Alcohol
Choosing not to drink

Do you think everyone drinks alcohol?
Dana avoids alcohol despite a lot of stress in her life.

Some people drink because they are stressed or sad. Dana's brother was murdered. So was her God sister. But Dana chooses to avoid alcohol. She handles stress in healthy ways.

DANA: When I found out that my brother was murdered, it felt like a piece of me was taken away. The day of the funeral, I was just like, 'Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening.

Dana worries if she drinks, she might lose sight of her dream of going to college and owning a business.

DANA: It may feel good at the present time but after, those problems are still going to be there and it's like what are you escaping from if the problems are still there? It just doesn't make any sense and it doesn't click. I guess I don't drink because I have this certain inner strength. I have people around me who do drink, but I also have people around me who don't.

Dana understands that many people turn to alcohol because they have problems. She encourages them to find healthier ways to handle stress.

DANA: I just say go exercise or go swim or do something constructive. When someone offers alcohol just say it regular like, 'oh no, no thank you' ' I don't drink' or 'I don't want one' and just basically just all around 'no'.

Another reason Dana doesn't drink is her mother. Her mom encourages her to stick to her goals.

DANA: My mother, she would be very disappointed in me if I ever came home drunk. She always tells me don't ever put down your glass because someone could always put something in it. You could just drink it and not know.

As she gets older, Dana is confident she will know she made the right choices about alcohol.

DANA: I'll know it really worked for me just to keep my ground and keep respect of myself and still be strong and just keep saying 'no' to those people who keep pushing it on me cause I'll be my own person.