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A Massachusetts teen drove into two police officers this week while high on marijuana and mushrooms. The teen, a former high school varsity wrestler, faces serious legal consequences for the incident. He has been charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence, attempted murder, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, and two accounts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

The officers encountered the teen on a rural route at 2:30 a.m. while they were investigating a separate traffic accident. The officers saw the teen's car approach them; it stopped just a few feet away and then suddenly accelerated right toward them. One officer was thrown onto the hood and suffered serious injury to an arm. The officers tried to get the teen to stop the car but he wouldn't. The teen then apparently tried to run down the other officer, knocking him into the air. The second officer also suffered an injury.

The teen then left the scene of the crime, driving slowly but erratically. He was apprehended shortly thereafter and was determined to be intoxicated (to the point of stupor) with marijuana and mushrooms.

(Source: www.dailynewstribune.com)

Labels: teen-drug-abuse, teen-marijuana-abuse

Posted By: jgarcia 0 Comments

Although fewer Canadian youth overall are drinking, binge drinking is on the rise. A story this week in the Winnepeg Sun explored a new report by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. Ecstasy use has also increased slightly, though the report indicated a decrease in use of marijuana, mushrooms, and crystal meth. AFM's CEO John Borody commented that binge drinking may be a learned behavior:

"A lot of the drinking behaviors that we see in youths are mimicked from what they see their parents do."

(Sources: winnepegsun.com)

Labels: binge-drinking, teen-marijuana-abuse

Posted By: jgarcia 0 Comments

According to a report from the federal ONDCP (Office on National Drug Control Policy), many teens use marijuana to self-medicate for depressive symptoms, but the drug use may be compounding the problem.

A recent study found that female teenagers who use marijuana are more likely to develop depression that those who do not. In addition, teens suffering from depression are more likely to engage in other high-risk behaviors like cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use.

Dr. Drew Pinsky, addiction expert and host of VH1's television series "Celebrity Rehab" was interviewed for a recent article on the study. Dr. Pinsky said, "Don't be fooled into thinking that pot is harmless. ... Marijuana is an addictive drug. Teens who are already depressed and use marijuana may increase their odds of suffering from even more serious mental health problems."

Nora D. Volkow, M. D., Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse weighed in on the issue, saying "There is also some evidence that in vulnerable teens-because of genetic factors-the abuse of marijuana can trigger a schizophreniform [a serious mental] disorder."

(Source: living.oneindia.in)

Labels: addiction, teen-marijuana-abuse, teen-depression

Posted By: Contributor 0 Comments

I decided to change things up a bit today, so todays post is going to be for parents. Teen substance abuse often has a lot to do with parental supervision and guidance, or lack thereof, so it seems appropriate to write an entry about some of the issues that face parents relating to their teen and the potential for teen substance abuse.

It seems that the biggest issue for parents in trying to prevent or treat adolescent substance abuse is the mentality that it wont happen to their child, or that their child knows better. Parents often think that theyre child is the exception to the rule and that they know better than to use or abuse drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, this belief is false. Drug addiction can affect any teen and can affect any family.

One of the things that parents can do to combat teen substance abuse is to be involved in your teens life. Make sure you know where theyre going and who their friends are. Ask your teen to check in with you throughout the night, and if they refuse, tell them that they cant go out. The most important thing you can do with your teen to prevent teen substance abuse is to tell your teen that you dont approve of underage drinking or drug use. When teens feel like they are disappointing their parents or that they are doing something wrong, they will be more likely to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

As parents, it is your responsibility to set limits and rules for your teen. Even though you might want to be friends with your teen, your job is to make sure that they are safe and that they are making the right decisions. You are supposed to set a good example. If you happen to get along with your teen, then thats great, but it is better to set rules and protect your teen than to be their best friend and let them participate in activities that put them at risk.

Parents should take steps to prevent teen drug abuse and addiction, but sometimes even parental guidance and strict rules cant keep teens from giving in to peer pressure. In order to help a teen with a substance abuse problem, parents must first know the signs of teen substance abuse. The sooner that parents can recognize the signs of substance abuse, the sooner they can get help for their teen.

There are a variety of treatment programs available for teens with substance abuse problems. These programs include therapeutic boarding schools that specialize in treating adolescent substance abuse, residential rehab programs, intensive outpatient programs, and wilderness programs that can help teens learn personal responsibility. All of these programs are designed to help teens overcome their substance abuse problems by teaching them the skills that will help them to maintain their sobriety and to be successful in life.

As a parent of a teen, it is important to make sure that your teen is getting the care and treatment that they need. If your teen has a substance abuse problem, it is important to find the treatment program that will best suit their specific needs and will help them get back on the right track towards a successful and healthy life.

Labels: teen-addiction, teen-drinking, teen-substance-abuse, teen-drug-abuse, teen-drug-help, teen-marijuana-abuse, teen-alcohol-abuse, at-risk-teens, teen-drug-rehab, teen-rehab

Posted By: beth 1 Comment

Marijuana is one of the most popular drugs among teens and is usually one of the first drugs abused by teens. Im sure as a teen you know someone who uses marijuana, and it is likely that you might even use marijuana yourself. Marijuana, weed, pot, etc. is popular because its really easy to get and most teens dont think its dangerous. For a lot of teens, marijuana isnt even classified as a drug. Heroin is a drug. Cocaine is a drug. But not marijuana. You cant overdose on marijuana and its a plant, so what could be the harm?

For one thing, there are plenty of plants that are poisonous and harmful to both humans and animals, so the whole Its safe because its a plant argument should just be abandoned altogether. The idea that marijuana isnt as dangerous as hard drugs like cocaine is also false. Marijuana, like cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, meth, etc., has its own set of negative consequences.

Teen marijuana use can lead to problems with memory in the short term and the long term. Like alcohol, marijuana can also make you do things while you are high that you wouldnt do when youre sober, like driving while under the influence of having unprotected sex. Smoking pot can cause you to lose your ambition, and can even result in a lack of interest in appearance, friends, family, sports, etc.

Another common misconception about marijuana is that it is not addictive. A lot of teens, and even adults, dont think that they can become addicted to marijuana. The earlier a teen starts using marijuana, the greater their risk for addiction. When you use marijuana every day, you begin to feel dependent on it, and you want it more and more just to feel normal. But as you use marijuana more and more, the things that used to be important to you begin to fade away. You dont care about school or sports or your friends. You just want to lie around and smoke pot.

I think the bottom line about pot is that teens need to accept personal responsibility and accountability. Usually when something seems to go to be true, it is too good to be true. Dont be naïve and think that marijuana is this great drug that makes you relaxed and happy, but doesnt have any side effects. Take responsibility for yourself and if you have a problem, it is important to recognize the signs of teen marijuana abuse so that you can get help for yourself. For parents, if you think your teen has a problem, find a treatment center for marijuana abuse so that your teen can get their lives back and regain the passion and enthusiasm that they once had.

Labels: teen-addiction, teen-substance-abuse, teen-drug-abuse, teen-drug-help, teen-marijuana-abuse, teen-depression, teen-drug-rehab, teen-rehab

Posted By: beth 0 Comments