Alcohol can hurt every organ in your body. It goes right into your bloodstream and can increase your risk of getting serious diseases.

Drinking alcohol slows your brain and your central nervous system, which makes you less coordinated, slows your reflexes, makes you forget what you did and makes you more likely to make bad decisions.

Drinking lots of alcohol can put you in a coma or cause death. In some recent high-profile cases, college students have literally drunk themselves to death.

How can I tell if I have a problem with drugs or alcohol?

Drug and alcohol problems can affect anyone, no matter your age, sex, race, where you live or how much money you make.

Here are some red flags that you might have a problem:

• You have no control over whether you’ll use drugs or get drunk.

• You believe that you have to drink or do drugs to have fun.

• You use alcohol and/or drugs to feel better after having an argument or when you’re feeling down.

• You have to drink more or use more drugs to get drunk or high.

• You forget what you did after drinking or using drugs.

• You have trouble at work or in school because of drinking or drug use.

• You make promises to yourself or others that you'll stop getting drunk or using drugs and then break those promises.

• You feel alone, scared, and depressed.

• If you have any of the above problems, get help. Lots of teens beat their addictions.

Treatment can work. Get help. One place to start is Check Yourself.