On October 12, thousands of students at more than 200 U.S. schools found answers to their questions about drugs and drug use from experts at the National Institute on Drug Abuse during their first Drug Facts Chat Day.
![People sitting at computers.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120927142614im_/http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/fall07/images/studentdrugquestions02.jpg)
Photo courtesy of NIDA
The questions poured in…
High School Student: Can doing drugs at a young age screw up your life?
Eve Reider: There is a lot we still don't know about who becomes addicted, why, and after how much drug exposure. We do know that each person is different, so it's a little like playing "Russian Roulette" if you choose to use drugs. But, if you do, the earlier you stop, the more likely you will be to avoid addiction and the harmful brain changes that lead to it. For more information, see http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/addiction.html.
High School Student: How long do you think the average person can live if they smoke cigarettes?
Ivan Montoya: The lifetime of a person depends on many factors, but what is known is that a person who smokes cigarettes has a lower life expectancy. That is because of all the medical complications associated with smoking, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory problems, etc. A person who smokes has a chance of a shorter life. For more information about smoking, go to: www.smoking.drugabuse.gov.