While drug abuse can occur anywhere, among any group of people, different drugs tend to be more prevalent in certain circles. This makes sense because people often do the drugs that are easiest for them to get their hands on, or experiment with what friends or co-workers are using.

As odd as it may sound, it seems that even Wall Street professionals follow the crowd at times when it comes to drug abuse. A list of drug test data was recently compiled that showed trends among investors. While cocaine used to be high on the list of Wall Street users, it has dropped in popularity. Found in 16% of positive tests in 2007, in 2008 it was only found in 7% of positive tests. The drug of choice now, by far, is marijuana, coming in at 80% of positive tests. Amphetamines are also growing in popularity, up to 10% in 2008 from 3% a few years ago.

Wall Street is a place of fast-paced business, long hours, and grueling responsibilities. It might not surprise us to hear that even these kinds of professionals are sometimes taken over by substance abuse. For these men and women, it usually begins as a feeling of entitlement. They have huge paychecks and successful jobs, they endure hard work and stress; therefore they deserve to treat themselves to some drugs now and then. But the stress doesn’t end, and in fact it builds, and these business people go from occasional user to addict.

Ignoring a Drug Problem

The overall incidence of drug abuse for Wall Street professionals doesn’t seem to be that high, compared to national averages. In a country where 3.6% of the workforce tests positive for drugs, only 2% of the investment industry failed drug tests last year. This doesn’t necessarily mean these business people use drugs less than other workers. It simply means they are getting caught less often. Random drug tests are not as common on Wall Street as they are in many factory settings, for example. And given the power and money that Wall Street investors hold, some employers simply deny that their workers have a problem. If the employee is holding their own and staying productive, some employers will be careful not to cause a stir, even if it means looking the other way when they know an employee is using drugs.

Getting Help

The personality of many investment bankers may be prone to addiction. These are the risk-taking controllers who are under a great deal of pressure. But they are also the kind of people that will do their best to balance an addiction with a full time job. They are hard working, love to live a fast-paced life, and they don’t easily quit.

But it is necessary for even these people to get help for an addiction. There are many detox and rehab facilities that have programs specifically designed to help business men and women. Luxury rehab facilities are often able to whisk the person away, treat them, and get them back to their office in no time. It is important, however, for these professionals to dedicate enough time to recovery and that they continue to work at sobriety after they return.

Sources

Pot Soars on Wall Street, Real Estate Investors Just High All the Time

Wall Street Pee Tests Expose Startling New Drug Trend: Less Coke Snorting, More Pot-Smoking

Wall Street Drug Use: Employees Giving Up Cocaine for Pot and Pills

The latest debate in Washington regarding drug laws is that former law was too strict when it comes to crack and cocaine. Actually, the message coming across is that laws that were set up in the past unfairly punished African Americans for possessing drugs.

The dispute began in 1986, when lawmakers decided that crack was more dangerous than powdered cocaine. At that time, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act set mandatory minimum sentences for those in possession of drugs. Crack, the drug often to blame for street violence in inner city neighborhoods, was given a minimum sentence of five years for possessing five grams of the substance. Powder cocaine, on the other hand, was only assigned a mandatory five years once 500 grams were possessed.

Racial Accusations

Because crack, the less expensive form of cocaine, is often used by African American males, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 put more blacks than whites in prison, and gave them longer sentences for their crimes. But it seems like a stretch to say that this law unfairly targeted African Americans. Crack, at the time, was the more dangerous drug; it was more closely connected to street-trafficking and gang violence, and it wreaked havoc on inner city neighborhoods. It was also becoming readily accessible to youth. Instead of accusing the signers of the 1980’s law of being racially motivated, we should consider the benefits of the law. For instance, the 1986 law attempted to keep crack dealers out of neighborhoods that had been devastated by the drug, and many African American youth and families directly benefited from the absence of crack users near their homes.

However, not everyone sees the old law in this light. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs even went as far as to say that revisiting the old law “demonstrates the glaring nature of what these penalties had done to people and how unfair they were.” But is it too callous to say that those that were dealing and possessing crack (black, white, Latino, or otherwise) broke the law, and therefore were rightly punished?

Law Reform Debate

In order to make this law more just in the eyes of opponents, the White House reformed the laws and relaxed the penalty for crack possession. Now, a person doesn’t get the mandatory sentence until they possess 28 grams of crack. However, the Fair Sentencing Act, signed by President Obama on Tuesday, still allows for a disparity between crack and powder cocaine users, and is still being debated by many. Some argue that the punishment for crack is still too high and should be equal to that of powder cocaine. Some people still think that there are too many African Americans being locked up for drug dealing.

But others think mandatory minimum sentences in general are not helpful. Each case should be reviewed separately, and harsher punishments should be handed down to those that supply and deal the drugs. Most importantly, we need to look at the pros and cons of incarceration. Research has clearly shown that to stop the drug/prison cycle, you need to provide help and treatment for those convicted of drug abuse. Prison alone is not the answer. If someone is caught involved with a drug crime, punishment is most likely in order. But to get the person back into society someday, they need real treatment for their drug problem.

Sources

President Obama signs bill reducing gap in cocaine sentences

Race and the Drug Laws

A step toward racial fairness in cocaine penalties

Drug sentencing reform doesn’t go far enough

As treatment specialists, counselors, and educators, it is the job of many to keep an eye on substance abuse statistics. It is also important for teachers, law enforcement, government, and parents to follow and be aware of what teens are up to, and how their drug and alcohol use is increasing or decreasing. But we need to be careful that we do not put too much weight behind numbers and statistics. These can easily be manipulated, and can either frighten us or lure us into a false sense of security. A more accurate way to look at adolescent drug abuse would be to study 5 or 10 year trends, which will tell if the increase or decrease is likely to have significant meaning in the long run.

Monitoring the Future (MTF) is a survey that measures drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and the attitudes of teenagers toward these substances. MTF has given us data on our nation’s teens since 1975. The survey is funded by NIDA and is conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.

Positive Statistics

The results from the MTF survey from 2009 are in general very positive. According to the research, there were drops in tobacco, methamphetamine (from 2.3% to 1.6%), cocaine (from 4.4% to 3.4%), alcohol, and hallucinogen (from 5.9% to 4.7%) use among 8-12^th graders. It seems that adolescents’ attitudes towards substance abuse are also more encouraging. Teens now see certain drugs and alcohol as harmful, and do not believe these drugs are very available to students anymore. These trends have been positive in these areas for the past 5 years, as more and more students become more educated and aware of the risks for drug abuse.

These trends are great; they are exactly what we want to see among our young people. But we have to be careful not to get too relaxed and think we are doing a good enough job with drug prevention. We still need to educate more youth, and there are still plenty of kids that are abusing these substances that need our help.

Negative Statistics

On the other hand, marijuana is still being used just as often by students as five years ago, and teens don’t really even see marijuana as dangerous. Prescription drug abuse has been steadily increasing, as well as inhalant abuse. These two forms of drug abuse are the newest trend, and they are replacing the old ways of getting high. But again, if we focus too much on an increase in numbers of kids getting high with inhalants or prescription painkillers, we can trick ourselves into generalizing that all teens are doing these things, or at least are exposed to them. We need to empower our adolescents and let them know that they are not alone, that there are many other teens that have made the commitment to stay clean also.

With cautious optimism we should prepare our students for the world and its peer pressure. Educate them, teach them the risks, and warn them about statistical trends. But then encourage them and give them confidence because they can indeed be one of the many that do stay clean.

Sources

Teen Drug Abuse Continues Its Three-Year Decline

Statistics on Teen Drug Abuse

Youth Trends

SAMHSA

I am never surprised when modern science (aka Big Pharma) throws its hat into the addiction ring. Why wouldn’t the Billion dollar Pharmaceutical industry want to capitalize on the weakness of addicts and those who enable them? It wouldn’t be the first time.

I felt compelled to write about this topic after I read a headline a few days ago that literally made me laugh out loud. It simply read “Cocaine Vaccine Created”. Wow, what a dangerous headline to put out there into the media zeitgeist when there is nothing more deadly to addicts than just the notion that their addiction can be cured by a simple vaccine.

Now in fairness, I’m sure that the journalist who wrote this and the scientists working on the vaccine are thrilled by how sensational this news will be to all those individuals out there who are constantly looking for “the easier, softer way”; however, I can assure you that aside from the test subjects, the individuals writing these headlines and giving the injections are not addicts.

This is why we are in such bad shape people. Although the scientists involved probably make a reference to the need for some cursory psycho-social follow-up, they are leading with headlines that might as well read “Miracle Cure”. Addicts and their enablers want the easiest way out of the ditch and I can say for a fact that all of them stop reading after they read the words “Cocaine” and “Vaccine” in the same sentence.

For those of you not in the field of addiction or still drowning in denial, addicts will read that headline, increase their use based on an easy cure, if they don’t overdose they will find a prescription for it and ultimately abuse the vaccine…welcome to addiction 101. Again, we find ourselves struggling to undue what the most brilliant scientific minds have done. Let me be crystal clear, there is a place for the science, but the message sent through the media needs to be treated like a vile filled with the ebola virus. If big pharma and the media would like to know how to deliver their news in a way that won’t be damaging, call me directly and my team and I will walk you through the process. Until then, you are not part of the solution.

We are talking about a devastating disease that feeds on virtually everyone and got more powerful the moment headlines like ”Cocaine Vaccine Created” went to print. The disease is not in your head, it is your head! The addicted brain will not only take a headline like that and turn it into a perfectly good reason to abuse your family, sell the minivan and head to the hood for crack, but it will also devour this so called vaccine by adapting and actually changing its chemistry to work around this temporary pharmaceutical barrier.

Case and point…In initial trials, the experimental vaccine showed strong results – at least initially. But, as the medical news syndicate “HealthDay” reports, it lost its effectiveness after a few months. Thirty-eight percent of the study’s participants developed enough antibodies to curb their cocaine use, until their disease and their brain got on the same page. Think about it, while this vaccine made a dent in their cocaine use by binding to certain brain receptors and blocked the euphoria, it only took 2 months for their brain to eliminate the vaccine…amazing!

I could go on forever with this topic and spinoff into tangents about Anabuse and Suboxone but that’s just the point, we’ve seen this before. The point is this, it is careless for the media and those behind the science to haphazardly release information like this to the public. The vocabulary used to describe the science must change or people will continue to suffer. The word vaccine makes people think of how they got a shot and Polio became obsolete. Well I’ve got news for you, Polio is Spring Break next to addiction and unless people are properly and responsibly informed, these scientific miracles will continue to fail.

There is a way to do this properly and it involves new language, new messaging and a whole new presentation. Until that happens, these miracle cures will continue to fall short. The model is bio-psycho-social and the “vaccine” must be presented as a combination of all three. We better start working together to fight this disease as a united front or the journey will always be one step forward and two steps back.

-Jim Bevell

CEO TSN

561 577-3174

jimb@tsnemail.com

Sobriety is still a long, tough road, although some are trying hard to find a way around the struggles of quitting a drug. A new study done at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston looked at the benefits of a vaccine for cocaine users. What they found has many people excited about the future of treatment for drug addicts, but not everyone is convinced.

The study, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), looked at patients from a methadone maintenance program that were given a vaccine five times over a 12 week period. The vaccine was created to attach to cocaine molecules, causing the body to form antibodies and attack the cocaine before it entered the brain and caused a high.

The statistical results of the study really weren’t that outstanding – 38% of people given the vaccine decreased their cocaine use, but one fifth of those given the vaccine didn’t develop any anti-cocaine antibodies. However, the idea behind this study is drawing much interest from the substance abuse field, as people dream about a magic cure to take away substance abuse. Along with this study, the NIDA is putting additional money into other research that looks at vaccines as a solution to substance abuse.

There is No Quick Cure

The problem with vaccines like this one is that they are giving hope that there is a quick, painless way to end substance abuse. In the case of this cocaine vaccine, it does nothing to reduce cravings for cocaine addicts, meaning that if someone is not already highly motivated, it will not help at all.

When someone is working to get clean from drugs, they need to confront all the issues behind their drug abuse. A vaccine won’t fix their family life, or get them a better group of friends, or help them forget about their troubles. A vaccine can’t make them stop snorting or shooting up because they crave the drug and feel sick without it. All these take time to work through, and counseling, therapy, and support groups are all needed to get the person mentally and physically back on track. For many people, the long struggle and the fight they have to go through to achieve sobriety actually helps them avoid relapse. Coming through the hardship and making it through to be drug-free can make someone stronger on the other side, knowing what they accomplished. Without the fight, sobriety doesn’t mean as much.

It is nice to help people on their journey to sobriety, and maybe even things like this vaccine will be found useful someday, but before the world gets too excited over this magical fix, we should continue to improve our treatment techniques, especially behavior-based therapy, which has been proven to work.

Sources 

Cautious Hopes for a Cocaine Vaccine

Cocaine Vaccine Shows Promise for Treating Addiction

Vaccine may Help Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

Study: Cocaine Vaccine Could Help Addicts

It seems that DJ AM was battling demons of his own, according to the toxicology report after his death. The 36 year old DJ was found to have died from an accidental overdose only days after he finished filming an MTV drug intervention series.

DJ AM, Adam Goldstein, was found dead in his New York apartment on August 28^th, cocaine paraphernalia surrounding him, Oxycontin, Vicodin, cocaine, and a host of other prescription painkillers in his body. His death has been ruled an accidental overdose, although some sources believe it was suicide because of the vast number of pills in his system.

“So Far Gone”

Goldstein, a recovering drug addict, had been working on an MTV documentary series, “So Far Gone”, a drug intervention project. In the eight episode series, Goldstein offered help to drug abusers battling their addictions. With the aid of a drug treatment specialist, AM provided counseling and treatment to drug addicts.

But Goldstein had apparently been struggling with his own addiction again. He fought with depression and drug addiction in the 1990’s, but had been sober for 11 years, until recently. We don’t yet know what caused his relapse into addiction. Some would say that being around the drug abusing lifestyle while filming the series could have led him back into doing drugs. Most of the time, however, recovering addicts that reach out and help others actually end up helping themselves. Sharing their own personal story and seeing others going through the same struggles can actually help people on both sides.

Getting Treatment

Somehow AM got back into drugs, and reports say he was planning to enter treatment after filming, something that didn’t happen in time. This brings up the question: Shouldn’t we all feel some responsibility for those drug addicts around us? We can’t let someone that we know is helplessly addicted and a danger to themselves go about their business without us saying something. Goldstein wasn’t just dealing with friends and family during his last few weeks.  He was working closely with drug treatment professional. With all those addiction specialists around Goldstein, maybe someone should have seen how bad he was getting and gotten him help sooner.

The series was set to air October 5^th, but was put off because of AM’s death. Reports this week, however, say that MTV officials have been talking to Goldstein’s family about a new run date for the show. The hope is that, given the circumstances of the show, it will be an even more powerful tool in the fight against addiction. The seriousness of getting treatment for addicts will be emphasized even more by the airing of this series.

Sources 

AM’s Death Ruled Accidental Overdose

MTV to Air DJ AM’s Drug Intervention Series

DJ AM Drug Intervention Show to Air?

MTV to Air DJ AM’s Drug Intervention Reality Show

Friday brought the report of yet another tragic death of a talented individual, which appears to be drug related. I don’t want to jump to conclusions but the New York Times is reporting that he was found with a crack pipe, crack and prescription medication.

I could write a lot about this situation since it has become an all to common headline, however I would like to focus on one aspect of this particular set of circumstances. In one of the articles I read, it was mentioned that Adam Goldstein (DJ AM) had just finished filming 8 episodes of a highly anticipated series for a major network, in which he attempted to help kids and their families, struggling with drugs. I happen to know a little bit about this production because I was approached by the show’s producers to assist them in finding individuals to help, as well as assist them with finding treatment for the addicts who wanted help.

This is a role I’ve played countless times for the media and one I enjoy as long as everyone involved id focused on raising awareness and helping those without options. Nine times out of ten the experience is overwhelmingly positive; however, my experience with this particular production company was frustrating and sadly, not unusual. I found them to be largely uneducated about the disease itself and that always poses a problem for all those involved. I was basically asked to identify individuals in crisis and then asked to wait while the casting process was performed. I found this to be a hard pill to swallow for myself and my company. I found that the bulk of the decision making on everything from which subjects to pick for the show to where to place them in treatment was centered around production concerns, logistics and politics, rather than what was in the best interest of the individuals in crisis. I understand there are issues which have to be addressed during the production of a show of this nature, however I believe that this can be accomplished while keeping the subjects’ best interest in the forefront.

I found that the people I spoke with at the production company were largely ignorant to the nuances of the disease, recovery process they were attempting to portray and the proper sequence of events that takes someone from crisis to solution. I realize that sacrifices are made when creating entertainment from crisis, however, I have to ask myself if those directly involved were more thoroughly equipped with information about the disease and recovery process, would they have been able to see that the star of their show was in trouble himself, or did they see it but determine that the show must go on? I am certainly not assigning responsibility to the network or the production company for this tragedy; however, I am just asking some questions that I believe need to be asked about this situation and to the entertainment industry as a whole.

Earlier this year I attended the Prism awards in Beverly Hills. These awards are given to the entertainment industry for the accurate portrayal of addiction and mental health issues in entertainment vehicles. There are many great shows out there that through their craft are raising the awareness of these issues in the consciousness of their viewers. Shows like A&E’s “The Cleaner” are very cutting edge; however “The Cleaner” is a fictional drama and certainly not reality. When you get into reality realm, it is a different beast altogether. Cops was probably the mother of all reality shows, where the film crew follows the professionals and films whatever happens. They are not involved in the decision making process and they do not cast the subjects. If the entertainment industry wants to do a reality series why don’t they identify a recovery professional and film them doing what they do without interfering, then they can go back to the editing room where it is completely safe and ethical to make decisions. When I need to produce a video, I go to the professionals and follow their guidance, when these production companies want to do a show about addiction shouldn’t they do the same.

Just a thought.

Jim Bevell

CEO TSN

561 577-3174

jimb@tsnemail.com

Addiction is such as harsh word, and it carries with it a number of negative implications. For example, some people categorize an addict as someone that doesn’t care about themselves, their family, or life in general. Or, an addict is the homeless person down the street. Or, addicts just don’t try hard enough at life. But addiction can happen to anyone –doctors, lawyers, pastors, housewives, college students – and people shouldn’t be too quick to categorize.

Perhaps you’re struggling with thoughts of addiction. Maybe you know deep down that you are addicted to something. These thoughts may be your first step toward recovery. No one likes to admit that they have an addiction problem, but until the issue is brought to light, the grip of the addiction will continue to grow stronger and stronger.

Physical Addiction

There are actually two ways a person can be addicted to a substance. First, and more clearly, a person can be physically addicted. This is when their body has built up such a tolerance and actual dependence on the substance that if it doesn’t get it, the body suffers withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol and heroin are examples of substances that cause great physical addiction and are hard to stop without great pain and suffering.

Psychological Addiction

The other way a person can be addicted is psychologically. This is often harder to manage. A person that is psychologically addicted has severe cravings and an uncontrollable desire to obtain the substance, and will often go to great lengths to get their hands on it. An example of this is cocaine. Cocaine does not produce very severe withdrawal symptoms, but a person that is addicted to it cannot seem to pull themselves away. The intense cravings that go along with withdrawal are hard for an addict to overcome. The drug becomes necessary in their life, and they will do anything to get it.

Symptoms of Addiction

So how can you tell if you are addicted? Where is that fine line between recreational use of alcohol and addiction, or between pain management and addiction to painkillers? While most addicts know they have an addiction problem, it might happen so gradually that they honestly don’t know they’ve gone so far. If an addict would take a step back and look at their life, they may find the following to be true:  They have built up a tolerance for the substance, so that more of it is needed to get high. They may have the desire to quit, but are unsuccessful. They will spend more and more time trying to get the substance, including illegal behavior. They will give up things that were once important to them if it stands in the way of using their substance. They will continue to use the substance even after being made aware of its impact on their life and their loved ones’ lives.

If addiction has become part of your life, remember that it can be treated. With proper help, addicts can get sober and start living a life free from their addiction.

Sources

http://www.ehow.com/about_5087236_signs-drug-addiction.html

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Published_Articles/Essence.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-addiction/DS00183/DSECTION=symptoms

One of the most widely used illegal drugs in the United States is cocaine, and like many other drugs, it comes from a plant that has been used for thousands of years in other parts of the world.  Cocaine comes from the coca leaf, a plant that has a long history in spiritual rituals.

Coca and Andean Indians

It used to be that in the Andean Indian culture, the coca plant was linked to a sacred goddess.  These cultures believed that they had to please the coca goddess in order to have a successful harvest.  The leaves of the coca plant were chewed or smoked to help these natives connect with spiritual beings, as well as provide magical protection and powers.

Traditionally, coca leaves were chewed only by the leaders or royalty.  Over time, however, even lower classes were encouraged to chew the leaves to experience the benefits.  When the Spanish invaded the Incas land, they tried to outlaw the chewing of coca leaves.  But it soon became apparent that the Incas worked better when they were given leaves to chew.  Coca leaves give the user a boost of energy, as well as prevents hunger.  Mood stabilizes and stamina also increases in those that chew coca leaves.

First use of cocaine

Cocaine was first extracted from the coca plant in the 1860s.  At first it seemed to be a miracle drug that was useful in treating depression and morphine addiction, and it was prescribed by many physicians for various reasons.  However, it became evident that there were some serious problems with using cocaine, and it decreased naturally in popularity by the 1920s.

It was still being produced heavily in South America and other areas though, and cocaine made a comeback to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.  At that time, it was illegal, yet in great demand.  The cost for cocaine was high, and violence became connected to the use and selling of cocaine.  Areas of cities that had many drug dealers became dangerous because of the guns and violence they brought with them.

Cocaine has had a rocky history in the United States.  There has been much controversy about the connection between the United States government and cocaine dealers.  There have been articles and books written about the CIA working with cocaine dealers to help win the war on communism.  Others argue that the aggressive role the U.S. government played in banning the drug actually led to the smuggling of it into our country.

Cocaine today

Cocaine is still being used illegally in our country by many today.  Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system, which increases heart rate and blood pressure.  The user feels a high and a feeling of satisfaction and energy.  Cocaine causes the user to disregard everything else besides the drug, leading to addiction.  For those dealing with cocaine addiction, the best help is most likely a treatment facility that offers detox, as well as long term residential care.

Sources

The History of Cocaine

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0812715.html

U.S. Drug Plague Of 1980s Was Spurred By Earlier Interventions In Andes March 20, 2009

Ayma, Evo Let Me Chew My Coca Leaves March 13, 2009

There are so many frightening stories out there of parents that have lost their teen to drug use.  Parents need to be aware of their teen’s friends and activities, as well as the potential risks for kids these days.  We have listed five of the most common substances that are abused by teens.

1. Marijuana:  Weed, pot, grass; it’s the same drug that many of the older generations used when they were young.  Perhaps that’s why marijuana is the most commonly used drug today.  “Everyone else is doing it, and our parents probably experimented with it.”  But the marijuana used today is more potent than the marijuana of the past, and the fact that many kids are trying it at a younger age means that these kids will be more likely to move on to a more powerful substance as they get older.  Plenty of lives have been wrecked by marijuana; it is not a drug to be taken lightly.
2. Prescription drugs: An estimated 20% of teens have used prescription drugs to get high.  This growing trend among teens and pre-teens is troubling because of how easy it is to obtain these drugs.  Most kids can open up their parents’ bathroom cabinet and have their choice of drugs.  Parents have been slow to catch on to this trend, and now the abuse of prescription drugs is a serious problem in schools.  Teens have begun having “pharming parties” where everyone brings a stash from their home and shares with the group.
3. Ecstasy: This drug is popular among the dance club scene and now is being marketed to kids.  With stamps of cartoon characters on them and their cheap selling price, this stimulant drug has become a popular past time among teens.
4. Inhalants:  Another danger in most homes is the presence of inhalants.  Teens and pre-teens have begun sniffing or huffing certain chemicals or household items in order to get high.  Often, teens don’t see this as being anything more than a game, and certainly don’t see it as being harmful.
5. Cocaine and heroin: These potent stimulants are causing growing concern for parents and law enforcement.  Often teens that start out with some of these other substances soon move on to more hard-core drugs, such as heroin.  Highly addictive, these stimulants cause such a high feeling that users are left looking for more.  The lives of many adults and teens have been ruined by these drugs.

A factor that is seen in many of these top substances is that teens don’t see the use of these them as being serious or harmful.  Teens are still learning and growing, there are many things they just don’t know.  Parents need to talk with their kids about drugs, and warn them about the severity of these substances.  Maybe with a little more time spent in education and prevention, these trends would not continue to surface among our teens.

Sources

Kowalski, Steve Cost, appearance of drugs appeal to teens January 25, 2009

Van Hollen, J.B. For teens, drug abuse genie is out of the prescription bottle 2/16/09

Ivers, Marianne Risky teen trends: Parents, don’t be in denial February 11, 2009

Drug Review A brief review of the most common drugs used by teens