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.