This site contains health and safety information pertaining to some of the more commonly used recreational drugs. The first page in each drug section presents simple, basic facts explaining what the drug is, its effects, the main risks of using it, and the most important health and safety information for reducing the risks and harms associated with it.

This is prevention online. The US Department of Health and Human Services provides alcohol and drug information on this site. Drug information, related issues and resources are offered on this site. You can find quick facts on any related topic.

Also sponsored by the NIH and NIAAA (www.niaaa.nih.gov/index.htm), The Cool Spot, is the ideal site for teens and pre-teens. Information is presented through several interactive learning and self-assessment tools that parents may not be accustomed to, or cool enough to use. The graphics and games make the site very cool and edgy, but the presentation does not take away from the vast amount of resources and information concerning alcohol related disorders and underage drinking.

This is the site of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It aims to educate people on the effects drugs have on the brain and to fully understand drug abuse and addiction. There is extensive research and information for people of all ages.

The site offers information on policies, prevention and treatments of additions. It is user-friendly and provides information on common drugs.

Get advice and great information about drugs on this site. It’s useful for parents who believe their children are using drugs.

Listed in Forbes Magazine’s Best of the Web directory, Psych Central, Dr. John Grohol’s Mental Health page, extensively and brilliantly covers a wide range of mental health and psychology issues. The site is as easy to use as it is informative. Psych Central promotes WARM2Kids’ view of the importance of community and discussion through monitored chats that allow users to get advice from medical professionals. Individual tools (self-assessment quizzes, search the site options, and archived articles) allow users to find the information they need confidentially and anonymously. Start here to find further resources dealing with alcohol and substance abuse, as well as other mental health topics. The site is perfect for the mature teen and older crowd.

Addiction Search provides a gateway to research-based health consumers of all ages. It offers links to information about addictive substances, use among special populations, organizations, treatment specifics, statistics, and harm reduction methods. For information regarding specific substances, please see the suggested sites listed under ‘What Effects Can Drugs Have On Me?’; but for general information about addictions, this is place to visit first.

Informational site with advice, information, message boards and places to get help.

This site offers information on what drugs are and why they are harmful. The site is fun, easy to understand and user-friendly. There are several articles on related topics.

This site focuses on the dangers of underage drinking and the accidents that occur when people get behind the wheel while drunk. The articles and first-hand stories are something to look at with your teen, not to scare them, but to make them understand that there can be serious consequences to bad decisions.

Lists factual information about a wide range of substances and includes personal essays on lives affected.

This website gives information on drugs and addiction. In addition, it offers information on the support network of men and women who share their experience in the hopes of recovering from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership. The main purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety as well.

Presented by the National Institutes on Health and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, this site is a must for college students and parents of college students (there are two separate web sites available, one for each group). Although the site lacks the communication and other interactive features of some of the other listed sites, there is no other site that offers the quality and amount of information you’ll find here. The site is easy to use, yet deep enough to cover every area related to alcohol related disorders on college campuses and among college students.