Posts Tagged teen drug abuse

March Is Prescription Drug Awareness Month in San Ramon

Posted by Drug Free in Prescription Drug Abuse on March 17th, 2012

A non-profit organization initiated by a family from San Ramon is spearheading the drive against prescription drug abuse. The group National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse has chosen the month of March as “Prescription Drug Awareness Month.”

prescription drug abuseThe organization has already hosted events in several local areas and has joined other youth gatherings such as the Youth 2 Youth conference. More events are scheduled throughout the month to get the community involved especially those in the law enforcement and fire protection agencies.

Other initiatives from the San Ramon Valley and California high schools will also be launched in connection with this month’s celebration.There will be health presentations to be presented at the Monte Vista High School in late March that will surely be an eye-opener on the subject of prescription drug abuse.

The National Coalition Against Drug Abuse will also be organizing a special conference on March 26 dubbed as “Overdosed America” with speakers like Gwen Olsen, author of the book “Confessions of an RX Drug Pusher,” sharing thoughts on the subject.

There will also be a scheduled production of the play “(P)harming” originally written by a California High School senior that tells the story of a high school football player who got caught in the web of prescription drug abuse.

For Teen Esteem director Linda Turnbull who will join in the activities, prescription drug abuse especially among kids has reached alarming states. Celebrity cases like that of King of Pop Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston have certainly put the spotlight on the issue making more and more people aware of the existing problem and the fatal consequences that come with it.

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Tazewell County Teen Conference Promotes Making Good Decisions

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention on March 16th, 2012

The recently concluded Tazewell County Teen Conference was attended by about 600 junior high and high school students. During the event, kids were taught a very important lesson on good-decision making.

At the Performing Arts Center at Illinois Central College, presenter Steve Arends caught everybody’s attention. Steve is himself a victim of a crash that affected his brain.

Steve ArendsThe early part of the program focused on Steve’s accident that also killed his twin brother in 2003 at Ford County. After showing graphic images and real photos of the incident, Arends only had a short message for the audience. “You all have opportunities at your disposal now,” he said. “I just don’t want you to screw that up. If you use every opportunity and embrace it, you guys can really make a great thing out of your life.”

Steve is now a part of the Tazewell County program that aims to make students aware of the fatal consequences of driving under the influence as well as the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products.

Now on its 23rd year, event coordinator Sara Sparkman says they focus on immersing kids on workshops that help them practice their skills on decision-making. They also aim to help kids communicate well and promote the value of working as a team. “It started with grant funding from HIV-Aids and has developed into more of a leadership day. The topics are broad. But if we can help one kid, we’ve done good.”

The Tazewell County initiative is continually recruiting students to form part of the Tazewell County Youth Board wherein the members become responsible in planning workshops and activities for co-students from different schools in their area. They are also asked to take a pledge of keeping themselves safe and away from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

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Adopted Children’s Risk for Drug Abuse Linked to Biological Parents

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on March 9th, 2012

Researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University have found out that an adopted child’s risk for drug abuse is affected with their biological parent’s behavior towards the said problem.

teen drug abuseThe team of researchers focused on a Swedish study made on adopted children where family and genetic factors were considered in analyzing their vulnerability to drug abuse. Children given up for adoption by parents stricken with drug and alcohol abuse problems also increased their chances of going the same path in life.

The study that involved 18,115 adopted children in Sweden born between the years 1950 to 1993 and their biological and adoptive parents, found that there was a 4.2% prevalence of drug abuse compared to only 2.9% in the whole of Sweden for the same birth years.

It was also recorded that the risk for drug abuse for adoptive children given up by their biological parents, with at least one parent caught up in the web of drug addiction, was at 8.6%. This figure is significantly higher compared to those whose parents were never involved on drug issues wherein risks were placed at 4.2%.

The proponents of the study gathered and utilized data from national registries and health databases and drug abuse incidents from medical, legal, and pharmacy records to come up with the results presented in the study published in Online First by Archives of General Psychiatry.

Researchers confirmed that biological parents who have had encounters with not only drugs but also of alcohol, affected with major mental illnesses, and gained criminal convictions greatly influence the risks of drug abuse of the children they gave up for adoption.

Researchers also added that “the risk for drug abuse in adopted children is also increased by disruption in the adoptive parent-adopted child bond by death or divorce but also by a range of indices of a disturbed adoptive home environment and deviant peer influences such as parental alcoholism and sibling drug abuse, respectively.”

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Discussing Drug Trends Among Teenagers

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction on February 28th, 2012

A free public panel discussion was organized by the Ottawa Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition to address the growing problem of marijuana use in Northwest Ottawa County especially among teens. The discussion held at the Grand Haven 9 Theater was attended by about 60 parents and educators from Muskegon, Holland, and Tri-Cities.

synthetic marijuanaPanelists during the forum included police officials, school authorities, parents, and students that were all determined to help put a stop to drug abuse problems in their area. Sgt. Glenn Bo from the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety was joined by Deputy Sara Fillman of the Sheriff’s Office in Ottawa County, Cynthia Spielmaker from tha 20th Circuit Court/Juvenile Services, Karen Miedema of the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office, and some parents and students who volunteered to share their experiences with drug abuse.

Stephanie VanDerKooi from the Ottawa County Health Department said that kids today have easy access to dangerous drugs. From the latest survey made, they listed alcohol as the top choice of drug among high school students. Marijuana came in at second while synthetic marijuana (K2 or Spice) climbed at the third place. Completing the top five from the list are tobacco at fourth and prescription drugs at fifth place.

From the list of prescribed medications, Adderall, Ritalin, and Vicodin have been favored by citizens in Northwest Ottawa County.

“The big problem is, it’s (drugs) more potent than ever — but kids are looking at it like it’s no big deal,” Miedema said. “And it’s getting expensive — but, somehow, kids are getting the money.”

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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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