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

Young teens have been getting high from inhalants for some time now, and while the trend is still gaining in popularity, most teens (and their parents) do not know how dangerous it really is.

Inhalants like aerosol spray cans, markers, shoe polish, glue, cooking spray, and air conditioning refrigerant can be used to produce a drug-like high. Kids inhale these things, sometimes covering their faces with plastic bags or rags to keep the fumes in. The inhaling or huffing can cause hallucinations, slurred speech, loss of muscle control, the feeling of euphoria, and other effects similar to drugs.

Even though the effects are the same, many young people do not compare huffing to doing drugs. The thing that makes this type of substance abuse so dangerous is that many people can’t see the harm in it. The substances are legal and usually inexpensive, which makes them readily available. However, once they experiment with it a few times, teens can become physically and psychologically addicted.

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

Worse yet, some kids die suddenly from inhaling these substances. This can happen even the first time a teen experiments with inhaling. It is called Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, and it happens most often because of stress on the heart. There is no warning before death occurs, and it doesn’t matter if a person has huffed many times before, or if it is their first time.

Education for Parents and Kids

It is important to create better awareness about risky trends like this one among young people. Parents are the ones that first need to get a handle on what teens and pre-teens are doing so they can watch for warning signs and talk to their kids about the risks. Parents should watch out for the glassy eyes, the change in behavior, or even the physical effects like inflammation of the throat. They may also find things like empty aerosol cans, discolored rags or clothes, or missing household substances.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released information last week about huffing among children. Their data shows that 12 year old children are more likely to get high from inhalants than to use cigarettes or marijuana. SAMHSA’s studies also show that nearly 7% of 12 year olds have used inhalants to get high.

There are people working across the country to put more programs in place to educate parents, teens, and pre-teens about the risks of huffing. Parents need to be taught that kids are doing this, and how to watch for warning signs. Kids need to learn that this is nothing to mess around with and even though it may seem legal and ok, huffing is really dangerous and can result in addiction or death.

Sources 

NIDA Community Drug Alert Bulletin – Inhalants

SAMHSA

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome Kills With One Puff

Now that it’s summer, do you know what your kids are up to? With more free time on their hands, and possibly less supervision from parents, this is the time when many teens first start experimenting with dangerous behaviors, many of which can eventually lead to drug or alcohol abuse.

Drug-Like Behavior

Teens now use anything they can get their hands on to experiment with drug-like behavior. Things like crushed candy and powdered drink mix are being snorted. The burning feeling adolescents get from this may make them think they are legally doing what drug addicts do. Other teens have begun to smoke crushed candy. They inhale the clouds of candy smoke that come out and feel like they are really smoking. Just because the substances they are using are everyday substances doesn’t mean the effects aren’t going to be harmful.

What is the harm in doing some of these experiments if they don’t physically harm the child? Part of the problem is in the emulating of bad behaviors like smoking or drug use. Many people spend their entire lives trying to break free from these addictions and unfortunately a large number of youth can’t wait to be able to try it themselves.

Teens Abusing Household Substances

Other teens are using household chemicals and products that do actually harm them or help them to get high. Things like cough medicine or rubbing alcohol, paint thinners or even nutmeg are all abused by teens today to alter their minds and give them “a good time”. These items can give your teen a real high, just like street drugs, yet they are found in most homes so teens don’t always see the danger in them.

Gateway to Drugs

While not every teen that smokes candy or inhales household substances will grow up to be a drug addict, it does open the door for the possibility. Kids that have sort of gone through the motions of doing drugs are more likely to try it with real drugs someday. It is a smaller step to take to try drugs when you’ve already experimented with these other drug-like trends.

Fortunately, there are things parents can do. They can first of all be vigilant about what their kids are up to. Kids that are kept busy with positive activities won’t have as much time to get into trouble. Parents can also talk with their kids (over and over) about the risks of drugs, but also the risks of these trends. Be honest with them. Tell them that using household items to inhale or snort can either harm their bodies, or could make it easier to get involved in drug abuse in the future. Parents also need to know what the trends are, and what kinds of temptations are out there for their kids. Go on the internet and check out some of the websites for teens that teach them how to use these chemicals. See what they are dealing with every day. By becoming educated and helping educate their children, parents can help keep their kids safe this summer.

Sources

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5694/Drugs-and-teensNutmeg/

Gregston, Mark Facing the summer with a troubled teen  6/24/2009

http://www.teendrugabuse.us/household_products.html

http://www.theantidrug.com/DRUG_INFO/drug_info_inhalants.asp

Teens have a history of trying risky behavior, partly because they are learning about life and trying to find their way in the world.  Often times, this spreading of their wings is not harmful.  Sometimes, however, teens get hooked on trends that are downright dangerous, or that will expose them to a world of risky behavior.  Some of the latest risky teen behaviors take place with substances found in their own homes.  The choices that teens make today can affect them for the rest of their lives.

Inhalant Abuse

The use and abuse of inhalants is one of the biggest growing trends among teens today.  Teens inhale anything they can get their hands on, such as aerosol sprays (spray paint, air fresheners, deodorants), solvents (gasoline, glue, markers), and gases (propane tanks, whipped cream dispensers) and the list goes on and on.  Immediate effects of this kind of substance abuse include slurred speech, nausea, lack of coordination, and irritability.  More serious effects are brain damage, liver and kidney failure, heart damage, and potentially, “Sudden Sniffing Death” (SSD).

Over the Counter Drug Abuse

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressant found in many over the counter cold medications.  When taken as directed, it works to sooth a cough.  But many teens today are taking this medication and other over the counter medications (motion sickness pills, acetaminophen, and ephedrine) in large doses in order to get high.  Immediate effects include euphoria, loss of coordination, hallucinations, and possibly seizure and brain damage.  Overdose is a very possible effect.

Prescription Drugs

Teens have also been getting away with taking their own family members’ prescription drugs, such as OxyContin, Valium, and Adderall.  In many schools, officials are facing the problem of teens bringing stashes of these drugs to school to sell to their friends.  Kids are also able to order prescription drugs at home from their family’s computer.  A growing percentage of teens have experimented with prescription drugs.

Gateway Drugs

Teens who start out with trying something fun and new with their friends because they are bored and unsupervised at home can quickly become addicted to the “high” they get.  Teens that regularly abuse household substances are more likely to try harder drugs, in an attempt to get a better high, or to try something more dangerous and thrilling.  Prescription drugs, inhalants, and over the counter medications have been dubbed “gateway drugs” because of the likelihood that they lead to more dangerous drug abuse.

Parents need to be vigilant about what their kids are doing and who they are hanging out with.  If teens are left unsupervised, the temptation will be there to try these things.  All of the kids are talking about it, and the internet and pop culture have a wealth of information (good and bad) for your teens.  Parents need to educate themselves about these risks, and then educate their kids.  Teens should know that they can go to their parents with questions or concerns they might have, and get reliable information.

Sources

Shook, Jennifer Cough suppressants can be big problem 2/23/09

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

Schimelpfening, Nancy Inhalant Abuse July 28, 2008

http://www.theantidrug.com/DRUG_INFO/drug_info_inhalants.asp

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

Parents that are concerned about their teens’ risky behavior may not be aware of all the temptations out there, or the young age at which many adolescents are exposed to them. Inhalants are growing in popularity among youngsters as young as 12 as a way to get high. Many experts believe that parents need to be educated on this epidemic if we are going to keep it from getting worse.

The National Inhalant Prevention’s Coalition held a news conference earlier this year that revealed an increase in inhalant use among 12 and 13 year olds, and that many of these teens and pre-teens go on to do more illicit drugs as they get older.

Why Inhalants

Peer pressure occurs at almost every age, but the teen years are filled with the most negative peer pressure. Pair that with lack of supervision because parents are working more, and you have teens trying all sorts of risky behavior to keep themselves busy. Inhalants are readily available to kids, and often young people don’t see inhaling these household substances as being harmful because these things are legal and found everywhere. Anything from glue and paint to shoe polish and aerosol sprays can and are being used by people to get high.

Types of Inhalants

There are four main types of inhalants: volatile solvents (paint thinners, felt tip markers), aerosol sprays (spray paint, deodorant), gases (propane tanks, whip cream dispensers), and nitrites (room deodorizers). Teens use these inhalants by sniffing, snorting, or inhaling from a bag. The high will usually be short-lived, which leads a teen to inhale again and again to keep up the good feeling. These inhalants can be very addictive also, leading the individual down a long road of destructive behavior.

Effects

Most inhalants result in a tired feeling, dizziness, hallucinations, or trouble with motor skills – all things that teens might find entertaining to observe. Over time, however, inhalants can lead to brain damage, muscle weakness, and depression. The dangers are very real, and can occur even with first time users. Sudden death can occur through heart attack, suffocating, or choking, and injuries may occur from careless acts while under the influence.

As the study by the National Inhalant Prevention’s Coalition showed, many teens that use inhalants go on to do other drugs, sometimes in an effort to get a better high. Once a teen is used to the thrill of doing “harmless” inhalant drugs, they might look for more of a challenge with street drugs.

Parents: Be Aware

Many parents have shown a disconnect from their children through the attitude that their children is not at risk for this kind of behavior. Even parents that are relatively cautious about what trouble their child could get into may not be aware of how common this abuse of inhalants is. It is important for parents to know what their child is doing when they are alone or with friends, and special care should be taken to monitor the inhalants in the house and garage. If you are a parent that thinks your child may be using inhalants, don’t hesitate to get help for them.

Sources

Colihan, Kelley Tweens Favor Inhalants To Get High Study Shows Youngsters Use Inhalants As “Gateway” To Other Illicit Drugs March 13, 2008

Zwillich, Todd Kids See Inhalants As Less Risky Parents ‘Don’t Get It,’ Advocates Say April 24, 2006

http://www.inhalants.org/guidelines.htm

http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/inhalants.html

Reinberg, Steven For Adolescents, Inhalants Are Drug of Choice 3/13/08