do it. Check out this site for straightforward advice and resources.

SEX

Say Not Yet
www.saynotyet.com
This site caters to the high percentage of teens in the U.S. that are choosing abstinence. Tips on how to say “Not Yet” are provided, along with frequently asked questions and first-hand stories from other teens.

Sex, Etc.
www.sxetc.org
This site is made by teens for teens and has articles on everything from how to decide if you’re ready to have sex to teen parenting to body image. Check it out!

Teenwire
www.teenwire.com
Provided by Planned Parenthood, this site is dedicated to providing the facts about sex so that teens can make responsible choices in hopes of reducing unintended pregnancy and STDs. Includes an “Ask the Experts” section.

OTHER OUTLETS ON THE WEB FOR TEENS

GURL
www.gurl.com
A site for teen girls with articles on everything from menstruation to academics to sexuality. Advice columns, games, quizzes and message boards make it a fun and user-friendly outlet.

Teen Advice Online
www.teenadviceonline.com
A comprehensive advice library of topics pertinent to teens. Articles are written by non-professionals ages 13 and up and range from “Dad Won’t Let Me Get a Tattoo” to “Is It My Fault My Friend Still Uses Drugs?”

Teen Central
www.teencentral.net
Just for teens, this site provides an anonymous helpline developed by experts in teen counseling and psychology. Also features interviews with teen celebrities facing everyday issues.

Teen Ink
www.teenink.net
Need to vent? Check out this monthly magazine written for teens and by teens. Submissions are accepted for articles, reviews, photos and poems.

Teen Help
www.teenhelp.org
Support groups, articles and advice supplement a “network made up of teen mentors that have the desire to reach out and connect with one another.” Mentors on the site are chosen by their real-life experiences that may come in useful in the resolution of fellow teens’ problems.