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2 Things You Can Do to Prevent Underage Drinking & Youth Substance Abuse   

Most people can name two things that they can do to prevent heart disease or diabetes but can you name two things that are proven to prevent underage drinking and youth substance abuse?  Just like heart disease and diabetes there are known risk factors that contribute to the likelihood that a young person will engage in alcohol or drug use. And, there are also things that make it less likely that they will engage in drug and alcohol use. Here are two things you can do:

 

Maintain Positive Bonds: Young people who feel committed and attached to their family, school, youth groups or other activities and adult role models are far less likely to start drinking or using drugs. This protective factor is also increased when youth are aware of the consequences they will face within their family, school or social group when they engage in these negative behaviors.  Not wanting to disappoint their family, school and social groups and knowing the consequences of what will happen if they become involved is the number one reason why youth choose not to use. So when interacting with youth about these issues, be sure to be clear and consistent about the consequences for this behavior.  

 

Positive Recognition: Often we only acknowledge the negative things that teens do, and we do not spend enough time in families, schools and the community to recognize youth who are involved in positive and meaningful activities. Youth need to feel that they are indeed a resource to their family and community, and that they will be recognized positively when they do something good. Schools, parents and the community should take the time to recognize when a young person does something good  ̶  everything from helping with the laundry at home, to organizing a community service project. They will appreciate this and will continue to strive for positive recognition instead of the negative that often comes from being involved in alcohol and drug use.

New Trends in Teen Drug Abuse   
The good news: Recent national data show that illicit drug use among teens has declined by more than 23 percent over the past five years. The decrease is especially marked in younger teens, according to the latest survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Exceptions to the decrease are use of non-crack cocaine, which was up among 10th graders, and alcohol use, which remained stable. In addition, the latest trend in teen drug abuse is abuse of pharmaceuticals.

In Livingston County 25% of 12th graders and 21% of 10th graders report using marijuana in the past 30 days—compared to 19% and 15% nationally, respectively.  Thirty percent of 12th graders and 24% of 10th graders in Livingston County report using cigarettes in the past 30 days—compared to 25% and 16% nationally, respectively. Thirty-four percent of 12th graders in Livingston County report binge drinking (5 or more drinks in one sitting within the past 2 weeks) compared to 29% nationally.  In addition 55% of 12th graders and 43% of 10th graders report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days—compared to 48% and 35% nationally, respectively.

Drugs Commonly Used by Teens                                                                  

Alcohol. Alcohol is the number one drug problem among adolescents even though it is illegal for persons under 21 to purchase or drink it. Alcohol is associated with all the leading causes of death among teenagers, including traffic accidents, homicides and suicides, and is a factor in unprotected sex resulting in unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS.

Tobacco. It is also illegal for businesses to sell cigarettes to minors under age 18. Each day, however, over 2,000 adolescents become regular, daily smokers and about half of these kids will eventually die from a tobacco-related illness, including respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

Marijuana (Pot, Hash, Weed or Grass). Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. Smoking marijuana produces a "high" feeling of well-being, relaxation and enhanced sensory perceptions. Short-term effects also include increased heart rate, impaired memory and paranoia or hallucinations. Among the long-term effects of smoking pot are an increased risk of cancer of the lungs and respiratory tract.

Ecstasy or MDMA (Adam, XTC, Hug, Beans or Drug). MDMA; better known as Ecstasy, is a synthetic drug that is usually produced in tablet form and taken orally. The drug is frequently used at all-night parties, or "raves," and produces a sense of intense well-being. Ecstasy interferes with memory and learning and may alter brain chemistry and structure. It also increases heart rate and blood pressure, and can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature, potentially leading to a sharp increase in body temperature that causes liver, kidney and cardiovascular system failure and death. Even short-term use can cause heart attacks.

Methamphetamine (Speed, Crank, Meth, Crystal Meth, Glass or Ice). Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that produces increased alertness and elation, and can be swallowed, smoked, snorted or injected. Among its side effects are increased heart rate and blood pressure, decreased appetite, anxiety, paranoia and violent behavior. It also can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes. It is highly addictive.

Prescription Drugs
Teens may obtain prescription drugs from friends, by raiding their parent's medicine cabinets, misusing their own prescriptions or ordering prescriptions from Internet pharmacies. The following are prescription medications frequently abused by teens:

Vicodin and OxyContin. These are pain relievers that contain hydrocodone and oxycodone, respectively, and like other narcotics, cause a pleasurable, dreamy feeling. They also can produce drowsiness and breathing difficulties. Chronic use results in addiction, but one large dose could be lethal.

Dexedrine and Ritalin. These are stimulants that contain dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate, respectively. These medications are prescribed to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, as well as narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. Abuse of these drugs can result in irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperatures or the potential for cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures.

  

Dextromethorphan (Dex, Robo, Skittels, Syrup, Triple-C or Tussin). Some teens are abusing dextromethorphan (abbreviated DXM), the active ingredient found in many legal nonprescription cough medicines, which is safe and effective when used according to label directions. When abused in large amounts much higher than recommended, however, DXM can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and rapid heart rate. DXM abusers can experience mild distortions of color and sound, visual hallucinations and "out-of-body" sensations and loss of motor control. DXM is also sometimes abused with other drugs or alcohol, which can increase the dangerous physiological effects. A number of Web sites promote the abuse of DXM. The information on these sites ranges from recommending how much to take, suggesting other drugs to combine with DXM, instructing how to extract DXM from cough medicines and even selling a powder form of DXM for snorting. Parents should monitor their teens' Web use for these types of pro-drug-abuse sites.

Other Drugs                                                                                                                                              
Inhalants. Inhalants are chemical vapors that are inhaled ("huffed" or "sniffed") to achieve quick intoxication. Teens often inhale these vapors from household substances, such as paint thinner, nail polish remover, glue, aerosols, butane and CD cleaners, which are cheap and easy to obtain. Inhalants slow the body's function and eventually can cause users to lose consciousness. High concentrations can cause death from suffocation. Regular abuse seriously harms vital organs, including the brain, heart, kidneys and liver.

WARNING SIGNS: It’s not always easy to tell when teens are using drugs, because many signs or symptoms are common for youth this age. While there is no single warning sign for drug or alcohol use, some signs to look for include:

¨ Skipping classes or not doing well in school

¨ Unusual odors on their clothes or in their room

¨ Hostility or lack of cooperation

¨ Physical changes (red eyes, runny nose)

¨ Borrowing money often, or suddenly having extra cash

¨ Lack of interest in activities

¨ Significant mood changes

¨ Loss of interest in personal appearance

¨ Change in friends

¨ Heightened secrecy about actions or possessions                                                                                                                                  

PREVENTION                                                                                                                                                     
The number one reason kids choose not to use drugs or alcohol is because they don’t want to disappoint their parents.  So…What Can YOU Do?

ü Remember The Power of Parents: Teenagers still listen to their parents more than anybody else.

ü Provide clear  and consistent rules and consequences

ü Spend time together as a family

ü Know your child’s whereabouts at all times – make sure their social environment is alcohol and drug free

ü Get to know your child’s friends and their parents

ü Don’t be afraid to ask questions and search your child’s room and belongings if you suspect that your child is using drugs/alcohol or is involved in other risky behaviors

ü Be proud of them and praise them when they do something good

ü Let them know that you disapprove of  and will not tolerate underage  use of alcohol and tobacco and any use of illegal drugs

   Useful Web sites:

www.family.samhsa.gov

www.theantidrug.com

www.nida.nih.gov

 

How to Raise Healthy, Drug-Free Teens   

Parents are sometimes surprised to find they have as many questions about raising teens as they had when they were raising toddlers. Some of the hardest questions concern teens' risk-taking behavior — using drugs, for example. Below, teen health experts respond to common questions about teen drug abuse and what parents can do to raise healthy, drug-free teens.

 1. Is a certain amount of experimentation a natural part of adolescent development? How can I make my kids less likely to use drugs?

        Experimentation is certainly a part of growing up, but it is difficult to know which teens will experiment and quit and which teens will continue to use and develop serious problems with drugs. There are a number of factors that influence drug use, such as genetic predisposition, family behaviors, circle of friends and drug availability. Parents can play a big role, however, in helping teens avoid experimenting with drugs. For example, research suggests that children who share at least five meals per week with their parents are less likely to use drugs. Early awareness of behaviors that are risk factors for drug abuse should become part of every parent's preventive strategy for keeping kids drug-free. In preschool, behaviors such as aggression and poor social skills may be risk factors for later drug use and deserve special attention. In elementary school, aggression is also a warning sign, as is academic failure. Prevention should focus on improving academic performance and social and emotional awareness. In middle and high school, prevention should focus on increasing academic performance and social competence through good study habits, peer relationships and communication. In other words, nurturing your teens' strengths and helping them succeed academically and socially will help them avoid problem drug use.

— Eric T. Moolchan, MD: Clinical Investigator and Director, Teen Tobacco Addiction Research Clinic National Institute on Drug Abuse, National  Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD

 2.     I smoked pot when I was younger. How should I respond when my children ask me whether I have ever used drugs?

Be honest. Tell them why you did it, and why it was the wrong thing to do. You can tell them that you began smoking pot to "fit in," to feel accepted, but you soon learned about the negative consequences. Smoking pot can cause impaired memory, slowed reaction time and the inability to perform tasks that require concentration and coordination, such as driving a car. Make sure your children know that this means pot users are prone to accidents, and their grades generally go down, because it is hard to focus on work and to retain information. It also increases chances of developing cancer. According to some studies, smoking one joint is equivalent to smoking five tobacco cigarettes, in terms of exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

— Adelaide Robb, MD: Medical Director of the Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry Unit, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC

  3.     Is it okay if my child drinks alcohol at home?

There is a common misperception that it is okay for a child to drink alcohol at home. However, there is no data to support this, and I personally don't think it should be allowed, except for very small amounts during an occasional religious ceremony or for a celebration. Even in those circumstances, parents need to be present. Young children are especially vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. It can cause distorted vision, hearing and coordination and alter perceptions and emotions.  The way parents handle alcohol helps shape a child's attitude and behavior. As a parent, you can set a good example if you:

 ·  Always drive sober.
·  Use coping techniques--not alcohol--to deal with problems, stress or anger.
·  Demonstrate you can have fun and be social without alcohol.
·  Do not allow teens to attend parties where alcohol is served or there is no adult supervision.
·  Do not serve, or allow anyone to bring, alcohol to your teen's parties. (Parents are legally liable for minors' consumption of alcohol in their home.)
·  Talk with your children about alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.

— Charles Irwin, Jr., MD, FASM: Editor-In-Chief, Journal of Adolescent Health, Professor of Pediatrics, Director of the Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

Useful Web sites:

www.family.samhsa.gov

www.theantidrug.com

www.nida.nih.gov