Parents who are concerned about keeping their child off drugs have a big challenge ahead of them. With all the new names and types of drugs, parents may find all the information overwhelming, but with a little help, parents can eventually navigate through the details they need to know.

Denying a Problem

Ignorance is bliss, according to some people. Many parents take a hands off -”what we don’t know won’t hurt us” – approach to parenting, especially when it comes to teens and drugs. They feel that it is best if they don’t make a big deal of things. They believe all kids are going to experiment with drugs at least once, so the best thing to do is let kids be kids and get it out of their system.

Talk To Your Teen

Studies show, however, that parents who do not talk to their kids about drugs or who are accepting of their child’s drug experimentation end up with kids who do drugs – often in a dangerous way. Parents who talk to their kids, however, about the dangers of drugs are the voice that often influences the child so that they do say no to drugs. Parents need to be the first step in drug prevention for their child, and then continue to be aware and on the lookout for their teen to try drugs so they can get help if necessary.

Be Aware

It is important, therefore, for parents to have some knowledge of the current drug scene. This scares many parents, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Just do a little research. Many parents know about age-old drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and LSD. They are aware that club drugs like Ecstasy and meth are out there, and that prescription drugs like OxyContin are becoming a huge problem. Parents may need to investigate further, however, to find out about the new synthetic drugs making their way around the country, such as bath salts and synthetic marijuana. These substances are trickier because they can be very misleading and sometimes even legal, yet just as harmful as illicit drugs. “It’s chemistry. They’re able to change the chemical structure just by small amounts to avert the law, even though it would have some of the same common properties and same psychoactive effects”, said Bruce Reeve, of the Division of Criminal Investigations Crime Lab. (1)

Investigate the Topic

Parents can gather a lot of information by doing some quick Internet searches. The Internet provides a host of how-to sites on ways to make drugs, get drugs, and pass drug tests. If parents can access this kind of information, so can their teen, so it is important for parents to look for details about drug abuse in this way.

Parents can talk to local law enforcement or hospitals, or attend seminars that are designed to inform about drug trends. By doing a little investigating and talking to their teens, parents can feel confident in their knowledge of drug dangers that their child faces, in the hopes that they can help their child stay drug-free. Knowledge is power.

Sources

(1) Special Report: Synthetic Drug Use Spreading Fast

Guard Against Synthetic Drugs

Synthetic drug use hard to track

Read the Flyer. Click Here.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has come under fire this month for a publication they had intended to hand out about the drug Ecstasy. The department developed the card based on recommendations from a rave safety task force, and had intended to hand it out at upcoming events. This task force was assembled after the death of a 15 year old girl last June. The girl was attending the annual Electric Daisy Carnival at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and died from complications after taking Ecstasy. The death caused a big stir and led to not only California, but other states looking at their drug prevention strategies.

Revising the Campaign

The message card that the Los Angeles Department of Public Health came up with, however, has been blasted for not being anti-drug enough. The campaign gives helpful advice on how to stay safe if choosing to use Ecstasy. It tells potential users to take frequent breaks when using Ecstasy, to stay hydrated, and to not mix Ecstasy with alcohol or other drugs. While the flier also does tell young people to stay away from Ecstasy, critics do not believe this message comes across clear enough. There is really no way to use Ecstasy safely without risk, and young people need to know that.

The L.A. Department of Public Health agrees. After second thought, the department has decided to revise the card to more accurately reflect the state’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs. A statement from the department says, “Based on feedback from board members and upon further review by the department, Public Health is immediately revising the card to further and more emphatically state that illegal drug use is dangerous.”

Dangerous Side Effects of Ecstasy

Ecstasy, or MDMA, is an illegal synthetic drug that enhances mood and gives users enhanced self-confidence. It also provides a huge energy boost that can last all night, which is why it is popular at raves and parties. Users take their Ecstasy, and then have the energy to party all night. But Ecstasy can be very detrimental, and complications are not uncommon. Users can quickly become dehydrated and their body temperature can rise to dangerous levels. Ecstasy also causes increased heart rate, blurred vision, and sometimes seizures. Even small amounts can be harmful.

Ecstasy is still growing in popularity, with over 1 million people using it for the first time last year. While knowing the dangers of it and how to stay safe by doing things like staying hydrated, most people think the most important message to get out to our young people is not to do Ecstasy at all. Fliers like the revised one in L.A. will encourage potential users to avoid using Ecstasy, and to get help if necessary.

Sources

Ecstasy

Health Officials Offer Safety Tips to Ecstasy Users

Public health flier warning of dangers of Ecstasy at raves to be revised

Many of the illicit drugs in our world today originally came about for medicinal uses. Most of the other drugs people abuse are current medications that are strictly regulated. Sometimes the line is even blurred between necessary medical use and the abuse of a drug. Occasionally, a drug will begin as an illicit drug and then be found to be effective in treating some mental or physical condition. Ecstasy, though its origin is not completely clear, has certainly been an illicit drug for many years, and just recently has been found to have some positive uses.

For years, Ecstasy (also known as MDMA) has been known as the most popular “club drug”, as many people abuse it at parties, raves, and bars. It has the ability to let the user be more uninhibited – “perfect” for someone wanting to dance the night away, socialize, and get to know new people. But Ecstasy is illegal and many people have gotten sick or died because they took it. It is illegal, and rightfully so.

Possible Benefits of Ecstasy

Researchers are now looking into the benefits of treating psychotherapy patients, particularly those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with Ecstasy. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs after an individual has experienced or witnessed great trauma or disaster. People with PTSD continue to have frightening memories of the event and experience insomnia and trouble connecting to loved ones. It has affected millions of veterans, police, fire, and rescue workers, all of whom face traumatic situations on a daily basis.

The Ecstasy study, conducted by Dr. Michael Mithoefer, a psychiatrist from South Carolina, looked at 20 patients with PTSD. These were patients who had not responded to previous treatment with antidepressants and psychotherapy. Once treated with MDMA, many of the subjects in the study found they were able to talk more openly about their experiences during therapy. This kind of psychotherapy, where patients process the traumatic event with therapists, is the most effective treatment for PTSD. But if the individual is too overwhelmed by their anxieties and fears, they can’t effectively talk about the event. According to researchers, Ecstasy helps the patients relax, and “temporarily decreases fear, without blunting emotions”. Treatment with Ecstasy was successful in 80% of cases that hadn’t responded to previous therapy.

Of course, more work needs to be done with studies like this to determine whether or not Ecstasy is really effective for these psychotherapy sessions. There are also concerns about the safety of Ecstasy because it causes increased blood pressure, nausea, chills, and sweating, among other things. But if used only in a therapeutic setting with careful monitoring, the negative side effects of Ecstasy can be managed or eliminated, and it can maybe help these patients work through their fears and anxieties.

 Sources

Post Traumatice Stress Disorder

Is Ecstasy the Answer for Veterans With PTSD?

Researchers Use Ecstasy to Treat PTSD

The origin of MDMA

Young people’s use of drugs such as Ecstasy is increasing, despite warnings about such substances. Ecstasy is commonly seen in bars, at concerts, and at raves, and its popularity today suggests the message of its danger is not getting across.

Ecstasy is a hallucinogen and a stimulant that is often smuggled into the U.S from foreign countries. It is the drug of choice for partiers because of its effects. The stimulant in Ecstasy keeps the user’s energy high, and can sustain partygoers for hours. The hallucinogen “makes everything more fun”.

Drug use and raves go hand in hand. Young adults that attend these music and dance events that go on for hours and hours usually do so with the intent of doing drugs. Very few people go to raves simply to hear music – the dancing and partying while under the influence of drugs is the main priority.

Damaging Side Effects of Ecstasy

Many people would classify Ecstasy as a safe drug, and since so many people use it at raves, many people don’t think twice about using it. But Ecstasy has its consequences and side effects, and a number of people have been hurt or have died as a result of it. Ecstasy causes a rise in body temperature and extreme thirst, which causes the user to drink large amounts. The over intake of water can actually interfere with neurons in the brain, causing coma or seizure. On its own, Ecstasy can do damage, but other drugs are also commonly mixed into the Ecstasy, causing even more effects. Methamphetamine, ketamine, and other chemicals are sometimes found in Ecstasy, causing increased heart rate and body temperature as well.

Danger of Raves

Teens at raves get so caught up with the party and heightening their experience that they may not realize they or someone else is in danger. By the time it is evident that someone is in real trouble because of the drugs they took, it may be too late.

Many people are concerned about the safety of raves. There is often little adult presence, and the young people are almost all under the influence of drugs. Los Angeles has had several incidences at recent raves, including the death of a 15 year old girl last weekend. Because of this incident, the commission that oversees the L.A. Coliseum and Sports Arena announced a temporary ban on new contracts with rave producers. A meeting next week will determine the future of raves at this venue.

Preventing Ecstasy Abuse

Kids will be kids, and teenagers that attend these events want to have a good time. But putting people’s lives in danger is not worth it for a few hours of fun. The deadly side effects that these drugs cause should to be explained to young people, and teens should find alternatives to drugs and raves. Parents need to help educate their kids, and make sure they are supervised and safe, and find a better way to have a good time.

Sources

Ecstasy Facts

Drug Abuse Facts

Death at Electric Daisy Carnival draws attention to connection between raves and Ecstasy

A Closer Look: How Ecstasy harms

http://www.latimes.com/news/health/la-he-closer-ecstacy-20100712,0,7955199.story

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 drugs are causing growing concern for parents and law enforcement.   Highly addictive, these drugs 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

The manufacturing of street drugs in private homes isn’t a new concept, but it is just as risky today as it ever has been. Illegal drugs have been made in clandestine labs for decades as a way for the maker to bring in money or to support a drug habit. Methamphetamine is available by prescription, but this controlled substance can be cooked in a home lab and made into powder and sold on the street as a potent drug. Other amphetamine-type stimulants have also commonly been made in makeshift labs, as well as the rave drug, GHB, LSD and other strong hallucinogens. Many illegal drugs that end up being sold to kids and addicts on the street come from these homemade labs throughout the world.

The homemade drug manufacturer

Sometimes it is an ex-employee from a pharmaceutical company with the expertise on drugs that attempts to make them on their own. Other times it is a group of individuals that have researched how to best make certain drugs. Countless websites instruct anyone who cares on how to make certain street drugs. Often the ingredients are over-the-counter medicines or household chemicals. If it the ingredients aren’t readily available, some home manufacturers will find a way to order supplies or get ingredients on the black market.

Dangers of homemade drugs to the drug user

Besides the obvious problems with all street drugs, such as addiction, toxicity, brain damage, organ damage, and possible death, homemade street drugs have their own added problems. One of the most dangerous risks with homemade drugs is that each batch can be made differently, with changes in ingredients and measurements. With no standard of dosage, customers will often end up dying from overdose before other buyers and the seller realize the strength of a very powerful batch.

It is estimated that more than 50% of the time, the drug buyer is not getting the substance that they were told they were getting from a home-based lab. Makers will sometimes substitute a cheaper ingredient, or one more readily available, without the buyer knowing. And there are other things the home manufacturer won’t disclose either, such as the way the drugs have been handled and what tainted substances have come in contact with them. It could be that the drug maker used infected substances to cut and make the drugs, thereby passing along diseases such as hepatitis or maybe even AIDS.

Dangers to the public

Home-based drug labs are a threat to the general public at times also. These chemicals are often very unstable, which can lead to explosions or toxic fumes that threaten nearby residents. Because of the risks a homemade manufacturer faces, they may take drastic measures to protect their lab. Violence and shootings are commonly associated with clandestine labs.

Authorities are well-aware of the dangers associated with home drug labs and are working to find them throughout the country. The task may be daunting, but many lives will be saved by shutting down these drug labs.

Sources

Street Drugs

Chemical expert set up homemade LSD factory 10/12/2008

Crystal Myth

Elsevier B.V. Boltushka: A homemade amphetamine-type stimulant and HIV risk in Odessa, Ukraine 10-30-08

If you or someone you love is considering treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, there are many decisions you may need to make in order to find the right facility. Below are some things to consider when choosing a facility, as well as things to expect once you get there.

First of all, it might be necessary to call a hotline to get immediate help for an addiction. This would be used when a person doesn’t know where else to go for help, or possibly someone is in immediate danger. If this is the case, the individual on the other end of the phone can give you valuable information about immediate treatment options.

Types of Facilities and Programs

If the decision is something that is thought about for a while and discussed, there are many different types of programs that might be useful. The first questions might be whether the facility offers residential, in-patient, or out-patient treatment, or a recovery house or long-term care. Some facilities are gender or age-specific, which might be particularly helpful to adolescents or females who might feel more comfortable in a setting with their peers.

It may be necessary for the treatment facility to have a detoxification program for the individual to rid their body of harmful substances while being monitored by a staff of medical professionals. After the physical dependency of the substance is addressed, the patient can begin counseling and treatment to manage the psychological dependency. Many treatment facilities have different activities to aid in this part of the recovery process. Things such as group therapy and family involvement have proven successful in treatment, as well as the 12-Steps for recovery. Some specialized facilities also provide programs such as equine therapy, recreational activities, cooking opportunities, and other things geared toward giving the mind and body something positive to focus on.

Recovery is an Ongoing Process

It is important for patients to be directed to long-term care to assist them in staying sober in the future. By learning about the risks of relapse and the skills needed to cope with stress and addiction triggers, an individual will be more likely to stay substance-free. A facility should provide follow-up services to give the recovering patient a support base when they move back into their lives. Recovery is an ongoing process. The groundwork is laid when an individual goes through treatment, but recovery continues on as the person is put back into their lives and families and has to effectively put what they learned into practice.

Entering into a treatment facility is a scary thing for most people. The unknown is hard to face. But the right facility can ease discomfort with their caring staff and positive programs. It still won’t be easy, but the goal is for the treatment to be successful. By working with counselors and staff to learn about oneself and taking accountability for the addiction, an individual can actually aid in the recovery process. So while you can expect treatment to be a challenge, it will hopefully be the best thing you’ve ever done.

Sources

T., Buddy Components of Effective Treatment Programs What Makes Alcohol Treatment Programs Work? January 22, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_rehabilitation

Some scientists in Great Britain have recently recommended that the drug ecstasy be downgraded in that country from a Class A drug to a Class B drug. This topic has been very heated among scientists, the government, and those that spend their lives to treating drug addiction.
Ecstasy is MDMA, a mind-altering drug that is popular among teens and those that frequent nightclubs and raves. It gives the user a boost of energy, and also produces feelings of exhilaration and excitement. But ecstasy also causes confusion and anxiety and can cause the user to suffer from disruptions in body temperature and hydration, leading to possible organ failure and, in rare cases, death.

Great Britain’s Drug Classification Scale

The U.K. has followed a classification system for drugs since 1971. The system currently lists ecstasy in the most dangerous Class A, the same grouping as the United States’ Schedule I for drugs. These classifications give the government a way to enforce penalties and for citizens to be aware of the risks of certain drugs. For example, Class B drugs are considered more harmful than Class C, but less harmful than Class A. Penalties for possession of these drugs vary with class. Ecstasy now carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years, while downgrading it to Class B would mean a maximum of 5 years in prison and a lower fine.

In Favor of the Downgrade

Those in favor of the downgrade include Professor Colin Blakemore, the chief executive of the Medical Research Council, and Professor David Nutt, the president of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). Their 2007 study listed ecstasy as the 18th most dangerous out of the 20 popular drugs studied, listing it lower than tobacco and alcohol. Both of these individuals say that ecstasy has caused far fewer deaths than the other Class A drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. To have it be in the same class, they say, discredits the whole class system. Some supporters of the downgrade also say that ecstasy is not as big of a public safety issue as many other substances because it does not usually cause the aggression or violence of other drugs, making the user less harmful to those around them.

Against the Downgrade

There are plenty of people that believe ecstasy should stay in Class A. Opponents of the downgrade say that there are numerous cases of bodily harm or death due to ecstasy, and by declassifying it the government is telling people it is not harmful. Opponents want the British government to continue to hand down strict penalties for those who misuse drugs. Those that spend long hours trying to get people off of drugs such as ecstasy are pushing to keep this drug in Class A to deter more people from using it, and in order to free the country from illegal drug use.

Sources
NIDA InfoFacts: MDMA (Ecstasy)

Jenkins, Adrian Expert slams ecstasy move

Knapton, Sarah Ecstasy could be downgraded to class B drug 9-17-08

Johnston, Philip Scientist in call to downgrade ecstasy and LSD Nov 24 2006

How would you feel if your insurance provider told you that the doctors’ visits and treatment costs for your illness were not going to be covered, or that you would have to pay a high deductible? Many people in our country are being told just that, and the reason is that the illness they have is substance abuse. There has long been a view in the world that substance abuse is a choice, or a character flaw, not a mental illness. Things are changing, however, and more and more research is being done on the complexities of the brain and its reaction to substance abuse. People today are beginning to see that while substance use might start as a decision to try something new, it quickly becomes an addiction that can’t be controlled.

Congress approves Mental Health Parity Act

Congress approved legislation last week that would change the way insurance providers handle claims for mental illness and substance abuse. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 provides “equity in the coverage of mental health and substance use disorders by ensuring that group health care plans do not charge higher co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and impose maximum out-of-pocket limits and lower day and visit limits.” Supporters of this measure include many in the House and Senate, businesses, insurance companies, and physicians. However, a few questions remained and until last week, it was uncertain whether or not the bill would pass before Congress went into recess this year. By attaching it to the Wall Street bailout bill, however, Congress was able to pass it quickly.

Help is needed

Help can’t come soon enough for many Americans struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, mental illness is the leading cause, and substance use is the second leading cause, of disability among adults. Many of these adults are not getting the help they need to recover from their mental illness, and often it is because of the high cost of treatment. Another reason is fear of discrimination from their employer if they do seek treatment.

Equal Coverage for an epidemic

With legislation such as the Mental Health Parity Act, those with a substance abuse disorder can be reassured that their insurers will not be able to set a cap on healthcare coverage for mental illness or substance abuse that isn’t set for other illnesses.

In order to deal with the epidemic of substance abuse, we need more good addiction treatment facilities, more affordable health care to addicts, and more support behind families dealing with substance abuse. Through the passage of this bill, those with addiction should be encouraged to move forward and seek treatment, so that we can work toward decreasing the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse.

Sources

Congresswoman Shea-Porter Hails Passage of Mental Health Parity Act September 24, 2008

Many State Reform Initiatives Are Neglecting Mental Illness, Says Study July 08, 2008

Layton, Lyndsey Congress Approves Mental Health Bill Private Insurers Would Provide More Benefits Sept. 24, 2008

Ault, Alicia Equal Coverage For Mental Health?
Many States Require Parity, and Congress May Order It Nationwide November 6, 2007

Curley, Bob Congress, Bush Approve Addiction and Mental Health Parity Legislation October 3, 2008