Drug Addiction

Parents Warned Regarding Abuse of Bath Salts

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on February 22nd, 2012

The fact that those who are behind the illicit drug trade is being very innovative in coming up with substances for people to abuse, as well as in circumventing the law, is raising concerns, especially among parents.

bath saltsOne of the substances that parents should be concerned about is “bath salts” – described as off-white crystals that are sold in small bottles or foil packets.  These are available in convenience stores and dance clubs across the country, and may be sold under such brand names as Red Dove, Purple, Cloud Nine, Lunar Wave, or Pure Ivory. Its packaging indicates that the substance is “not for human consumption” – but those “in the know” smoke, snort, or shoot it, in order to get high.

The U.S. Poison Control Centers received more than three thousand calls for help associated with the abuse of these so-called “bath salts” in the first half of 2011. The substance has been associated with extremely high fevers that can lead to organ breakdown and death; suicide; homicide; and a psychotic state that can only be remedied by a general anesthetic, or with the use of powerful anti-psychotic drugs.

Bobby Wiggins, a drug education specialist for Narconon International, gave the following advice for parents: “Parents should sit down with their teens and young adults and give them the straight story on this deadly drug. They could be saving the life of their own child or one of child’s friends.”

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Teens Come Together for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse Prevention, Drug Addiction on February 20th, 2012

A group of teenagers have come together to spread awareness regarding alcohol abuse and drug abuse, and work towards their prevention.

teen drug abuseThe Stand Tall group at Dayton High School strives to make a positive impact in their community, in the same manner that other Stand Tall high school teams from Virginia City, Fernley, Silver Springs, and Yerington High Schools also aim to make a positive impact on their respective communities.

Among the activities organized by the DHS Stand Tall team are assemblies on tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse at Dayton Intermediate School, which they hold several times a year. The team generally organizes and implements school and community alcohol and drug abuse prevention education, through outreach campaigns as well as assemblies.

The DHS Stand Tall team also holds a Cans and Coats Drive every year during the winter months, in order to provide warm winter coats for people in the area. In November last year, the team was able to gather two full grocery carts of coats and canned food, after collecting in front of Smith’s. The food that they gathered was donated to the Dayton Food Pantry, while the coats were given away to those who needed them.

Another event organized by the team is a 5-K walk-run. Funds generated by the event go towards college scholarships for eligible Stand Tall members.

The DHS Stand Tall team meets every Thursday. Interested students are invited to join these meetings. They can also learn more about the group through their Facebook page.

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Is Your Teen Using Meth? Warning Signs to Look Out For

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on February 19th, 2012

There are substances aplenty that some teens abuse that one might wonder how to tell one from the other. Meth is among the substances that a number of teens are experimenting with, and here are warning signs that parents may want to look out for, courtesy of The Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

teen meth useIf your teen has just begun using meth, short-term use of this substance may lead to inability to sleep, nervous physical activity, and decreased appetite. Parents may notice that their teen remains extremely alert and energized, despite the fact that he or she had been up all night.

Meth is a stimulant, and one of its effects is increased heart rate. This may lead to the child appearing to be out of breath for no apparent reason. He or she may also look disheveled and unkempt, and may become increasingly secretive.

Depending on how the teen is using meth, there may be burns on the lips or fingers, for those who opt to smoke meth using a hot glass or metal pipe; the child may also experience nosebleeds, if he or she chooses to snort meth; and there may be track marks in the arms, for teens who choose to take meth intravenously.

Since meth affects the central nervous system, which can affect one’s mood, a meth user may be prone to wild mood swings, hostility, or abusive behavior. Deterioration in a teenager’s relationship with family and friends, as well as loss of interest in school and extra-curricular activities, may also serve as warning signs of meth use.

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Drug Use Among Valley Teens on the Rise

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on February 18th, 2012

Members of the Oswego community in Illinois gathered at Oswego East High School for the second annual forum on addiction in Kendall County, sponsored by the district. The gathering coincided with the 5th anniversary of a car crash involving teenagers – as well as drugs and alcohol.

teen drug abuseOswego Police Capt. Jeff Bregner said: “Five years ago, the community was hit with a horrible tragedy… eight kids piled into that car. Five of those kids didn’t get to come home.”

It was rather disheartening for the adults gathered that day, however, as they found out that a lot of kids have not quite learned the lessons that they hoped would be taught by the accident. On the contrary, the number of drug and alcohol incidents at Oswego schools increased 400 percent in the last year, according to school resource officers Brian Nehring of Oswego High School and Justin Pan of Oswego East.

Nehring also shared having personally witnessed such an incident. Just hours prior to the forum, a student at Oswego East had been arrested for bringing alcohol to school. The student admitted that he took the alcohol from his parents, and shared it with his friends.

The forum featured presentations from Oswego School District Health Service Coordinator Jill Accardo, and local advocate Karen Dobner. Dobner has a personal experience with drug-related tragedy. Her son Max died after smoking synthetic marijuana, then driving his car at a speed of up to 100 mph. He crashed into a house in North Aurora.

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High School Dropouts Are More Likely to Use Drugs

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on February 17th, 2012

A study conducted by Joseph Gasper, Ph.D., a research associate at Westat in Rockville, Maryland, associated academic performance with drug use.

high school kidsThe study consisted of an analysis of data from 11,395 students, who were part of the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS). It sought to understand further how rates of dropping out of school are related to drug use. The study participants, who were from the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades, were examined for drug use, childhood adversity, and academic performance.

It was determined that student participants who did not perform well academically, engaged in disruptive and risky behavior, and smoked cigarettes while in the 8th grade were more likely to use illicit substances when they reach the 10th grade. In addition, all other risk factors aside, students who drop out of school were found to be 10 percent more likely to have used pot in the past month, when compared against those who stayed in school.

Those who do not finish high school, however, are not just at risk for drug use later in life, but are also at risk for other negative life consequences. This includes lower earnings, unemployment, incarceration, early pregnancy, public assistance reliance, and shorter life expectancy, among others.

Dr. Gasper shared: “For these reasons, it may be prudent for dropout prevention efforts to focus on early interventions in middle and even elementary school… Such interventions should be aimed at interrupting or preventing the downward cycle of maladaptation to failure that culminates in disengagement, problem behaviors, drug use, and eventually, dropping out.”

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Whitney Houston Found Dead in Hotel Room

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on February 12th, 2012

Eighties pop icon Whitney Houston was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday afternoon. She was 48 years old.

Whitney HoustonHer death was announced by publicist Kristen Foster. Lt. Mark Rosen of the Beverly Hills Police told KTLA News that responding paramedics had performed CPR on Ms. Houston, but she was pronounced dead at 4 p.m. Her cause of death was not yet revealed.

The singer was born Whitney Elizabeth Houston on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. Singing is in her genes; her mother, Cissy, was a gospel singer and backup singer who worked with such artists as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Dusty Springfield. She is the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin, and the cousin of Dione and Dee Dee Warwick.

By the time she was in high school, Whitney Houston was already singing backup for Chaka Khan and Lou Rawls. She also worked as a model, appearing in Seventeen and Glamour magazines.

At 19, she was spotted by Clive Davis at a showcase in Sweetwaters supper club in Manhattan. This led her debut album, simply entitled “Whitney Houston,” released in 1985. She rose to stardom soon after that first album, with her majestic voice. She gave the music industry such timeless hits as “The Greatest Love of All” and “Saving All My Love for You.”

Her success, however, was tarnished with drug abuse. Her death came hours before she was supposed to perform at Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy Awards party. There were reports that she had been behaving erratically on Thursday afternoon, and that she had been disruptive during rehearsals for the party.

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