Vodka Eyeballing

What exactly IS Vodka Eyeballing?

       Vodka Eyeballing is a new trend that started not too long ago. The name basically says it all: You pour vodka into your eyeball. People say that it gets them "drunker, quicker."

      Doctors have studied this theory and have come to the conclusion that alcohol isn't absorbed any quicker through the eye than if you were to pour it down your throat.

       As you can imagine, the pain of pouring is alcohol into your eye is very intense. Dr. Richard Rosen of New York Eye and Ear Infirmary said that "it's like using paint stripper on the surface of your eye." It is unhealthy in so many different ways. It can burn and scar the cornea and it makes your eye very vulnerable to infection. If done enough times, or if enough is poured into your eye, Vodka Eyeballing can lead to blindness.

                                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fYse1oIWV4

Molly, the "Pure" Ecstasy

      Molly. A name that sounds sweet and innocent, until you see it through the eyes of a drug abuser.

    Molly is known as a pure form of Ecstasy, because it is the same basic drug but without any other ingredients mixed in. This drug comes in a capsule filled with white powder, and is frequently mistaken for other drugs.

    Molly is unhealthy and unsafe in so many ways. It can cause the brain to artificially produce serotonin and dopamine, which alter consciousness, perception of surroundings and mood. It gives you a false sense of calm, lowered anxiety levels and a skewed view of the world around you. Molly can cause high blood pressure, sweating, insomnia, nausea andu uncontrollable teeth grinding.
   
  After taking Molly, the user faces a high risk of hyperthermia and hyponatremia, a lack of balance between water and sodium in the body. If this happens, it could lead to immediate death.
  
    So although "Molly" may look like an innocent little pill that makes you feel calm, it is a death trap in a pill.

Weight Loss Pills

                Every person is insecure. Whether it be our shape, size, hair color or age, there’s always something about ourselves that we wish we could change. One of the most common insecurities is about our weight. Many people feel as though they are too big and aren’t the “perfect size.” Exercise takes too much time and a lot of hard work, so a lot of people turn to diet pills.

                Weight loss pills are in reality, a drug. They can cause diarrhea, gas, oily discharge and worst of all, heart problems. Increased heart rate and high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks or strokes.

                What it really comes down to is perseverance. If you feel as though you NEED to lose weight, turn to the natural method: exercise and a healthy diet. Hard work, sweat, and determination is what it takes to shed the weight you despise, not popping a small little pill.

Adderall

Every student has had at least one moment where they think they aren’t going to make it. There aren’t enough hours in the day, they have no time to study, and the final is cumulative.  Some students just say “forget it” and don’t study. If they fail, they fail. But other students are turning to the popular drug Adderall, which is prescribed to people with ADHD.

The active ingredients in Adderall are synthetic substances that are created in a lab. It isn’t natural, and is made of stimulants such as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. These two drugs are related to methamphetamine, which IS illegal and is harmful.

Adderall, like most other prescription pills can be very addicting. This is especially true for people who haven’t been diagnosed with ADHD. This pill gives you an extreme sense of well-being, and can put you in a very focused state of mind, which makes people want to continue taking it. Regardless of these good feelings though, you can become dependent on it and without it you may not be able to function properly without it. Maybe it won’t harm your organs, but it does make you depend on it.

If an athlete can’t use steroids to be better than their competition, students shouldn’t use Adderall.

The Harmful Effects of Soda

Our grandparents, parents and teachers are always arguing with us about our soda intake. “The sugar will rot your teeth,” or “It will make you too hyper and you won’t be able to sleep” are common comments heard when children are trying to drink their favorite soft drink.

The truth? Soda is terrible for you.

First of all, it WILL destroy your teeth. There is acid used as a preservative in soda that will dissolve the enamel on your teeth. The more your teeth rot, the easier it will be for this acid to get to your gums which could cause multiple types of infections. Your teeth aren’t the only things that will suffer; your bones and kidneys are affected by the acid in soda as well. There is phosphoric acid in soda that can lead to kidney disease or failure.

We’ve all heard it before: “there’s so much sugar in soda!” but do we really know how much is in there? In a 12oz can of Mountain Dew, there are 47 grams of sugar! Around 15-20 minutes after drinking that 12oz can of Mountain Dew, your blood sugar will spike causing an insulin burst. Your liver will then respond by turning any of that sugar into fat. So not only is it a LOT of sugar, it adds a lot of fat.

The caffeine in soda isn’t healthy for you either. Sure, a lot of people depend on the caffeine in coffee every morning to function throughout the day, but coffee doesn’t have the same amount of caffeine as soda does. The amount of caffeine in soda can cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and vitamin and mineral depletion.

                So, next time you reach for the soda in the grocery store… think about all the health problems it could cause and head for the juice isle instead!

 

FUN FACT: The average soda drinking American drinks 56 GALLONS of “soft drink” a year!

Bath salts, The DANGEROUS and Newest Drug Fad

                                

                                   

                There are two types of bath salts. The type we are most familiar with are the water-soluble beads that we use in our bath water for a better bathing experience.  Many people thought this was the substance that was being abused, but it actually isn’t. The other type of bath salt is actually a slang term for a group of new drugs that are sold as tablets, capsules, or powder. Although they are two completely different things, the term “bath salts” is used so that drug dealers can skirt the law enforcement. The decision to use this name came about because they look like bath salts in the sense that they are white, granular or powdery.

                These “bath salts” are stimulants that mimic cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy. They can be taken orally, through inhalation, or by injection. Injecting bath salts can create a type of flesh eating virus, which after some time, will more than likely lead to death. Because of the ingredients they are composed of, these drugs are extremely addictive. Not only are they addictive, but they can trigger intense cravings for things you wouldn’t find appealing if you were sober. The craziest craving that we have heard of on the news is the intense desire for human flesh. Not only can this drug cause absurd cravings, it can cause paranoia, extremely high temperatures, increased heart rate, hallucinations and even death.   

                The hallucinations and cravings are what we’ve heard most about. People eating other people has been all over the news in the past few months, and many people saw this as some sort of big, zombie joke.  But it’s not; this is very serious and can cause a lot of damage to the consumers and people around them. The effects can last up to 8 hours, and there's no telling how much damage can be done within that time.  

                Bath salts are no joke. They can cause harm to not only you, but those around you. It is vital for parents and caregivers to help inform their children and teenagers of how fatal this drug can be. Get informed, and spread the word!

Hookah, the "safe" drug?

                                                                                   Hardly.                         

Hookah has a reputation for being the “safe” and “healthy” form of smoking. You don’t get high off of it like you do with marijuana, and you aren’t inhaling tar like you are with cigarettes. So it’s totally safe, right? WRONG.

Hookah is dangerous in so many ways. The actual hookah consists of a glass base, a metal pipe, a hose, a bowl and a mouth piece. Inside of it there is crude cut tobacco, nicotine, aluminum foil and smokeless coal. Sounds “safe” to inhale, right? Not even close. Inhaling ingredients such as smokeless coal and tobacco is very dangerous. Your mouth, throat and stomach could all suffer from such ingredients being inhaled.  Hookah can also sometimes have drugs such as weed or “marijuana” in them, which can cause various problems in certain people.

Let’s say you can look past all of the ingredients. Well then, we’ll focus on some other aspects.

      Hookahs are a social “drug.” People pass the hookah around and each take a “hit” off of the same mouth piece. Not only is this disgusting, it is completely unsanitary. Smoking also puts stress on your lungs, as does any form of smoking. Putting this much stress on your lungs makes them more susceptible to infections.

 

                         To sum it up in just a few words, this “safe” drug isn’t so safe after all.

“Which tobacco brand is increasing its cigarette sales among youngsters?”

            If you guessed Camel, you are correct. The use of Camel products has increased among teens ages 12-17 by 20% and 60% among young adults ages 18-25.Although Camel and Newport tobacco products have increased among these age groups, Marlboro is still the most popular.

             Although the use of Camel tobacco products has increased, overall cigarette use among teens has decreased.

            To decrease the use of Camel tobacco products the Food and Drug administration has advised a ban on menthol cigarettes, one of Camels most popular products. More than four in every five black teen smokers and over half of Hispanic teen’s smokers reportedly used menthol cigarettes.

            Camel has been known for its advertising tactics, from cleverly naming their cigarettes after perfume, so that women would be more apt to buy them to giving away free Chap Stick and purses.

            The government is taking a new approach to advertising in order to decrease the national smoking rate among teens and young adults. The government is now using explicit graphics of tobaccos devastating health consequences.

Reducing Underage Drinking

What Every Parent Can Do!

            Since Memorial Day weekend is approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to write and informational blog on what parents can do to prevent their child/children from drinking not only this weekend but also in the future.

            Underage Drinking prevention starts in the home. To begin with, make sure that your children know what you your expectations are regarding underage alcohol use. Secondly, refuse to serve alcohol to underage children in your home or on your property. Also, make sure that alcohol is not available at events that your children are attending, don’t be afraid to call the parents or the hosts of the party. Lastly, think about where alcohol is kept in your home; make sure it is out of reach of your children.

            Another simple way of reducing underage drinking is to be a role model and demonstrate what responsible and legal drinking looks like. Also create opportunities for your children to have friends in your home, this way you can monitor the activities that are taking place.

            Children are less likely to drink if their parents actively involved with their daily activities, if their parents support a positive lifestyle, and if the children feel a sense of responsibility to others, such as their parents, school, and sports.

           

Statistics

1. The median age at which children begin drinking is 15.7 years of age.
2. 48% of high school seniors say they consumed alcohol in the past 30 days.

Do you drink when you’re Angry?

          We all have our moments of feeling angry. How do you take out that anger? Do you go for a walk, meditate, take a nap, or succumb to alcohol? Research has proven a strong association between anger and drinking, especially for women.

          The psychologists at the University of North Caroline conducted a study using a group of thirty women, split into two groups. One group of women was purposely irritated, the other group remained relaxed. Both groups were asked to test an array of sodas and beers. The results showed that the women who were purposely irritated drank more beer then the group that remained relaxed.

          These results could be do to many reasons, one reason being that women are more likely to suppress their anger than men, leading them to find relief in a few glasses of wine or a couple of beers.

          In order to stop the habit of drinking due to anger, the first step is realizing that you are doing it. The next step is to learn how to control your anger and find healthier ways to cope with the anger such as exercise, write, or talking to a friend.

How to Be a Better Parent

As a parent actively preventing risky behavior lets your children know that you care. Parents have a powerful influence on the choices that their children make. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that teenagers who reported feeling close to their families were the least likely to engage in any risky behaviors. As parents you can teach your children to say no to drugs and risky social behavior.

Here are a few tips on how to become a better parent:

1.    Be a good listener: Ask them about their day, what their favorite type of music is , what their friends like to do after school.

2.    Steer talk to social problems: Don’t be afraid to discuss drugs, sex, drinking, and smoking. If you communicate with your child before they are faced with difficult decisions, they are more likely to make the right choices.

3.    Have weekly family meetings: Family meetings can be used to discuss accomplishments, complaints, projects, and any other topic of concern. During a family meeting every individual in attendance must get a chance to talk.

4. Get together with your children at set times: This will give each child personal time with you that they can count on. Try taking the long way home from school or even having a conversation while cleaning up after dinner or right before bedtime.

Joleene Speaks

        Joleene DesRosiers Moody commonly delivered local news to News 10 Now viewers. Moody radiated beauty and was always camera ready. Little did anyone know that behind all that beauty Moody kept a secret for two decades, she was battling bulimia. Her hopes were that by coming out with this lifelong secret that she could write and speak about her battle while helping others overcome their fears. Moody wrote two books called “Memoirs of Normalcy: Journey from Sedentary to Extraordinary” and “Twenty Six” which focuses on body image and the media. The over moral of her books is to tell an enriching story that will help others come to their own conclusions.

          Moody states that humans have two emotions: love and fear. Her goal is to teach people to ignore the fear and listen to themselves.” People aren’t so afraid of failure; they’re more afraid of blowing their own minds with what they can accomplish.” She wants individuals to go out and “Explore your world, love your life, and live with purpose.”

         

Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drugs

Prescription and over-the-counter medications are fast becoming the new “party” drugs for many teenagers. Nearly one in five teens has used narcotic pain relievers for nonmedical reasons. Teens are using prescription and over-the-counter drugs in order to get a high. Typically, parent’s medicine cabinets are the main source of these drugs for teens.

          There are warning signs that your child might be misusing these drugs , such as if they get in the habit of  using medicine that are not medically intended for them or if they are taking higher doses then prescribed.

When a child misuses these drugs it can cause dramatic increases in blood pressure and heart rate, organ damage, addiction, difficulty breathing, seizures, and possibly death.

Statistics

     1 in 5 teens have tried vicodin

     1 in 10 has tried OxyContin

     1 in 10 has used stimulants such as Ritalin and adderall for nonmedical purposes

     1 in 11 teens have admitted to getting high on cough medicine

Underage Drinking

          Underage drinking is commonly viewed as binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined at five standard drinks in a row for men and four for women.

The legal system assesses an individual’s drunkenness by measuring their BAC also known as their blood alcohol concentration. In most states a BAC of .10% is legally drunk, in other states a BAC of .08% is considered legally drunk. A BAC level of .40% or higher can cause death.

        Binge drinking can lead to extreme intoxication. Some simple signs of intoxication include slurred speech , weakened balance, loose  muscle tone, staggering walk, glossy appearance to eyes ,cool skin ,and most departmental a loss of consciousness.

        Binge drinking can have many consequences. Binge drinking can cause headaches, thirst, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and noise, blurry vision, shakiness, and exhaustion. If binge drinking gets to the point of an individual having alcohol poisoning it can cause that individual to go into respiratory arrest, a coma, or even death.

        Binge drinking can lead to long-term health consequences such as liver disease, heart disease and stroke, brain cell death, cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, breast, pancreas, liver, colon and rectum. Along with damage to eyes and skin, malnutrition and gastric illness, and sexual problems in men and women.

        There are also legal consequences to binge drinking, especially if you are underage. Some of these consequences include being held in a juvenile detention center and being put on probation. Underage drinkers can also lose their drivers license.

Binge drinking: Drowning in alcohol. Iowa Substance Abuse Information Center, DOI: www.intheknowzone.com/alcohol/disease/

Fake Marijuana

Herbal Incense: Fake Marijuana

Fake marijuana has several names including spice,G-four ,K2 , and Mojo.Fake marijuana is often laced with extremely harmful and illegal drugs , such as HU-210 an illegal cannabinoid.Unfortunatley , there is no way of knowing whether or not the fake marijuana is laced with these dangerous drugs or not.

            Often individuals think that fake marijuana is safer than the real thing, which is a myth. Fake marijuana is reported to increase anxiety, nausea, paranoia, discomfort, confusion, and a desire for the feeling to end. Both marijuana and fake marijuana have negative affects on short –term memory, motivation, reasoning ability, emotional stability, learning, and stamina. Not only does smoking fake marijuana have short term effects but it also has long term effects such as lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and narrowing of the blood vessels.

            Overall, fake marijuana is not always 100% herbal or natural, it’s not safe, and it’s not always legal. Do yourself and your body a favor and just say NO!

A Parents Guide to Facebook

A Parents Guide to Facebook

            Facebook is a social networking site used by more than 800 million active users.Facebook is not only  used by teens but it is also used by parents, businesses, organizations , and governments all over the world.Facebook is typically used to chat , share photos, post videos, play games, send invitations, and keep in contact with friends and family. Individuals use Facebook for several different reasons. Teens as well as adults use Facebook as an outlet for self-expression, a place for validation or emotional support, a source for discovering new interests, and general socialization.

            Teenagers are common users of Facebook; they are also the ones most at risk. Teens who engage in Facebook are at risk for online peer harassment or bullying.Facebook can also expose them to inappropriate content or put them at risk for ruining their reputation. In order to protect teens from the negative aspects of Facebook, it is important that parents get involved.

            It may sound overbearing, but the most effective way to protect your child from the risks of Facebook is to be their Facebook friend, this way you can monitor what is going on with their Facebook page. Be careful not to do anything that might create barriers between you and your child such as leaving embarrassing messages on their Facebook page.

            As a parent there are a few suggestions that you can tell your teen in order to make their Facebook page safer. Suggest that your teen set their settings to private, this way only people who are friends with them on Facebook can view their profile. Suggest to them to only accept friend requests from individuals that they personally know, not acquaintances or a friend of a friend. You can also suggest that they don’t share any personal information on Facebook such as their birthday, where they live, their age, or their place of employment.

            Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry. In the end you are doing yourself and your child a favor by discussing with them the dangers of Facebook and how they can protect themselves.

Collier, A., & Magid, L. (2012). A parents' guide to facebook.