Blog Post #8 - November 25, 2009
Cocaine use among teens peaked during the 1980's when cocaine use in general was rampant. Although the usage statistics since then have decreased, cocaine continues to be a serious issue. It is a substance whose risk for addiction is much higher than that of the other, more commonly abused drugs of the teenage population, like marijuana or ecstasy. Teens may feel pressure to experiment with cocaine, but may not understand that they fall into the category of being most likely to fall into its dangers and associated risks of addiction.
Today, cocaine use in teens is pretty low relative to other drugs, including alcohol, marijuana, other opiates, stimulants, tranquilizers, hallucinogens, and sedatives. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2008, approximately 4.4% of high school seniors admitted to using cocaine in the last 30 days. However, a study done through the Harvard Medical School found that teens are more likely to become addicted to cocaine and to relapse than adults, due to their developing brains. Their increased vulnerability has to do with the frontal cortex in adolescent brains where reward pathways are more sensitive to feeling strong rewards that are difficult to later distinguish.
Cocaine use effects the central nervous system and absorption of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is responsible for pleasure and movement, and is released in the reward system of the brain. It is a major part of the high felt with cocaine consumption. Cocaine use among teens is most commonly snorted, rather than injected or smoked. The high from snorting powder cocaine typically lasts for 15 to 30 minutes.
Despite the high risk of addiction, teens continue to seek the euphoric effects of a cocaine high. The mental clarity, hyperstimulation, and reduced fatigue that accompany that high are enticing to anyone, however, what many do not consider are the potential for negative effects, such as feelings of anxiety, restlessness, and irritability. Additionally, snorting cocaine over a prolonged period can seriously damage the mucous membrane in the nose and even cause the nasal septum to collapse.
In 2008, the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 7.2% of high school seniors reported having ever used cocaine. Regardless of this statistic being dramatically lower than alcohol or marijuana use, cocaine abuse is much more serious because of the heightened risk of addiction. Because the teen years are a period of experimentation when young people begin to emancipate themselves from parents and enter the party scene, this introduces dangerous substances into their lives. It is crucially important to educate young people not only that drugs are bad, but about their long term ramifications and their impact of addiction.
Sources:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/dcf/du.htm
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/coke/l/blnida02.htm
http://teenadvice.about.com/od/drugsalcohol/tp/cocaine_facts.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421133021.htm
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Alcoholic Parents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfUkYXHiB88
Here is a video about the effects having an alcoholc parent has on a child. While this blog is about teens and substance abuse, children obviously turn into teens and the effects become more pronounced.
Here is a video about the effects having an alcoholc parent has on a child. While this blog is about teens and substance abuse, children obviously turn into teens and the effects become more pronounced.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Ecstasy
Blog #7 - November 4, 2009
Ecstasy, or MDMA (scientifically), is most famously known as the drug of choice at clubs or raves. Its effect of lowering inhibitions and causing users to get touchy-feely also gives it nicknames like the "love drug" or "hug drug." Young people turn to drugs, like ecstasy, to escape reality, as well as to fit in with their peers. Unfortunately, teens do not take the time, or perhaps have the maturity, to consider the repercussions of ecstasy, such as health and social concerns.
The accessibility factor with ecstasy is one of the major dangers. The Partnership for a Drug Free America found that approximately 22% of 7th through 12th graders find the drug easily obtainable. Although it may be within reach of almost one in four teens, what many do not realize is the purity of the pills they are buying could be extremely questionable. Ecstasy is a man-made substance in which other chemicals or drugs may be used to cut or lace the product. These other substances include amphetamines, caffeine, dextromethorphan (found in cough syrups), PCP, cocaine, or baby formula. Users have no way of knowing exactly what is going into their system and what potentially fatal drug interactions could occur.
While ecstasy is not a physically addictive drug, like methamphetamine or heroin, it can become psychologically addictive where users believe they need it to fit in or feel good about themselves. Ecstasy is similar to crack cocaine in the way that users will continue to use in the hopes of attaining a high like the one reached their first time using. The first high can be incredibly intense, but will never be repeated. Continued use or experimentation of ecstasy can have a negative effect on how the brain produces serotonin. This is particularly serious for young people because it regulates mood, memory, and learning.
The fact that ecstasy is usually used in the rave setting introduces even more issues. The effects of the drug allow users the stamina and desire to dance for hours in hot and crowded areas. The body temperature of the user can rise as high as 108 degrees, causing damage to internal organs. Additionally, dehydration can occur and some users end up drinking an extreme amount of water, even resulting in death.
Ecstasy, or MDMA, is within arm's reach to a great portion of teens today. The hard partying atmosphere is dangerous enough, but introducing a drug that lowers inhibitions and enhances sexuality is even more concerning. Aside from the potential damage to the brain and organs, teens may put themselves at risk for STDs or unwanted pregnancy. At a point in life when young people are still learning about themselves, how to make decisions, and how to be productive members of society, drugs like ecstasy only set roadblocks.
Sources:
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/ade10226.page
http://www.sexetc.org/story/drugs/2110/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_xtc1.php
Monday, November 23, 2009
Inhalants
Blog #6 - November 2, 2009
Inhalant abuse among teens is an alarming trend. "Huffing" or "sniffing" is becoming a more popular way for young people to achieve a high and escape reality. Teens use products including gasoline, glue, aerosol containers, whipped cream cans, cleaners, correctional fluid (Wite-Out), and spray paint. Sadly, few stop to consider exactly what is in these products and being introduced into their systems. Inhalant abuse is on the rise and poses serious health and safety risks to today's adolescent population.
Over 2 million teens will abuse inhalants at some point in their lives. In 2002, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health determined that approximately 2.6 million 12 to 17 year olds had used inhalants in the past. This finding was about half a million teens higher than two years prior. Compared to the 1990's teen drug abuse numbers are lower today, yet the teenage attitude toward inhalants is much more casual today. This is most likely due to the fact that the products that are inhaled are not illegal, but typically found in the average household or drug store.
The effects of inhalant abuse go far beyond the initial slurred speech, dizziness, or hallucinations one may experience within the first few minutes of their high. Some of the chemicals inhaled are absorbed and stored in the fatty tissues of the brain and central nervous system, one of which is myelin. Myelin is significant because it surrounds important neurons, which carry communication to and from the brain. Inhalants will initially slow down this communication, but long term can break down myelin. This effect is much like what multiple sclerosis patients experience, muscle spasms, tremors, and difficulty with walking, talking, or bending. Inhalant abuse also causes serious trauma and damage to the brain, including the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and ophthalmic nerve, the blood, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, muscle, and bone marrow.
Inhalants are more likely to be abused by younger teens because they can be found just about anywhere. Teens may feel like this is a "safer" method of drug use because the substances being used are not illegal. The Partnership for a Drug Free America did a study which found that teens who abuse inhalants are three times more likely to use other drugs as well. This information may cause one to consider that the areas of our anti-drug campaigns should not only focus on marijuana as a gateway drug, but that others are even more dangerous and easier to get a hold of.
Sources:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale2.php
http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/parenting/03/18/inhalant.abuse/index.html
http://www.inhalants.org/damage.htm
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Anabolic Steroids
Blog #5 - October 28, 2009
In the scheme of drug use among teens steroids may seem insignificant. While the problem is more prevalent among males, the number of females using anabolic steroids is rising. In 2008, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that only about 1.4% of 8th and 10th graders and 2.2% of 12th graders had ever tried steroids. However, the severity of the short and long term effects of these drugs, as well as the dangers associated with the access and actual use of the drugs is not understood by teens. Adolescents can be blinded by the few positive effects of the use of anabolic steroids, such as muscle growth and loss of body fat, yet fail to look beyond the potentially lethal consequences.
Although there are many different kinds of steroids, anabolic steroids are most commonly abused by teens because of their ability to increase muscle mass. Anabolic steroids are prescribed by doctors to adults for certain medical conditions, such as anemia or body wasting in AIDS patients, or men who may not be producing enough testosterone. Normally, anabolic steroids would absolutely never be prescribed to teens because of the serious long term effects that accompany these substances. Teen bodies are going through serious periods of growth and development. Introducing even more testosterone causes hormone imbalances, with effects including serious changes in mood, memory, and learning ability. Other long term effects include high blood pressure, blood clotting, increased LDL (bad cholesterol), decreased HDL (good cholesterol), liver cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and severe acne.
The short term effects of anabolic steroids are just as serious and possibly even more alarming. For boys, effects include shrinking testicles, difficult urination, infertility, impotence, breast development, and hair loss. Girls may experience excessive body and facial hair, male-pattern baldness, loss of body fat and breasts, changes in menstruation, and deepening voice. One of the most serious and well known effects of anabolic steroid use is "roid rage," which is the uncontrollable aggression and agitation caused by the drugs. Anabolic steroids have the capacity to cause severe depression in some users. One example of this is Chris Benoit, a pro-wrestler, who was under the influence of anabolic steroids when he killed his wife, son, and ultimately himself. Roid rage causes a loss of impulse control and causes the individual to seriously overreact to situations that normally would not provoke such a response.
The teen years are a period of significant changes for both males and females. They are constantly experiencing hormonal changes, which are only exacerbated with steroid use. They may face pressures from coaches, parents, and peers in sports where steroids may feel like a quick and easy fix to get a leg up on the competition. And they are also experiencing relationships where the effects of roid rage may be serious. The accessibility to substances like anabolic steroids is scary with the ease of the internet. It is crucial for teens today to be educated about the potentially fatal consequences of substances they do not understand. Anabolic steroids are different from other drugs because they are not as highly publicized as marijuana or cocaine. While statistically steroids may not seem as serious of a problem for today's youth, the short and long term effects are equally, if not more, alarming than the other drugs teens are taught to stay away from.
Sources:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/roid-rage-14-questions-and-answers
http://www.theantidrug.com/drug-information/commonly-abused-drugs/anabolic-steroids.aspx
In the scheme of drug use among teens steroids may seem insignificant. While the problem is more prevalent among males, the number of females using anabolic steroids is rising. In 2008, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that only about 1.4% of 8th and 10th graders and 2.2% of 12th graders had ever tried steroids. However, the severity of the short and long term effects of these drugs, as well as the dangers associated with the access and actual use of the drugs is not understood by teens. Adolescents can be blinded by the few positive effects of the use of anabolic steroids, such as muscle growth and loss of body fat, yet fail to look beyond the potentially lethal consequences.
Although there are many different kinds of steroids, anabolic steroids are most commonly abused by teens because of their ability to increase muscle mass. Anabolic steroids are prescribed by doctors to adults for certain medical conditions, such as anemia or body wasting in AIDS patients, or men who may not be producing enough testosterone. Normally, anabolic steroids would absolutely never be prescribed to teens because of the serious long term effects that accompany these substances. Teen bodies are going through serious periods of growth and development. Introducing even more testosterone causes hormone imbalances, with effects including serious changes in mood, memory, and learning ability. Other long term effects include high blood pressure, blood clotting, increased LDL (bad cholesterol), decreased HDL (good cholesterol), liver cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and severe acne.
The short term effects of anabolic steroids are just as serious and possibly even more alarming. For boys, effects include shrinking testicles, difficult urination, infertility, impotence, breast development, and hair loss. Girls may experience excessive body and facial hair, male-pattern baldness, loss of body fat and breasts, changes in menstruation, and deepening voice. One of the most serious and well known effects of anabolic steroid use is "roid rage," which is the uncontrollable aggression and agitation caused by the drugs. Anabolic steroids have the capacity to cause severe depression in some users. One example of this is Chris Benoit, a pro-wrestler, who was under the influence of anabolic steroids when he killed his wife, son, and ultimately himself. Roid rage causes a loss of impulse control and causes the individual to seriously overreact to situations that normally would not provoke such a response.
The teen years are a period of significant changes for both males and females. They are constantly experiencing hormonal changes, which are only exacerbated with steroid use. They may face pressures from coaches, parents, and peers in sports where steroids may feel like a quick and easy fix to get a leg up on the competition. And they are also experiencing relationships where the effects of roid rage may be serious. The accessibility to substances like anabolic steroids is scary with the ease of the internet. It is crucial for teens today to be educated about the potentially fatal consequences of substances they do not understand. Anabolic steroids are different from other drugs because they are not as highly publicized as marijuana or cocaine. While statistically steroids may not seem as serious of a problem for today's youth, the short and long term effects are equally, if not more, alarming than the other drugs teens are taught to stay away from.
Sources:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/roid-rage-14-questions-and-answers
http://www.theantidrug.com/drug-information/commonly-abused-drugs/anabolic-steroids.aspx
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Pharming
Blog Post #4 - October 19, 2009
One of the fastest growing trends among the teen drug culture is known as "pharming". Teens will hold Pharm parties where they each raid their home medicine cabinet and bring a variety of pills to share in a community bag or bowl. This collection of pills is known as "trail mix." The abuse of prescription drugs in the United States has seen rapid growth in the past decade among adults, but the severity of the problem among teens is different due to their personal sense of invincibility. The problem among adults is easier to write off because we believe they should be responsible for their own health and well-being. This issue will continue to grow as long as Americans continue their obsessive need to medicate for any ache, pain, or difficulty in their lives. The true issue lies in the fact that prescription drug abuse truly changes the face of drug addiction, the accessibility to the drugs, and how we attempt to take it on.
When one imagines a drug addict they would typically picture an individual who is strung out, unemployed, and having nothing going for them in life. Prescription drug abuse changes society's attitude toward those who abuse drugs because most people have been prescribed some sort of serious narcotic at some point in their lives, whether it painkillers, sleep-aids, or muscle relaxants. Teenagers are not immune to the need for prescriptions either. Vicodin for wisdom teeth or sports injuries and Ritalin or Adderall for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are as common today as taking Tylenol for a headache. Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that about 2.5 million teens took prescription drugs illegally in 2003, which was an increase of over 210% from 1992.
Accessibility is probably the greatest hurdle in the fight against prescription drug abuse. According to the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse, between 1992 and 2002 there was an increase of over 150% in prescriptions for controlled substances. Additionally, approximately 43% of these doctors who are writing these prescriptions are not asking patients about a history of prescription drug abuse, and 47% of them stated that their patients had pressured them into writing prescriptions. The American public, as well as doctors, have developed a casual attitude regarding the seriousness of prescription drugs, which results in these drugs falling into the hands of individuals who are not yet at an age to truly appreciate the weight of the issue.
It is more difficult to communicate the severity of prescription drug abuse to teens because they believe that these are medicines prescribed by respected physicians, rather than considering that these are actually serious narcotics prescribed to individuals other than themselves. Catherine Harnett, chief of demand reduction for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), stated, "If you start with pills, it seems fairly sanitary and legitimate. Kids have been lulled into believing that good medicine can be used recreationally." Internet pharmacies are yet another problem when trying to combat accessibility because teens are often more technologically savvy than their parents. Recently, the DEA has increased attention on black market pill mills and Internet sites that ship drugs without proper consultation.
According to a study by Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, "between 1992 and 2002, while the U.S. population grew 13 percent, the number of prescriptions filled for controlled drugs - those with an abuse risk, such as morphine - increased by 154 percent." Statistics like these represent how written prescriptions have completely gotten out of hand. The result of this is not only an increase in addiction, but the adoption of the attitude among young people that it is "normal" to constantly be under the influence of drugs. Adults are setting the example in the home that having a medicine cabinet stocked with Oxycontin, Vicodin, Adderall, or Ritalin that some sort of prescription drug is necessary to simply get through the day. Without adults (doctors, parents, teachers) taking the initiative to educate teens about the dangers and pitfalls of messing around with prescriptions, they are setting themselves up to see these teens end up as yet another statistic.
One of the fastest growing trends among the teen drug culture is known as "pharming". Teens will hold Pharm parties where they each raid their home medicine cabinet and bring a variety of pills to share in a community bag or bowl. This collection of pills is known as "trail mix." The abuse of prescription drugs in the United States has seen rapid growth in the past decade among adults, but the severity of the problem among teens is different due to their personal sense of invincibility. The problem among adults is easier to write off because we believe they should be responsible for their own health and well-being. This issue will continue to grow as long as Americans continue their obsessive need to medicate for any ache, pain, or difficulty in their lives. The true issue lies in the fact that prescription drug abuse truly changes the face of drug addiction, the accessibility to the drugs, and how we attempt to take it on.
When one imagines a drug addict they would typically picture an individual who is strung out, unemployed, and having nothing going for them in life. Prescription drug abuse changes society's attitude toward those who abuse drugs because most people have been prescribed some sort of serious narcotic at some point in their lives, whether it painkillers, sleep-aids, or muscle relaxants. Teenagers are not immune to the need for prescriptions either. Vicodin for wisdom teeth or sports injuries and Ritalin or Adderall for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are as common today as taking Tylenol for a headache. Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that about 2.5 million teens took prescription drugs illegally in 2003, which was an increase of over 210% from 1992.
Accessibility is probably the greatest hurdle in the fight against prescription drug abuse. According to the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse, between 1992 and 2002 there was an increase of over 150% in prescriptions for controlled substances. Additionally, approximately 43% of these doctors who are writing these prescriptions are not asking patients about a history of prescription drug abuse, and 47% of them stated that their patients had pressured them into writing prescriptions. The American public, as well as doctors, have developed a casual attitude regarding the seriousness of prescription drugs, which results in these drugs falling into the hands of individuals who are not yet at an age to truly appreciate the weight of the issue.
It is more difficult to communicate the severity of prescription drug abuse to teens because they believe that these are medicines prescribed by respected physicians, rather than considering that these are actually serious narcotics prescribed to individuals other than themselves. Catherine Harnett, chief of demand reduction for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), stated, "If you start with pills, it seems fairly sanitary and legitimate. Kids have been lulled into believing that good medicine can be used recreationally." Internet pharmacies are yet another problem when trying to combat accessibility because teens are often more technologically savvy than their parents. Recently, the DEA has increased attention on black market pill mills and Internet sites that ship drugs without proper consultation.
According to a study by Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, "between 1992 and 2002, while the U.S. population grew 13 percent, the number of prescriptions filled for controlled drugs - those with an abuse risk, such as morphine - increased by 154 percent." Statistics like these represent how written prescriptions have completely gotten out of hand. The result of this is not only an increase in addiction, but the adoption of the attitude among young people that it is "normal" to constantly be under the influence of drugs. Adults are setting the example in the home that having a medicine cabinet stocked with Oxycontin, Vicodin, Adderall, or Ritalin that some sort of prescription drug is necessary to simply get through the day. Without adults (doctors, parents, teachers) taking the initiative to educate teens about the dangers and pitfalls of messing around with prescriptions, they are setting themselves up to see these teens end up as yet another statistic.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
A Changing View on Marijuana
Blog #3 - September 28, 2009
The seriousness to which we treat the issue of marijuana varies from person to person. Some see marijuana use as harmless and support legalization, while others feel strongly the opposite and that it is as serious a drug as any other illegal substances, like cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. Regardless of individual opinions, it is important to acknowledge the significant change in the potency of marijuana in the last few decades. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the active ingredient in marijuana that effects potency. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), since the 1970's the level of THC in marijuana has increased by as much as 500%. It is important to examine what this change means in terms of health effects, addiction rates, and the likelihood of leading to other drug use due to the fact that other than alcohol, marijuana is the most popular drug teens experiment with.
A difficult fact to dispute for those in favor of legalizing marijuana is that the effects of the drug are different for everyone and there is no clear mathematical formula to determine the amount of time it takes for the drug to be metabolized and leave a person's system, as is the case with alcohol. The short term or immediate effects of marijuana use include distorted perception, loss of coordination, laziness, antisocial behavior, paranoia, trouble thinking or problem solving, and memory or learning difficulties. The US Department of Health and Human Services found that in 2002. approximately 120,000 people were admitted to emergency rooms as a result of marijuana related issues. This statistic was a 139% increase since 1995. Long terms effects of heavy use include having parts of the brain affected that control memory, attention, and learning. The NIDA reports that about 1 in 7 10th graders are current users of marijuana (meaning they have used in the last month) and that less than 1 in 5 12th graders are current users.
The seriousness to which we treat the issue of marijuana varies from person to person. Some see marijuana use as harmless and support legalization, while others feel strongly the opposite and that it is as serious a drug as any other illegal substances, like cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. Regardless of individual opinions, it is important to acknowledge the significant change in the potency of marijuana in the last few decades. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the active ingredient in marijuana that effects potency. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), since the 1970's the level of THC in marijuana has increased by as much as 500%. It is important to examine what this change means in terms of health effects, addiction rates, and the likelihood of leading to other drug use due to the fact that other than alcohol, marijuana is the most popular drug teens experiment with.
A difficult fact to dispute for those in favor of legalizing marijuana is that the effects of the drug are different for everyone and there is no clear mathematical formula to determine the amount of time it takes for the drug to be metabolized and leave a person's system, as is the case with alcohol. The short term or immediate effects of marijuana use include distorted perception, loss of coordination, laziness, antisocial behavior, paranoia, trouble thinking or problem solving, and memory or learning difficulties. The US Department of Health and Human Services found that in 2002. approximately 120,000 people were admitted to emergency rooms as a result of marijuana related issues. This statistic was a 139% increase since 1995. Long terms effects of heavy use include having parts of the brain affected that control memory, attention, and learning. The NIDA reports that about 1 in 7 10th graders are current users of marijuana (meaning they have used in the last month) and that less than 1 in 5 12th graders are current users.
Today, marijuana addiction is receiving much more attention compared to the feeling in previous years that marijuana was not an addictive substance. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported in 2007 that more people are entering rehabilitation centers for marijuana addiction than for primary addictions to heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Ambivalence regarding teens using marijuana is common where people feel that they could be doing a lot worse, yet the substance is responsible for damaging family relationships, school work, and other activities. The NIDA found that marijuana use by teenagers who have previous antisocial behavior can quickly lead to addiction.
The discussion of marijuana as a "Gateway" drug also stirs up its fair share of debate and controversy. The Gateway Theory is that people, in this case teens, start out experimenting with marijuana and then move into more serious drugs, like cocaine, heroin, or meth. On one side of the debate are groups like the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), who report that marijuana users are 85 times more likely than non-users to try cocaine. The other side then picks apart these reports as making great exaggerations, claiming that these statistics are based on a calculation that divides the proportion of marijuana users who have ever tried cocaine by the proportion of cocaine users who have never used marijuana.
Regardless of personal feelings regarding marijuana use, it is a fact that teens are curious about controlled substances. Marijuana is an easily accessible drug with arguably fewer, and less serious, side effects than other drugs, like heroin. The seriousness of the problem is how the potency has significantly changed, as have the rates of addiction. Marijuana is just one more issue for parents and society to worry about in the lives of today's youth.
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