Getting Good Info

I spend a lot of time on-line. When I have a question, a work-related project, or a need to waste time or entertain myself, I usually turn to the internet.

Everyone has their favorite websites for passing the time, but where do you go when you need an answer? How do you know you've found the right source? I struggled with this question last week, as I spent hours following a trail of websites with information about the minimum legal drinking age. Because of the Amethyst Initiative (www.amethystinitiative.org), the debate over whether or not to keep the drinking age at 21 has been in the news. I decided to review the evidence on both sides of the case, so I could make an informed decision about my position on the issue.

Easier said than done. I ended the day more confused than I started! Mothers Against Drunk Driving says alcohol has a negative impact on brain development. ChooseResponsibility.org says it doesn't. Argh! So where do you go when you have a question about drugs and alchol, and you just want a straight answer, without a hidden agenda?

I have found the information at two websites to be reliable, straight forward, and easy to understand: The Anti-Drug (www.theantidrug.com) is aimed at parents, while Above the Influence (www.abovetheinfluence.com) is geared towards youth. Both have tons of information on any substance you could think of, tips on how to deal with youth who are using, and interactive feautres like quizzes to test your knowledge and skills. Check them out, and let me know what you think.

Also, if you find a website that is super awesome, or super lame, tell me about it! That way we can give everyone else a heads up to either check it out, or avoid it.