Drug Abuse Prevention

Army Wages War Against Designer Drugs

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Drug Addiction on August 30th, 2011

The anti-drug regulations of the United States Army indicate the full-scale battle that the service is waging against designer drugs.

US ArmyAside from a ban on “spice,” or synthetic marijuana, the Army has also issued warnings against mephedrone, or “bath salts.” A similar ban as that against spice may soon be in place for bath salts.

Lt. Col. Shaun Bailey, chief of the drug testing branch of the United States Army, shared: “It’s an emerging drug of concern to us and we’ve already blasted out [the message] that commanders need to be aware of it.”

Army regulations have a blanket ban against any substance that may cause “excitement, intoxication, or stupefaction.” The revision, however, will explicitly ban synthetic cannabinoids, in very much the same way that heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines are banned for Army, Guard, and Reserve personnel.

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Santa Barbara D.A. and Sheriff Work Against Teen Substance Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse Prevention, Drug Addiction on August 27th, 2011

In their quest to help Santa Barbara High School students in the battle against substance abuse, District Attorney Joyce Dudley and County Sheriff Bill Brown have announced that they will be sharing the chairmanship of the upcoming Summit for Danny on October 29 in the hills of Montecito.

teen troublesThe Annual Summit for Danny Community Climb, which is now on its 11th year, is one of the many efforts that help raise funds to be used for drug and alcohol prevention and treatment programs for the youth of Santa Barbara.

DA Dudley and Sheriff Brown, who are also members of the Santa Barbara’s Fighting Back Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse Steering Committee, are the best persons to chair the event. They both know the present situation of kids in their area and they know exactly how to address the present difficulties.

Sheriff Brown said that “drug and alcohol abuse is so pervasive in our community…it is at the root of most of the crimes we prosecute. I understand the devastating effect that substance abuse has on individuals, families and the entire community. If we can put people on the road to recovery by giving them hope and a helping hand, we make our community a healthier, safer place.”

The Summit for Danny event raises funds by having families and other concerned citizens go through a hiking summit which will benefit the Daniel Bryant Youth and Family Center. The center caters to troubled teens aged 12 to 18 years old. It was founded by Bob Bryant, a local businessman who lost his son Danny to drug overdose. Since their humble beginnings 11 years ago, the center has helped families to overcome such problems so that Danny’s fate will not be repeated.

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Keeping Kids Drug-Free in School

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on August 24th, 2011

We will soon bid the summer farewell and kids will be going back to school. There will be more than 20 million American teenagers who will be facing another academic year with new hopes and expectations from their parents and school authorities. Unfortunately, school is also where kids face peer pressure to try on alcohol and drugs.

parent teen talkParents may take for granted such problems or they easily resign that they can’t do anything about these issues, but they have the greatest power to keep their kids safe. As guardians, parents should enforce clear measures to protect teens and should work with the schools to help students stay away from the pressure and challenges of drugs and alcohol abuse.

Before kids go back to school, parents should equip them with the proper information on the dangerous effects of alcohol and drugs in the body. Communication should always be open especially at home. No matter how busy parents and children may be throughout the day, it is important to spend quality time together.

Set up clear rules and regulations regarding alcohol and drugs issues. Parents should not allow kids to get away with experimenting on these substances and should be consistent in handling every case with corresponding penalties. This way, kids will know that the family is serious about these dangerous habits.

When in a discussion with kids, there are many resources which parents can site to keep the discussion going. Anti-drug campaigns on TV, news reports, and even previous school discussions are all useful tools to discourage kids from getting into compromising situations. When they do ask questions, parents should answer their kids as honestly and as factual as they could get. After all, their child’s welfare is at stake, and starting in the wrong way will never be of any help.

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Community Takes Initiative to Help Teens

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Drug Addiction, Raising Healthy Kids on August 19th, 2011

Parents and teens have a new ally in the fight against teen risk issues. The Dorchester District 2 community has formed the Community Parent Summit: Tools for Raising Successful Kids which is aimed in helping parents and school authorities in protecting kids from risks that endanger their growth and development.

teen troublesThe group is composed of 18 members — educators, parents, church representatives, and social workers. They will implement programs to help the district’s 23,000 students especially those living in poverty.

School District Superintendent Joe Pye, who himself is a member of the body, tells those who attended their summit that kids need attention from parents and they need to get involved in church activities. When kids fail to have these factors and the family is affected by the economic crisis, trouble will come.

There are many hindrances in raising successful teens. Problems continue to surround them such as substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and school suspensions and dropouts.

Louis Smith, one of the organizers of the summit, shares her thoughts about the Community Parent Summit. “We do have a lot of kids out there that need parenting . . . This committee may be the first of its kind in the state, maybe even in the United States.”

The summit will hold workshops for Summerville High School on November 12. The Department of Social Services and the Dorchester County Alcohol and Drug Commission will take charge of the program during the said event. This is the best time for parents to raise their concerns and to be updated with drug and alcohol issues.

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Parent-Child Communication Important to Fight Substance Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on August 17th, 2011

In dealing with teens’ alcohol and drugs issues, parents and adults concerned can get a lot of information from the experts and professionals who encounter these problems regularly. Many times, though, it would be helpful for parents to hear ideas and suggestions straight from teens on how to avoid becoming victims of substance abuse.

parent teen talkA key factor in a teen’s decision to get involved with drugs or alcohol is peer pressure. It is therefore vital for teens to choose their friends who will lead them to the right direction. Teens spend a lot of time with friends and they will likely become influences to him. It would be best for parents to know their child’s friends and to meet them. Parents also need to listen to their kids when they talk about their friends.

To keep a teen’s mind off drugs and alcohol, it’s best to be busy most of the time. Teens should learn to participate in school activities, get involved in community projects, or join clubs and organizations which are geared towards self-development and appreciation. Parents must discuss with their children the healthy activities they are interested with, and support the choice of activities their children make.

Remember that as much as possible, parents and children should work together to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In the end, parents will carry the greater responsibility in making sure that kids are on the right track at all times.

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Why Self-Medicating Is Dangerous

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Drug Addiction on August 16th, 2011

Today’s environment can be considered as one of the most stressful ever encountered by Americans. With the economic crisis and other national issues, people’s lives are greatly affected and stress becomes a heavy toll that breaks people down.

stressDid you know that the inability to deal with the stress could lead to psychological and emotional disorders that could drive a person to get into drug and alcohol abuse?  In a study done by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Canada, they found out that people who have anxiety disorder and are heavily stressed turn to one particularly dangerous habit: self-medication.

In the data collected from 34,653 US residents, 13% of the population made alcohol as their escape to a stressful life. A number of the participants self-medicated with drugs and alcohol, and in the long-run, they become addicted to these substances without even realizing their situation.

Dr. James Bolton who led the study from the University of Manitoba says that most people have the notion that self-medicating works. “What people do not realize is that this quick-fix method actually makes things worse in the long term. Serious consequences can develop very quickly. People can develop alcoholism and anxiety disorders within just three years, and these are illnesses that can have a devastating impact on a person’s health, their relationships, and their financial situation.”

Dealing with stress and anxiety is never easy, but it’s time for most people to understand that self-medicating isn’t an option. Contrary to what others say about drugs and alcohol being a help in their situation, these substances could only worsen their condition.

The best solution for stress, whether you’re a teen or an adult, is to seek help from professionals or counselors. Exercising and spending time with family and friends are also good ways to relax.

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