Drug Addiction

Parents Warned on Rise of Teen Heroin Use

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Drug Addiction on January 18th, 2012

School authorities from the Carl Sandburg High School know how important the role of parents is in the fight against teen drug abuse. This is why, in the midst of recent reports that heroin use is up among teens, district administrators sent letters to parents to warn them of the situation and to seek their help and cooperation in keeping kids safe.

heroinDebbie Boniface, principal at Sandburg High, says that teens don’t usually listen to warnings. Enlisting the help of parents is very important in their fight against drug abuse.

“It’s very important for parents, community members and kids to know that the point is not to get someone in trouble, but to get them help and support,” the principal said. “This is about making healthy and appropriate choices, and whatever we can do to ensure that is important.”

The letter, which was sent by Superintendent James Gay, appealed to parents to talk to their kids about drug abuse. Also contained in the letter are useful information sites and which could help parents with the task.

A part of the letter reads:  “…disturbing stories about dangerous and sometimes deadly behavior in which teens in the south suburbs have been engaging. News reports include underage drinking and law enforcement concerns over the increase in availability of drugs, particularly heroin.”

Boniface added that breaks in school can be factor in promoting dangerous habits of students. It possible for kids to take advantage of these periods when nobody in authority is around them. Even during long school breaks, kids often succumb to drug-related activities.

“When kids are away from school for a while, their guard is let down,” she said. “They don’t have to be somewhere the next day, don’t have to get homework done. Sometimes bad things happen.”

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Free Workshop on Teen Substance Abuse for Parents

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Drug Addiction on January 12th, 2012

A free workshop open to all parents and concerned citizens will be held at the Hanover-Adams County area on February 1, 6 to 8 pm at the New Oxford High School.

teen drug abuseThe event was originally scheduled last December 6, but an unfortunate turn of events took place the day before the workshop which prompted the organizers to move the event this February.

According to Jennifer Weigle, a guidance intern and Student Assistance Program counselor for the school, it was on the 5th of December last year that five teens from the New Oxford High School were killed in a car crash, which is why the event was immediately rescheduled.

The workshop will keep its original format on preventing and identifying teen drug and alcohol abuse which will be very valuable for parents in the area.

A local detective will be talking to parents on how to detect teen drug abuse as well as of the latest trends in drug and alcohol abuse among the youth. Resource speakers will also be at hand to give tips on how parents can talk to their children about drugs and alcohol as these are important steps to ensure kids remain safe and healthy.

Weigle said that there is a need for parents to be correctly informed about drugs and alcohol use or abuse. “To me, knowledge is power. And even if you think your child isn’t using and their friends aren’t using, just to have the information and be aware can be very helpful to parents and students. We want to reach parents before there’s a problem.”

The workshop will be open to all parents from Hanover and Adams County areas and they will be assisted by child care if they bring along kids 14 years old and younger. Snacks will also be served during the event.

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Teen Marijuana Use Up, Teen Cigarette and Alcohol Use Down

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Marijuana Use and Abuse, Tobacco Abuse on December 27th, 2011

In a latest survey conducted among teens in the United States, it has been noted that while tobacco and alcohol use declined among the youth, marijuana use increased.

marijuanaDr. Nora Volkow, who heads the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said that the decline in tobacco use among teens is welcome news. Yet the rate of its decline goes slower and slower over the years, and this could still be a concern for everybody. “This highlights the urgency of maintaining strong prevention efforts against teen smoking and of targeting other tobacco products,” Volkow said.

Survey results also confirmed that marijuana use among high school students has reached 25% in the past year compared to about 21% in 2007. The most troubling reality uncovered by the survey is the fact that daily marijuana use among senior high school students is at 7%. This percentage is by far the highest since 1981.

The rise in marijuana use could be due to the fact that mortality rates linked to marijuana use is by far much lower than reported tobacco fatalities. Smoking marijuana is perceived as much safer than cigarettes therefore more individuals are getting into the habit of pot smoking instead of cigarettes. What teens might be disregarding is that daily marijuana use leads to addiction which in turn could mean more serious conditions.

Alcohol use among teens is also on the decline. Reports regarding fatal cases on driving under the influence, higher risks for addiction and overdose, and violent reactions related to alcohol use have discouraged teens from alcohol abuse.

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Program Helps Fight Substance Abuse Among African-American Teens

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction, Raising Healthy Kids on December 20th, 2011

A new program has shown signs of helping in making a difference on alcohol and drug abuse issues, as well as on behavioral problems, among African-American teens.

drug abuseStudy author Gene Brody said that after two years of offering the program to parents and their kids, a new study conducted on participants showed that there has been a decrease in the number of drugs and alcohol abuse and in behavioral problems in the targeted population.

“During the high school years is when kids often begin to use drugs and escalate their use of drugs, so it’s really an important time to introduce some prevention programs,” Brody said.

The program is specifically designed for African-American families. Parents and kids are given the opportunity to attend sessions on improving academic performance, resisting peer pressure, dealing with discrimination or racism, and effectively implementing household rules.

As African-American kids aged 16 and their parents go through the program, which consists of five two-hour sessions, they are supported and assisted by caregivers who provide them with tips on good parenting practices and setting rules on alcohol and drug abuse. Teens are taught about self-control and are guided to achieve improved academic standings.

The participants came from rural areas. While it may be true that kids in rural areas have lower drug and alcohol abuse cases compared to their urban counterparts, recent studies have shown that risks are increasing.

Brody confirms that their program is warmly received by their target population. “There was great excitement around the program. These parents realize, there’s not a lot of opportunity to help them or to help their youth develop in a way that’s going to put them on a path to success.”

He is hopeful, despite some financial obstacles encountered, that they could share the program to more parents and kids in other key areas.

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RASE Project: Helping Addicts Recover from Substance Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction, Drug Rehabilitation on December 19th, 2011

Recovery, Advocacy, Service and Empowerment (RASE) has once again opened its doors to individuals who want to seek help and treatment for substance abuse.

drug abuse recoveryRASE started its operation in May 2001 when a group of treatment professionals as well as those in recovery for substance abuse started it in Pennsylvania for the benefit of those who are in need of the services they provide.

Executive director Denise Holden, who was once herself an addict but successfully overcame her challenges, said that RASE serves as an outlet for people who have the same experience as hers to help out in the community.

“When people get clean they disappear into anonymous recovery communities to protect themselves from the stigma,” she said. Through RASE, fully recovered victims will be given the opportunity to make a difference by volunteering to help others.

At present, RASE has established recovery centers for women in Cumberland and Dauphin counties; addiction treatment care facility for adults in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Perry, and Lebanon counties; and support centers and services at Lancaster and Dauphin counties.

The organization has also provided professional training and information dissemination and educational services throughout the areas they have covered. They also hold events that address the problem of substance abuse with ready resource speakers. Assessment and referrals as well as family interventions are also being done.

Funding is important for any organization, but RASE founders say, their advocacy will continue even if financial support is limited or completely runs out. The fact that they are able to save a lot of lives that might have been otherwise wasted by substance abuse is enough for volunteers and other members to continue each and every day of their operation.

For those interested to help and share, you may contact RASE Project at 717-232-8535 or visit www.raseproject.org.

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Rehabilitation Facility Adds Specialists for the Holiday Season

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction on December 16th, 2011

During the holiday season, the pressure to party and celebrate is at a high, driving more and more people to alcohol and drug abuse. This is the reason why facilities, such as the Narconon Freedom Center, recruit additional specialists to deal with the increase in number of patients needing intervention.

partyFrom Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, people can’t seem to say no to parties and events which make it almost impossible for individuals with pre-existing drug and alcohol problems not to succumb to their cravings. This is why families of the affected persons turn to rehab facilities to ensure that their troubled loved ones will have a safe and drug-free place to stay for the holidays.

Executive Director for the Narconon Freedom Center Brian Kuehne says that most families refuse to acknowledge any drug or alcohol problem so as to avoid spoiling the season for everybody. “Yet they secretly dread the ringing of the phone fearing it will be the police with bad and possibly fatal news about their child or loved one,” he adds.

It has been noted that while addiction in any other normal season is already hard for victims to overcome, the difficulty increases as the holiday season ushers in a time for celebrations. If nothing is done to curb the habit of an addicted family member, it could lead to fatal situations and complicated conditions not only for the addict but as well as for his family members.

This predicament is best addressed by the intervention of drug abuse specialists which rehab facilities have pumped up in numbers to cater to new and old addiction cases that they handle.

While it may not sound so appropriate this time of the year, Kuehne tells families that one of the best gifts they can give to their loved ones dealing with substance abuse addictions is intervention to start the steps towards a healthier and happier life of substance abuse victims.

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