RICHER LIVES™

Students, let your voices be heard. State your views on our Forums. We do require you to login to post a comment and so will let you edit it later. Send us pictures and stories via the "Contact US" main menu link if you don't think they fit the forums. Please vote on each of the questions to the right.

Substance abuse is responsible for half a million preventable deaths annually in the US and countless others worldwide. The morbidity and mortality from tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and other drugs are staggering, as are the direct and indirect costs to society. These costs include violence, crime, overburdened service systems, reduced productivity and higher health care costs. Between 60% and 80% of crime and 1 in 4 hospital admissions are related to drug issues. The latest research indicates that a third of all cancer deaths in 2007 will be a result of smoking and progress in controlling tobacco use has stalled.

There are hundreds of anti-drug websites that all look similar with videos, images and the names of countless drugs both legal and illegal and the consequences of their use. There are numerous programs used in our schools. Why then, is there an international substance abuse problem with school and college students? Is it possible that we are missing something?

We have designed RICHER Lives as an open Forum for everyone to discuss the issues, existing programs and new approaches. We encourage students and teachers to review programs they have been involved with. Remember your details will remain confidential. We do not plan to replicate the same info available on almost every other anti-drug web site.

RICHER Lives is an acronym for the positive values of Responsibility, Integrity, Caring, Honesty, Equality, Restraint and Respect. We have built this site as a volunteer effort and we are not associated with any organization or government body.

Thanks for leaving your thoughts on our forums.

Don & Sharon Green
Dream Green