Teen Drug Help
2009 Monitoring the Future Survey Shows that Drug Abuse Continues to Be a Pervasive Problem
The 2009 Monitoring the Future Survey -- the largest annual national survey that tracks drug abuse among 8th, 10th and 12th graders -- indicates that teen abuse of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines continues to be a widespread problem. The survey shows that an alarming number of youth who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from friends and relatives.
According to the survey, 33 percent of 12th graders who reported abusing a prescription narcotic within the last year received the drug from a friend or relative; 21 percent bought the drug from a friend or relative; 19 percent abused a medication prescribed to them by a physician; 12 percent took the substance from a friend or relative; and 8 percent bought the drug from a dealer or someone they didn't know. Among the same group of teenagers, the study found that prescription and over-the-counter medicines account for 8 of the 13 most frequently abused substances.
Steve Pasierb, president of the Partnership for a Drug Free America, commented on the findings: "The Monitoring the Future study confirms that teen abuse of Rx and OTC medications continues to be a pervasive problem that unfortunately has become a far too normal part of many teens' lives. Teens are not only getting these medications from their own homes, but even more troubling, they are also getting them from friends and relatives.
"It is important for parents to educate themselves about the medications kids are abusing and communicate with their kids to dispel the notion that medicines can be safely abused. It is also crucial that parents safeguard medications at home, limit access, keep track of quantities and make certain that friends and relatives do the same."
(Source: www.news-medical.net)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen drug abuse
Alcohol Abuse a Major Concern for a Connecticut University
Fairfield University of Fairfield, Conn., has a problem with alcohol. Between 2007 and 2008, the University experienced a 70 percent increase in cases of alcohol disciplinary action. According to the Princeton Review, Fairfield University ranks third in the nation for usage of hard alcohol on campus.
One student commented, "The alcohol is more accessible than drugs, and that makes it more dangerous because people will indulge more into it."
According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, Fairfield University is leading a nationwide trend. CASA also states that "the abuse of prescription drugs and marijuana has increased dramatically since the mid-1990s."
Students say that drinking is the most common form of substance use because it is perceived to be safer than drugs and the consequences associated with getting caught are much less severe for alcohol than for other substances.
Student Ryan King echoes the misguided perception of many college students: "I think [students] drink more because of the perception that it's safer, and because it's legal. It doesn't mean that alcohol is safe, but it's safer than taking drugs."
Unfortunately, alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related injuries and fatalities are continuing realities on many college campuses, fueled by the idea that "alcohol is safer than drugs." Experts estimate that over 1,700 college students die each year from alcohol-related accidents and injuries, and each year approximately 599,000 college students are unintentionally injured while under the influence of alcohol.
(Sources: www.fairfieldmirror.com, www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)
Labels: alcohol, college-drinking, prescription-drug-abuse
California Community Fights Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
Glendora, Calif., has seen a disturbing trend in the last couple of years: a drastic increase in the incidence of teen prescription drug abuse. According to data from the local school district, in 2006, 46 students were suspended for prescription drug use. The next year, the number rose to 54, then to 55 in 2008.
Last Christmas, a 15-year-old Glendora teen died from an overdose of prescription drugs that he got at a friend's house. In September, another high school student who was allegedly addicted to the prescription anti-anxiety drug Xanax shot himself. And last month, a Glendora teen was found running through traffic on a main boulevard after ingesting 40 OxyContin pills, Xanax and alcohol.
In response to the surge in teen prescription drug use, local law enforcement and school officials are collaborating to get the word out to unsuspecting parents and other adults: The stereotypical drug dealer is no longer the norm. More and more teens are buying drugs from their middle-class peers or obtaining them from the medicine cabinets of family, friends and acquaintances.
On Nov. 2, 2009, the police and school district held a drug forum at a local gymnasium to discuss local teen abuse of prescription drugs.
(Source: www.pasadenastarnews.com)
Labels: addiction, drug-abuse, prescription-drug-abuse
New Jersey Police Urge Parents to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse
Over 400 police departments and other law enforcement agencies across New Jersey (in collaboration with the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, the DEA and the state Attorney General's Office) are launching a new program to help parents prevent teen abuse of prescription drugs. The program, Operation Medicine Cabinet, provides locations where citizens can drop off unused prescription medications for safe disposal by law enforcement.
Angelo Valente, executive director of the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, commented: "With Operation Medicine Cabinet, we are calling on residents to see their medicine cabinets through new eyes -- as an access point for potential misuse and abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicine by young people."
According to a recent survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, prescription pain relievers have become more accessible to most young people than beer. The survey also found that for a majority of teens, the most common way to find those pills is to take them from their parents' medicine cabinets.
(Source: www.nj.com)
Labels: painkillers, prescription-drug-abuse, teen drug abuse
Prescription Drug Overdoses Surpass Traffic Fatalities in Montana
Montana has seen a drastic increase in prescription drug abuse over the past year. Fatal overdoses related to prescription drugs have surpassed traffic fatalities.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey conducted by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Montana ranks third in the nation for teen abuse of prescription pain relievers, with 9.6 percent of respondents reporting abuse within the past year.
According to state authorities, more Montanans die of prescription drug overdoses than any other kind of overdose, including illegal overdoses related to drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Approximately 60 percent of prescription drug abusers in Montana report getting prescriptions free from a friend or relative, while more than 14 percent buy or steal them from a friend or relative.
The state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation reports that 42 percent of the drug cases this year relate to prescription drugs. This represents a significant increase since 2003, when only 7 percent of cases involved prescription drugs.
State Attorney General Steve Bullock commented on the trend and the state's plans to address the problem, saying, "Given the more than 320 deaths last year, given the fact that we're third per capita in the country for children abusing prescription drugs, and given that this has become one of law enforcement's primary issues, we put together an advisory council to talk about how to better address the issue in Montana's communities."
(Sources: www.kfbb.com, www.missoulan.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen substance abuse
San Diego Launches 'Oxy' Task Force to Battle Increasing Prescription Drug Abuse
Last week, the city of San Diego launched a regional task force to investigate and evaluate prescription drug abuse in the greater San Diego area. The "Oxy" task force is especially concerned with the abuse of potent narcotic painkillers such as oxycodone (brand name OxyContin) by youth.
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis called teen abuse of oxycodone by San Diego youth an "emerging epidemic" -- a description echoed by other government and law enforcement officials. San Diego is experiencing rising numbers of prosecutions and deaths related to prescription drugs.
One of the task force's first responsibilities will be to measure the extent and impact of prescription drug abuse in the region. Although authorities possess basic evidence that prescription drug abuse is a growing problem, they have not yet thoroughly investigated and evaluated the trend. The task force will be charged with determining how many youth are using prescription medications to get high.
The task force will collect additional information from law enforcement, hospitals, schools and treatment centers, and will also work to raise community awareness of prescription drug abuse by teens. This past weekend, the task force organized the first-ever countywide collection of prescription drugs no longer needed. Residents dropped off about 321 pounds of medications and related supplies.
Amy Roderick, spokeswoman for San Diego's DEA office, commented: "We believe the abuse is at the epidemic level because people who are starting to use OxyContin do not have an underlying medical condition that led to the long-term use and eventual abuse and addiction. Now people are using them in concert with or instead of illicit drugs, solely for the purpose of getting high."
(Source: www.voiceofsandiego.org)
Labels: oxycodone, oxycontin, prescription-drug-abuse, teen drug abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse Increases in Mississippi
In 2008, Mississippi recorded only one increase in drug use -- prescription drugs.
Jerri Avery, Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health's Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Services, commented on the trend and how most teens are gaining access to prescription drugs for recreational use:
"It's not drug dealers who are supplying the drugs -- it's the home medicine cabinets ... Only 4 percent of prescription drugs are sold by drug dealers. ... Teenagers taking their parents,' grandparents' and friends' prescription drugs. Parents and caregivers need to remember they are the first line of defense in addressing this troubling trend."
According to the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), symptoms of prescription drug abuse may include constricted pupils, slurred speech, flushed skin, sweating and loss of appetite. Users may also exhibit personality changes, mood swings, irritability, and excessive energy or excessive sleepiness.
(Source: www.hattiesburgamerican.com)
Labels: prescription drugs, prescription-drug-abuse
Health Crisis for Staten Island Teens: Substance Abuse Is Rampant
Experts warn that Staten Island teens may be facing a health crisis within the next few years if rates of substance abuse persist.
Recent statistics from the New York City Department of Health show that Staten Island's teen population has the highest rate of smoking, alcohol abuse and drug abuse in the city. According to data from the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, nearly three times as many Staten Islanders ages 13 to 30 sought help last year for prescription drug abuse than four years earlier.
Frances Magno, managing director of a local rehabilitation facility, commented on the care that teens will need if current trends persist: "They are going to need much more sophisticated care ... Kids are kids. They don't believe they have the ability to get illnesses or diseases. Reality doesn't touch them. 'Just say no' doesn't work with these kids."
(Source: www.silive.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen smoking, teen substance abuse
ADHD Prescription Drug Abuse Increasing
Teen abuse of prescription medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) increased sharply between 1998 and 2005, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics by researchers at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Researchers analyzed data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System during those years and discovered a 76 percent increase in the number of calls involving the abuse of ADHD prescription medications by adolescents.
Mary Robertson, RN, co-founder of the Lexington, Ken., Bluegrass Chapter of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and a former national president of CHADD commented on the importance of the study's findings:
"With the increase in the number of teens misusing or abusing prescription ADHD medications, there is an even greater need for parents, physicians and teachers to be on the 'same page' and to closely monitor adolescents who are being treated for ADHD ... As a new school year begins, it is important for parents to communicate any changes in treatment and performance with their child's teachers and doctors."
(Source: www.prweb.com)
Labels: adhd medications, prescription-drug-abuse
Prescription Drug Dealers Arrested in Staten Island
Twenty-three young people were arrested for forging prescriptions for painkillers in Staten Island, New York recently. The drug ring was responsible for putting 21,000 painkillers, most commonly Vicodin, OxyContin, and Xanax, in the hands of teenagers and young adults. Those arrested were in their early 20s.
Prescription drug abuse increased by 542% among teens ages 12 to 17 between 1992 and 2002. The majority get their drugs from family medicine cabinets.
Police in Staten Island said teens believe that prescription painkillers are not as dangerous as street drugs such as heroin. However, teens do not understand that they are just as addictive and that it is easy to overdose on them, especially when you combine them with alcohol, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines.
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise in California
On December 16, 2007, 23-year-old Cyrus Moinzadeh overdosed on OxyContin and died. Moinzadeh was smart (spoke three languages) and well-liked, but spent time with a group of young people who frequently abused the drug. Of Cyrus' five closest friends from high school, three have died from drug overdoses. OxyContin, a chemical relative of heroin, is frequently prescribed as painkiller for back pain, cancer pain, bone fractures, and other severe injuries. Many teenagers obtain the drug over the Internet from unscrupulous companies in Canada and Mexico.
OxyContin is produced as a time-release tablet, so non-medical users will often smash up the pills to snort them or melt them to smoke (they will place the pills on foil and apply heat from underneath). Scott Henderson of the San Diego Police Department narcotics division advises parents to be aware of their teenagers' activities. Henderson recommends looking on teens' Facebook and MySpace pages, because that's commonly where they exchange information about getting drugs. Henderson also said to be on the lookout for the tinfoil used to smoke it since Oxy leaves black charred streaks. "If you're running out of tin foil and you don't make a lot of casseroles, I'm telling you right now something is amiss." (Source: www.delmartimes.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse
South Dakota May Adopt Plan to Combat Doctor Shopping
Physician and pharmacy groups in South Dakota are promoting a plan to establish a new electronic records system which will help prevent doctor shopping. Doctor shopping is when an individual who is addicted to a prescription drug sees doctor after to doctor to continually obtain new prescriptions. Doctor shopping is already illegal in South Dakota. The new law would authorize a central bank of records to enable doctors and pharmacists to know when a new patient may be shopping for prescriptions.
Barb Smith, chief executive officer of the South Dakota Medical Association, commented on the problem: "The problem right now is physicians don't have access to a patient's prescription history. ... The physician knows what he or she is prescribing but doesn't know if I'm seeing another physician." (Source: www.argusleader.com)
Labels: doctor-shopping, prescription-drug-abuse, prevention
Illinois Towns Establish Prescription Drug Disposal Program
Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, are establishing a prescription drug disposal program as a way to combat prescription drug abuse. In a recent federal survey, over half of individuals ages 12 and older who used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons reported obtaining the drug from a friend or relative for free. Among teens, especially, prescription drugs have gained disturbing popularity.
Heartland Coalition Director Kellie Rubbel-Henrichs commented, "They'll pretty much take anything from a medicine cabinet without knowing side effects or what they'll do." The Heartland Coalition is partnering with local police departments to install security drop boxes, which provide a safer alternative to keeping medications around the house, throwing them away, or flushing them down the toilet. (Source: centralillinoisproud.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse
Safe Returns for Prescription Drugs
The Washington State legislature is considering a proposal to institute a prescription medication take-back program. The program would provide a safe means for individuals to return unused portions of prescriptions to authorities to be disposed of safely. Currently, unused prescriptions are most often left in medicine cabinets, bathrooms, and even junk drawers. With the recent national rise in the abuse of prescription drugs by teenagers, the fate of these unused prescriptions has become a public concern.
Recent national surveys have suggested that the vast majority of teens who use prescription medications for recreational purposes obtain these dangerous drugs from their own homes, the homes of friends, or from family members and friends. The apparent success of a currently running pilot program, involving 25 Seattle-area health facilities and a chain of local pharmacies, inspired the proposal to the state legislature.
(Source: seattlepi.nwsource.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse
"Pharming Parties" – A Warning for Parents
Kim Obert lost her son in 2003 to a fatal overdose of the prescription painkiller OxyContin. Now, the Arizona mom has become a spokesperson, warning parents about the dangers of a new national teen trend: "pharming parties." At these parties, middle and high school children raid their parents' medicine cabinets and then pool their findings. The youth then take random handfuls of these potent, often highly addictive and dangerous, pills.
Amazingly, many teens believe that because these drugs are prescribed by doctors, they are safer for recreational use than typical street drugs like heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamines. What teens don't know, however, is that many prescription drugs, especially painkillers, are close chemical relatives of potent drugs like heroin and are just as addictive and dangerous.
(Sources: www.azcentral.com)
Labels: parents, prescription-drug-abuse
Warning Signs of Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
The Philadelphia affiliate of Fox news ran a story this week warning parents about the dangers and warning signs of teen prescription drug abuse. Two local teenagers have died in the past six months from overdoses of prescription medications. Ronnie Powell, a star running back on his high school football team, died last October from popping prescription painkillers. Two weeks ago, another teen named Pete Angstadt died at the age of 17 from a similar overdose.
The most astonishing fact is that many teens believe that prescription drugs are a "safer" way to get high. Teens and college students typically subvert the time-release structures of these pills by smashing them and snorting them. In powder form, the pills release their high all at once, resulting in frequent overdoses.
One of the most popular prescription drugs among teenagers is OxyContin, an equally potent cousin of heroin. One local teen, Kyle Houck, became addicted to OxyContin, and when he could no longer afford to buy the expensive pills, decided to try heroin. He died of a heroin overdose the first time he tried the drug.
Kyle's mother warns other parents that the most typical warning signs of prescription drug abuse are "grades slipping, sleeping too long, and moodiness."
(Source: www.myfoxphilly.com)
Labels: parents, prescription-drug-abuse
Washington Teen Dies from Combination of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
Ryan DePuy, a 17-year-old from Washington State, overdosed on a toxic mix of prescription and over-the-counter medications. He ingested a narcotic pain killer, an antidepressant, and two over-the-counter medications (benadryl and cough syrup) - and the combination was fatal. He was a junior at a local high school.
Ryan was, by all accounts, bright, athletic, and well-liked. He had a supportive network of devoted family and good friends. His father coached his baseball team and went with him to soccer events. However, by the time he was 16 he was addicted to prescription drugs.
At that age, he was enrolled in an inpatient rehabilitation program, where he spent 35 days. When he returned, his parents believed that the program had worked. Gradually, however, Ryan started using again. His parents were deliberating about what to do on the day they received the tragic news that Ryan was dead.
Ryan's father, Scott, has been speaking at local schools trying to educate young people about the dangers of using prescription and over-the-counter medications for recreational purposes. Ryan's mom, Charlene, commented, "Part of a parent's worst fear is losing your child ... And the second worst fear is people forgetting your child."
(Sources: www.nwcn.com)
Labels: drug overdose, prescription-drug-abuse
Prescription Xanax - Easily Abused, Highly Addictive, Dangerous to Quit
Xanax, a prescription tranquilizer used to treat anxiety, is being used as a recreational drug by an increasing number of teens. The drug is a Schedule IV illicit substance, according to the federal government, which means that it has high potential for addiction. Xanax is also known to cause at least 28 different adverse reactions, including headache, tremors, confusion, blurred vision, memory loss, and convulsions. Withdrawal from the drug is also difficult and even fatal, according to Mary Rieser, Executive Director of Narconon Drug Rehab of Georgia. Ms. Resier comments on increased xanax use by youth and the difficult process of withdrawal:
"Kids need to be educated on the risks involved, not only in taking xanax, but in suddenly discontinuing it without the help of a physician. It is one of the most difficult drugs to withdraw from, once addicted. Many cases require a medically-supervised detox from xanax addiction, as withdrawal symptoms can be deadly. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and include agitation, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting and convulsions."
Surveys at Georgia high schools indicate that, in some cases, xanax use is more widespread than marijuana use.
(Source: transworldnews.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen-substance-abuse
Teens Swapping Prescription Drugs
Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse estimates that illegal use of prescription drugs by teenagers has increased more than 200 percent in that past 15 years.
It’s been in the news often enough to no longer be news – prescription drugs are quickly becoming the adolescent’s drug of choice. For some it’s even become a moneymaker. Leftover medication, or pills “borrowed” from the parents’ medicine cabinet can often be sold for several dollars each, making it a tempting business venture.
Newspapers across the country have, in recent months, featured numerous stories about teenagers who were arrested for selling prescription drugs. These young people now face the possibility not only of expensive monetary fines, but of imprisonment.
Those who don’t sell pills often swap them with friends, trading an opiate like Vicodin for a stimulant like Ritalin. While some do it for the “high,” others use them to increase concentration, to keep them awake so they can cram for a test, or to help them fall asleep.
More and more teenagers are drawn to prescription drugs because of a misconception that they’re safer than illegal drugs. Few teens are aware of the dangers inherent in taking medications that were prescribed for someone else. Because these drugs are regulated, they’re assumed to be less addictive, safer, and more acceptable than street drugs like heroin or cocaine.
One of the most unusual aspects of this new trend is that it isn’t limited to one “clique” or socio-economic class. Previous trends have typically been found in one specific group; cocaine use, for example is most prevalent among upper-middle-class teenagers. But prescription drug use crosses all lines: Athletes, artists, kids in the Honor Roll Society, and kids with failing grades are all using illegal medication. Not only is the wide-ranging appeal disturbing, but it makes prevention difficult because so many types of kids are using for so many different reasons.
Parents with teenagers need to exercise caution with regard to prescription medication. If possible, all medications should be kept in a medicine cabinet or other location that can be locked. If that isn’t possible, parents need to keep careful track of their medications so they’ll know if something begins disappearing too quickly.
If a child has been prescribed medication, like Ritalin for ADHD or a painkiller because of a recent injury or surgery, parents should administer the pills themselves. Don’t just give the bottle of Vicodin to your child and let him keep it with him. Give him what he needs for the day, and no more.
Preventative measures take some extra time and can be inconvenient, but the alternative is that your child runs the risk not only of over-medicating but sharing his medicine with his friends or, worse yet, selling it.
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen-drug-abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise in Central New York
Use of illegal prescription drugs is on the rise among teens in central New York State, according to a story published this week by the Central New York News. State Trooper Jack Keller, who was interviewed for the story, reports that students as young as 12 and 13 are resorting to prescription drugs as an easy and cheap way to get high.
These drugs are cheap because many teens obtain them from their parents’ or relatives’ medicine cabinets. Teens have also been known to knock on a stranger’s door and ask to use the bathroom, and then steal prescriptions and other drugs. Keller also reports a number of cases in which teens tell realtors at open houses that their parents are on their way to look at the house, and ask if they can use the bathroom, just to steal drugs.
According to Keller, Oxycontin (a chemical relative of heroin) and Vicodin, both painkillers, are the most frequently abused drugs in local schools. Keller emphasizes that these are average kids who probably wouldn’t try cocaine or heroin because they think those drugs are too dangerous. What they don’t realize is that prescription drugs can be just as potent and dangerous.
Beth Hughes, a social worker at Liverpool High School's ninth-grade annex, reports a trend of “pill parties” being held in local homes. Teens bring their own supplies of pills and dump the pills into a common container. The teens then grab the pills like jelly beans and ingest them in random combinations and dosages. The possible consequences of this behavior are frightening and severe.
A recent national survey by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America confirms this trend. The 2008 survey found that:
• One in five teens has abused a prescription pain medication.
• One in five report abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers.
• One in 10 has abused cough medication.
(Source: Syracuse.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen-drug-abuse
Adderall: Prescription Medication Gains Popularity as Illegal Study Aid
A teen in Warren County, New York (near Albany) was arrested this week for selling his prescription medication, Adderall, to another young person. Adderall is a narcotic that is generally prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder. However, it has recently gained popularity among younger people as a study aid. The seller has been incarcerated and charged with a third-degree felony for illegal sale of a controlled substance.
According to a recent study by the University of Wisconsin, as many as one in every five college students are currently using Adderall or similar drugs as study aids. Young people who begin using these medications are typically unaware that these substances are addictive and can have significant negative side effects. Adderall is used to regulate dopamine functioning in individuals who have biological problems with this process. When used by an individual who does not have a dopamine problem, the drug acts as a potent stimulant. Many students ingest the drug in pill form, or by snorting it, to increase their focus and energy before an exam.
Individuals who are prescribed Adderall and take the medication under a doctor’s supervision rarely experience worse side effects than dry mouth, sleep disturbance, or increased heart rate. When the medication is taken without a prescription, without a doctor’s supervision, and in increased dosages, the side effects can become drastically more severe. Side effects under these circumstances may include paranoia, delusions, and stroke, among other serious health risks.
In addition, the act of snorting the drug intensifies the “rush” and may also acclimate young people to a behavior which can easily lead to the snorting other stimulants, such as cocaine.
Officials at Georgetown University believe that Adderall use and abuse is becoming a significant problem with their students and with students around the country. (Sources: CBS6.albany.com, media.www.thegeorgetownindependent.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen-drug-abuse
Steroid Use and Teens
Since the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was this week, it seems fitting that to do a post about teen steroid abuse. I don’t want to get in to the debate about whether baseball players really use steroids, because that’s not the point. I’m more concerned with the teen athletes who use steroids in order to boost their chances of making the team, to get the girl or guy, or to get that six-pack.
In high school, there is a lot of pressure to be the star athlete or to have the perfect body. Sometimes, this pressure just gets to be too much, and steroids are a really easy way to boost athletic performance or to get the body that you want. The great thing about steroids for a lot of teens is that they don’t even consider them to be drugs. I mean, you can get them from a doctor and pro athletes use them, so what can be so bad?
While it’s true that steroids can be prescribed by a doctor, most of the cases of steroid use that you hear about in the new and that are really harmful are unprescribed. Like the abuse of other substances, the abuse of steroids can lead to serious health problems. However, even some patients who use steroids with a prescription can have side effects.
Some of the consequences of teen steroid use include:
•heart attack and stroke
•liver and kidney damage, leading to internal bleeding
•acne, baldness, and oily hair (this might work against any hotness that you feel like you’re gaining with your steroid created “hot body”)
•for girls, steroids can result in facial hair, shrinking of breasts, and deepened voice
•for guys, steroids can result in shrinking of the testicles, development of breasts, and infertility
•steroids can also make you irritable and irrational (“roid rage”), which can result in suicidal feelings
•steroids are addictive
I think this last point is something that not everyone is aware of. Steroids are addictive, and if you stop using steroids you can experience withdrawal symptoms.
Steroids are a lot more dangerous than people think. They’re not just harmless way to bulk up. They can do serious damage physically and mentally, especially in teens who are still growing and whose brains are still developing. You may achieve the perfect body, but there is a chance that you could do damage to your body and could alienate yourself from the people that you love.
If you or someone you know has a problem with steroids or any other drug, it is important to get help.
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen-addiction, teen-depression, teen-drug-abuse, teen-drug-help, teen-drug-rehab, teen-rehab, teen-substance-abuse
ADD/ADHD Drugs and Teens
Over the last couple of years, the number of teens and pre-teens diagnosed with ADD/ADHD has increased. With this increase in diagnosis, comes an increase in the prescription of drugs like Ritalin and Adderall, which are designed to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. These drugs are meant to help people diagnosed with ADD/ADHD to focus and stay on task. However, when these drugs are taken by teens who don’t have ADD/ADHD, they can stimulate the user’s brain and create a euphoric high. These drugs seem awesome because not only do they sometimes produce a high, but they can also help your academic performance. So what could be bad about that?
As a general rule of thumb, it’s not a good idea to take drugs that aren’t prescribed to you, and it’s an even worse idea to take prescription drugs in a way that is not dictated by the doctor. Just because something is prescribed by a doctor doesn’t mean that you can take as much of it as you want, whenever you want.
Basically, don’t abuse prescription drugs—it’s just a bad idea. ADD/ADHD medications are no exception. Teen abuse of ADD/ADHD medication like Adderall or Ritalin are putting themselves at risk for side effects that include insomnia, digestive problems, psychotic episodes, blood clots, overdose, heart and lung problems, and addiction.
Teens who don’t have ADD/ADHD abuse drugs like Ritalin and Adderall to help them study, stay awake all night, or to do better on a test. The pressure to do well in high school and college can be overwhelming, and it seems like taking prescription pills to help you get better grades is an easy and harmless solution. Unfortunately, this decision to use prescription drugs in a way other than prescribed can lead to some serious problems.
For teens, abuse of Ritalin and Adderall might seem like a good idea in the moment. If they can help you get an A on a paper or test, who cares what the side effects are? Well, it might not matter if you get an A on a paper if you are in the hospital for an overdose or are experiencing psychotic episodes. These drugs may seem like a great way to improve focus and academic performance, but by abusing these drugs, you are putting yourself at risk for some serious consequences.
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen-addiction, teen-drug help, teen-drug-abuse, teen-rehab, teen-substance-abuse
Cough Medicine...Remedy or Risk?
I remember when I was little, I absolutely hated cough syrup. If I had a cough, I would try to hide it for as long as possible so that my mom wouldn't make me take Robitussin. Even today, I try to avoid cough syrup as much as possible. It just grosses me out. So you can imagine my surprise to hear that teens are taking large amounts of cough medicine to get high. I can barely swallow a spoonful of cough syrup, but people are drinking two or three bottles. But upon further examination, cough medicine seems like an ideal candidate for teenage use and abuse because it can be easily bought, and its totally legal. All you have to do is walk into the drug store and pick up a bottle of Robitussin. You don't even have to ask the pharmacist. Totally easy, right? Maybe too easy. It's this accessibility that makes cough medicine abuse a problem.
Like I said when I was talking about prescription drug abuse, a lot of people assume that because drugs are legal,they aren't harmful. However, this is not the case. And while cough medicine doesn't seem particularly harmful (after all, it's supposed to make you feel better), it can do a lot of damage. Cough medicine contains an ingredient called dextromethorphan (aka DXM), which when taken in large quantities, can create the feeling of being high. DXM is safe when used in proper dosages, but in order to get high, teens are consuming really large quantities. This is where you might run into a problem.
If you take cough medicine in the proper dose, you don't have to worry about the negative effects caused by the abuse of DXM. If you abuse cough medicine, though, there are some consequences of this abuse, including confusion, dizziness, abdominal pain, rapid heartbeat, numbness of fingers and toes, and disorientation. These effects of the abuse of DXM or "robotripping" (get it? Robitussin...robotripping) are only the short term effects. There is also a variety of long-term effects of DXM abuse that can cause even more damage.
DXM doesn't just result in a short term high, but can also produce some long-term and life-threatening effects. Some of the long-term effects of cough medicine abuse include brain damage, psychosis, and addiction. Abuse of DXM can even result in coma or death. Just like any other drug, DXM is addictive and can result in really serious consequences. It's really not something to mess around with. Just because cough medicine will stop your cough doesn't mean that it's okay to drink 1 or 2 bottles at once. Really, it's just not a good idea, and the idea that because a drug is legal means that it is safe needs to be erased from your brain.
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen-addiction, teen-drug-abuse, teen-drug-help, teen-rehab, teen-substance-abuse
Teens and Prescription Drug Abuse
I've decided that for today's post I'm going to try to talk about one class of drugs that affects teens and is abused by teens. So for today's post, I will be talking about (drum roll please)...prescription drug abuse.
I think there are some misconceptions about prescription drug use that make teens feel less guilty about abusing them. The major misconception seems to be that prescription drugs are safer because they were prescribed by a doctor. I guess it's a semi-logical conclusion to come to. However, that conclusion is totally wrong. Prescription drug use is still drug abuse, and is just as dangerous and addicting as abusing any other drug. Some of the risks of abusing prescription drugs include:
• vomiting and nausea
• drowsiness, dizziness, shaking
• hospitalization, death
• engaging in risky behaviors (driving under the influence, stealing, etc.)
• lost interest in normal activities
• loss of interest in class work and a drop in academic performance
You might not care if you lose interest in your class work (maybe you already have), but you should definitely care about your health. Prescription drug abuse is not trivial, and has consequences that can negatively (and sometimes permanently) change your life.
I stumbled upon an article from USA Today that talks about the increasing use of prescription drugs in teen culture, and the dangers of the use of prescription drugs (I'm warning you in advance that this article is long, but it's really worth reading, I promise). While it might seem like using prescription drugs must be safe because they're prescribed by a doctor, they are only safe when used as prescribed and used by the person they are prescribed to. When abused, prescription drugs can be deadly.
Another good source of info about prescription drug use can be found at www.painfullyobvious.com. This site lets you pick your site guide, and it's kind of lame, but if you can get past their obvious attempts to try and be cool and reate to you, there is some really good information about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. This site lets you explore all of the ways that prescription drug abuse can affect your life, including at home, at school, with your friends, etc.
The bottom line is that prescription drug abuse is not safe. Just because they're in your medicine cabinet doesn't mean that they can't cause damage, and if you abuse them, they will cause damage. If you think you or a friend might have a problem with prescription drug abuse, this website has a number that you can call for help and also has a list of treatment centers for teen with substance abuse problems.
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen-addiction, teen-drug-abuse, teen-drug-help, teen-rehab, teen-substance-abuse
