Parenting Teens Blog

October 15, 2010

Teen Substance Abuse – Teen Tobacco Abuse

We all know that there is a teen smoking problem in the US and the entire world. It’s cool to smoke, teens love it even more because it’s forbidden, and peer pressure plays a great role. We all know that, teens know that after all the education about tobacco and nicotine and harmful effects of smoking they have received, but it seems like none of that matter. Teens still smoke, and we are yet to find a way to change that trend.

The main issue about smoking is the nicotine addiction and the harmful effects that nicotine has on our bodies. Nicotine is one of the most addictive known substances today, and it is the number one cause of disease in the US, also a leading cause of death in the United States.

If we look at the statistics we will see that over 90% of lung cancer in the US is direct cause of smoking, and almost 40,000 people die each year from secondhand smoke. But the fact that nicotine is so harmful and dangerous and that it is illegal in all states for teens under 18 and in some states for those under 19 seem to have no effect on our teenagers.

We know that nicotine is a highly addictive substance; tar increases everyday chances of lung cancer and bronchial disorders as well as emphysema. The chance of getting one of many cardiovascular diseases increases tenfold because of the carbon monoxide.

Smoking while pregnant is extremely harmful for the mothers and for the baby’s health; there is a great risk of miscarriage and even low birthweight for the newly born babies. Secondhand smoke we experience every day not only causes great chances of contracting a lung disease and lung cancer, but it also increases the risks of respiratory illnesses, especially with children.

We can all agree that cigarettes are bad for our health and the health of those around us. And it is even more harmful if the ones smoking are teens that are still developing as nicotine and other harmful substances found in cigarettes can influence their development and harm their health permanently.

Teen smoking is an issue, and it will be until all of us raise our children from an early age and teach them not to smoke, but the only way we can expect some success with this method is if we lead by example. Parents smokers can’t teach their children not to smoke, it will be contra productive, While it is known that one out of ten teens with non smoking parents will become a smoker, a far less percentage than with parents that smoke.
 

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October 14, 2010

Teen Drug Abuse – Teen Steroid Abuse

Most parents don’t consider steroids when someone mentions teen drug abuse. That is mostly due to the fact that steroids are illegal for teens and they are not something that can be easily found on the streets, which is wrong. It is very easy for teens to get their hands on steroids; they can get them in the gym, order them online or really get them on the streets which makes them even more dangerous as the origin of those drugs is unknown.

If you are wondering why a teen would need steroids there are several answers to that question. The most obvious one is for athletic reasons. Teens under pressure will do just about anything to get that advantage needed, unfortunately for them both side effects and the fact that these steroids may not help them make steroid use even more dangerous and practically useless. Other teens use steroids because of their appearance; boys wish to look like athletes, common pressure from the media which is the same as for girls and models.

Anabolic steroids are artificial hormones that resemble male hormone testosterone. They can be either injected into the body or take orally. Usually athletes tend to abuse anabolic steroids in order to enhance their performance and to build muscle mass. Long term abuse of anabolic steroids will leave serious permanent consequences; the most troublesome fact about teen steroid abuse is that these consequences are mostly visible after a longer period of time like 10 or even 20 years. This makes teens believe that there is no harm in taking anabolic steroids.

The long term male teen steroid abuse can lead to serious side effects such as:

-    Permanent liver damage
-    Jaundice
-    Fluid retention
-    High blood pressure
-    Increased body temperature
-    High levels of cholesterol
-    Testicle shrinking and baldness
-    Development of breasts with male users
-    And in some cases infertility

Most of these side effects apply to female steroid abusers in addition to:

-    Facial hair growth
-    Menstrual changes
-    Hormonal imbalance
-    Baldness
-    Deepening of voice

There are other risks of teen steroid abuse that include permanent growth stunt, acceleration of puberty changes and a severe acne outbreak. The risk of contracting various diseases is great, especially for those that inject steroids, so chances of getting HIV or hepatitis is great. Teen steroid abuse is a serious issue like we already stated in this article and it is important to start with a treatment as soon as possible.

 

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October 13, 2010

Ten Drug Abuse – Teen Prescription Medication Abuse

Teen prescription medication abuse or over the counter drug abuse also known as OTC are way too popular among out teens. This is mostly because of two reasons. Reason number one is that they are very easy to get, as from the house and from other sources. Reason number two is the misconception that these drugs are not harmful as they are prescription drugs that are legal.

As for the reason number two connected to OTC drug abuse the fact is that more than half of the kids that started using prescription drugs had no clue what they were doing. In most cases teens take medication without a prescription from their parents in order to relieve pain or to lose weight without thinking. But there are teens that abuse OTC drugs because of the high some of these drugs may induce.

To help you understand OTC drug abuse better we will define it: Over the counter drugs abuse also known as prescription medication abuse is when a person takes prescription medication not prescribed for them or taking that medication in higher doses than prescribed and for reasons they are not meant for.

Teen OTC drug abuse is a serious problem and it can lead to serious health problems, and in some cases it can even lead to addiction. There are three distinctive types of OTC drugs that are abused:

-    Opioids which are used as pain relievers
-    CNS depressants (Central Nervous System Depressants) which are used for depression, anxiety and even sleep disorders
-    Stimulants like those for narcolepsy and ADHD

Here is a list of the most common drugs that fall under each of these groups:

Opioids:

-    Vicodin
-    OxyContin
-    Darvon
-    Dilaudid
-    Demerol
-    Lomotil

CNS Depressants:

-    Nembutal
-    Valium
-    Xanax

Stimulants:

-    Dexedrine
-    Ritalin
-    Concerta
-    Adderall

Unlike stimulants, long term use of CNS depressants and Opioids can lead to addiction. Opioids lead to drowsiness and constipation as side effects and in some cases they can cause breathing issues. CNS depressants slow down our brain functions, they are extremely dangerous if mixed with alcohol and may cause extremely slow heart rate and respiration to dangerous levels. Stimulants when taken over a longer period of time can lead to anxiety, paranoia, increased body temperature and even seizures.

Treatment of teen OTC drug abuse is different for each type of medication abuse. The most common type of treatment is behavior therapy, there is no medication produced that can be used to fight teen prescription medication abuse.
 

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October 12, 2010

Teen Drug Abuse – Teen PCP Abuse

PCP (Phencyclidine), a drug known as dust, wack and rocket fuel is definitely a dangerous drug, especially for teens. This article references a history and progression of PCP, the negative effects as well as symptoms. PCP abuse must be stopped, but before that we need to understand it, and figuring out the drug testing strategies as well as detecting and testing PCP is a crucial step for our youth.

What exactly is PCP? It was developed throughout the 50s for use as anesthesia, PCP, or phencyclidine was never released on the market for us to use. Because of the erratic negative effects it wasn’t long until it the government deemed PCP to be illegal. It now has various street names such as rocket fuel, angel dust and wack, this drug is now sold as a hazardous and illicit substance, one of the most dangerous drugs there is.

PCP Effects

Teen PCP users have different experiences and different sensations caused by the drug. Mostly, users experience a form of disassociation of their energy and space from when and where they are and what is the current moment and where, if that makes sense. While at the top of PCP, teens may feel euphoric, weightless or they can even have hallucinations. More often than not, teen PCP abusers can feel sudden attacks of paranoia because of the hallucinations. While teens use this drug to get a special high, they oftentimes don't expect the severe unwanted side effects that may come with it. As an example, an unwanted reaction to PCP or angel dust can include violent aggressiveness, seizures and in some cases even death.

PCP works extremely well in several ways, some of which include the swallowing of the drug in the form of a pill or capsule, or even drinking it in the form of liquid. PCP can also be consumed via injection and it can also be snorted if it is in a powder form. Angel Dust can be consumed in combination with various substances and other drugs to produce even more dangerous drugs, one such substance is known as killer weed! That is a standard marijuana joint which is laced with Angel Dust. The entire process of combining PCP with an alternative drug is known as dusting.

While a lot of the connection between PCP is merely noticeable for the teen PCP user, there are still lots of indications which showing someone that is high on Angel Dust really obvious, such as involuntary eye movement, slurred speech, dizziness, symptoms of schizophrenia and in some cases amnesia. In reality, teens that experience side effects of PCP may turn psychotic up to that point where the symptoms are the same to the people of schizophrenia.

Teen PCP abuse is a reason to be very concerned. If you are suspecting that your teen is using PCP or any other drugs for that matter, you should purchase a standard drug testing kit which will probably be your best option. The lingering suspicion if your teen is a PCP addict can drive you insane. If you test your teen child for PCP abuse you will help lay your worries to rest and you will be able to point your teen in the right direction, one that will not call for the medication treatment.

 

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October 11, 2010

Teen Drug Abuse – Teen Methamphetamine Abuse

Methamphetamine is a very addictive drug, a long lasting toxin that stimulates the nerve terminals and our central nervous system. The pure form of methamphetamine is pure white, has no odor and had a bitter taste, it is mostly snorted or injected but it can be taken orally or even smoked.

Teens are easily tempted to use drugs, and various forms of meth are easily accessible to teens. The reasons for taking meth or any other drugs can be many, maybe they think this is just to try it, but meth is a highly addictive drug that takes possession of a person very quick.

Methamphetamine is a highly dangerous drug which can cause euphoric feelings when consumed, as we already said, it releases dopamine which influences that brain to produce those feelings. The sensation and the feeling start immediately when smoked, snorting it will provide a lesser high but a longer lasting one. If teen meth use consists the body will start need large quantities of meth in order to feel the same high again, so long term meth abuse always leads to increase in quantities used.

Meth use can cause increased heart rate, increased physical activity for a short period of time, irregular heartbeat and even increased body temperature and blood pressure. When used long term meth use can cause violent behavior, mood swings, depression, confusion, anxiety, insomnia, and even severe dental issues. Teens using meth are at high risk of contracting diseases like HIV and hepatitis especially if they are injecting it.

When teens with weak immune system use meth or when they simply overuse it, effects like stroke and heart attack are not that uncommon in those cases. In some cases this kind of teen meth abuse can lead to death. Meth is even known to cause paranoia and hallucinations and delusions, so the best way to deal with meth abuse is to prevent it as this is one of the most dangerous drugs there is.

Here are the warning signs that you need to watch out for:

-    Euphoric state
-    Constant paranoia
-    Weight loss and loss of appetite
-    A sudden increase in physical activities
-    Anxiety
-    Nervousness
-    Depression
-    Increased body temperature – in some cases even so high that I can cause death
-    Chest pains
-    High blood pressure
-    Dilated pupils
-    Acne
-    Constant sweating without any physical activities
-    Mood swings
-    Aggressive behavior
-    Lack of tolerance

These symptoms can be for many things including mental issues unrelated to drug abuse, so when more of these symptoms occur it is best to take your teen to a professional evaluation and make sure that you get the facts straight. If it is teen meth abuse the best possible treatment is in a residential treatment home, as teens on meth have a high addiction and need to get clean as soon as possible.

 

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