• Julie A.
Lueckenhoff
• Marilyn Grechus,
Ph.D.
• Health and Physical
Education Teacher
• Professor of Health Ed.
• University of Central
Missouri
• (660) 543-8904
• grechus@ucmo.edu
• Blair Oaks High School
• 6124 Falcon Lane
• Jefferson City, MO 65101
• JLueckenhoff@blairoaks.k1
2.mo.us
• 573-635-8514
Children and teens are
engaging in increasingly
risky behaviors.
It is important for us, as
educators, to understand
and stay up-to-date on
these dangerous teen
fads.
Remember: Knowledge is
Power.
‘Smoking’ Alcohol
• ‘Instant High’
 Binge drinking in an instant . . .
• Extremely dangerous
 Directly from lungs to brain
• Lung & brain damage
 Alcohol poisoning quicker
• Can get DUI
• Illegal
• http://www.nbcnewyork.com/ne
ws/local/Smoking-AlcoholDangers-YouTube-NewConsumption-Vapors212080621.html
Sizzurp
 PURPLE DRANK - a recreational drug.
 Ingredients:
• Prescription strength cough syrup
containing codeine and promethazine.
• Sprite
• Broken pieces of Jolly Ranchers.
 Also known as: PURPLE DRANK,
Syrup, Drank, Purple Jelly, Texas
Tea.
Started:
 Hip Hop Community in the South
Teens
 Made popular by celebrities, rap
artists, and professional athletes
“Poppin bottles in the ice,
like a blizzard
When we drink we do it right
gettin slizzard
Sippin sizzurp in my ride, in my
ride, like Three 6
Now I'm feelin so fly like a G6
Like a G6, Like a G6”
THE RISKS
 Can lead to:
Death
Hemorrhaging
Physiological and Psychological
dependence.
Liver damage
Kidney failure
Dulling affect; to both
responses and coordination.
VODKA EYEBALLING
 Taking a shot of Vodka in your eye.
 Started in the UK
 Picked up by college students
 More prevalent with teens.
 Think get drunk quicker  Which is
NOT the case
 Impaired judgment
THE RISKS
 Pains, Burns, & Ulceration of
Cornea
 Temporary Blindness
 BLINDNESS
• Disturbing new trend
Vodka eyeballing.wmv
VODKA SOAKED TAMPONS
 Tampons soaked in vodka and
inserted either into the vagina or
anus.
 Females AND Males
 Alcohol into the blood stream faster
 No upset stomach from drinking
 Thought to be undetectable by
parents & others
 Still gets into bloodstream and lungs
THE RISKS
 Unknown amount of alcohol intake
 Poisoning
 Burning (short term)
 Drying Effect (long term)
 Bleeding during normal functioning
 Destroys the essential bacteria
located in the vagina
 Damage to reproductive
system
ANAL BONGS
 Alcohol is poured into a bong tube
that has been inserted into the
anus
 Males & Females as young as 12
years old
 The alcohol gets into the blood
stream faster
 No upset stomach from drinking
 Less detection by others
THE RISKS
 Unknown amount of alcohol
intake  Alcohol Poisoning
Burning (short term)
Drying Effect (long term)
Bleeding during normal
functioning
This is taking place
below the belt 
• http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=RPWKpYGL
8KA
Neknominate
• Online game of drink and dare
 Deadly, worldwide craze.
• People film themselves downing
a large drink
 Make it unique
• Post it online
• Dare friend to top it
• http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=aY_loy0Or
Ak
“Pharm Parties”, “Trail Mix”,
“Skittling”
 Party involving prescription drugs
 Potentially deadly mixture.
 “Trail mix”
 Served up in a large bowl or
baggies and handed out to guests.
 Powerful pain killers like Vicodin and
Oxycotin - often included in the
concoction
• Lethal mix
“Robo-Tripping”
 Ingesting large doses of
dextromethorphan
 Over-the-counter cough
suppressants such as syrups and
lozenges (Robitussin)
 Dangerous when mixed with meds
and/or other stimulants (energy
drinks) or prescription drugs
Signs of Cough syrup Abuse
 Hallucinations, feeling dizzy or
nauseated, vomiting, confusion, rapid
heartbeat, and even numbness in the
extremities.
 Finding empty bottles of Robitussin
and other medications
 Effects are similar to alcohol
intoxication including: slurred speech,
agitation or drowsiness, or staggered
walking.
• http://Dr. Charles
McKay Hartford Hospital
no 'robo-tripping'.wmv
Huffing/Inhalant Abuse
 The Abuse of Inhalants
 Adolescents inhale chemical vapors from
a variety of substances
 Many are common household products
 Goal is to obtain euphoric effect –
altered mental or physical state
 Primary population of inhalant abusers
is the 12 to 17 age group followed by
18 to 25.
Substances Used as Inhalants
Volatile solvents – paint thinner,
gasoline, correction fluid, felt-tip
markers, nail polish remover, and glue
(such as rubber cement)
Aerosols – paint, deodorant, hair
products, Silver and gold spray paint
particularly
 Gases found in butane lighters
conditioning units, and propane
tanks
, air
Methods of inhalant abuse
 HUFFING: Rag soaked in inhalant &
pressed to mouth
 SNIFFING: Sniff or snort fumes
from an aerosol container. May
spray aerosol directly into nose or
mouth.
 BAGGING: Product sprayed or
poured into a plastic or paper bag &
inhaled
THE RISKS
Suffocation, when inhalants
displace oxygen in the lungs
Seizures
Loss of consciousness
Heart failure
Liver Damage
Kidney Damage
DEATH
Signs of Inhalant Abuse
 Drunk or disoriented appearance
 Paint or other stains on face, hands, or
clothing
 Hidden empty spray paint or solvent
containers
 Slurred speech
 Strong chemical odors on breath or
clothing
 Red or runny nose
 Sores or rash around the nose or mouth
•Huffing.wmv
Cinnamon Challenge
 Swallow 1 tbls cinnamon in 60
seconds without water
• Upload to internet
 Everyone is
challenged
THE RISKS
Inhaling the cinnamon
Burns!
Coughing
Choking – can clump & clog the airway
Inflammation of lungs leading to
infection (pneumonia)
• Collapsed lung
• Exhaling through nostrils – irritation
• Death
•
•
•
•
Bath Salts
 Designer drug sold as
Bath Salts (not for human consumption)
 Mephedrone, MDPV, & methylone
 Made by street chemists
 No way to test for these chemicals
• Acts like combination of Cocaine and
Meth
 Teens and young adults
THE RISKS?
 Agitation
 Paranoia
 Hallucinations (monsters, demons
and aliens)
 Chest pain
 Insomnia
 Violence
 Suicidality
 Even days after taking it
'Bath Salts' Causing
'Excited Delirium' .wmv
Molly
(Molecule)
• Synthetic Party Drug
 Ecstacy, MDMA
• Euphoric, empathetic and heightened
sensory effects
• Counterfeits being sold
 Same family of drugs as ‘Bath Salts’
 Don’t know long-term effects
• Songs include references to
Molly
BITING
The “new hickey,”
Actually breaking the skin.
Teens of all ages
Vampires are HOT!
Pain is a rush
“Marking their territory”
Status symbol
THE RISKS
 Hepatitis
Syphilis
HIV/AIDS
10-15% of bites
become infected
RAINBOW Parties
 Girls wearing different colored
lipsticks perform oral sex on
different guys.
 The end result is a rainbow on the
guys’ penis
 Started among MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS unwilling to “do the
deed.”
 An “alternative” to having sex
Group Activity
THE RISKS
 Would you share a lollipop?
Besides Germs you could contract
Sexually Transmitted
Diseases/Infections
• Mouth and Genitals
INDECENT PICTURES ONLINE
 Teens posting inappropriate pictures
online
 Facebook
 Myspace
 MOCOspace
 Youtube
 New sites all the time!
 Males & Females, Middle School age
& up
 Achieve celebrity “status”
 Feel popular/Attention
THE RISKS
 Bad Reputation
 Once a picture is on the web it can never
be taken back
 Cyberbullying
 Sexual Predators
 Colleges/Universities & Future Employers
can see what pictures and information have
been posted online
Sexting
Sending sexually explicit
pictures and videos via
texts or the internet
A majority of sexting
incidents are uncovered at
school.
Preteens & Teens with
access to these technologies
 Attention
 Popularity
 Intimacy in relationship
THE RISKS
 Bad reputation
 Bullying
 Pictures passed around to others
 Predators
 If caught, could be charged for child
pornography
•http://www.youtube
.com/watch?v=nVzX
NvIOMEI -
Tips to Prevent Sexting
 Monitor texting / Restrict usage
 Collaborate with schools to help
control sexting
 Sex Education & Sexting Talks –
teens should not feel pressured to
exchange explicit photos to attract
or keep a partner
 Convey the consequences involved to
teens in the home & school setting
Punch Out Game/Head Punching
 Teens allowing others to punch them
in the head/face
 Teens punching themselves in the
head/face
 Often Repeatedly
 Posting the Videos online…
 Middle School aged &
up
 Mostly boys
Post the video on YouTube for
others to see
To “train” for fighting
For fun??
THE RISKS
Head injuries
Permanent Brain Damage
Become Paralyzed
Death
The Knockout Game
• Random victims
• Hit in the back of the
head
 Knock them out
• Just for the fun of it!
 No one is safe
• http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=u85kXAxY
eQ8
The Choking Game
 Choking others or self
 Object of the "game"
 Cut off blood flow to the brain (oxygen
deprivation)
 Hands or other objects (ropes,belts)
 Ages 7-16 is the typical range
 Most often Middle School students
 Mostly Males, but females as well
 Attempt to get a “high” or “floaty”
sensation
 Won’t get caught with drugs or alcohol
THE RISKS
 Seizures, memory loss, broken bones,
stroke, concussions, brain damage, &
death
 Playing alone increases the likelihood of
severe permanent brain damage & death
 549 Reported Fatalities, 111 Injuries
(Updated 2/2011)
•Boy Dies After
Playing Choking
Game.wmv
CHOKING GAME: WARNING SIGNS
Signs in the Youth
Signs in the Home
•
• Locked or blocked
bedroom/bathroom doors
• ligatures (bed sheets,
belts, t-shirts, ropes) tied in
strange knots and/or found
in unusual places
• internet history of
websites (YouTube.com,
MySpace.com) mentioning
Choking Game
• Wear marks on furniture
(ex: bunk beds, closed rods)
Frequent headaches
•Often severe
• Inexplicable bruising or
red linear marks around the
neck
• Blood shot eyes and/or
tiny red dots on face
• Changes in attitude (overly
aggressive)
• Disorientation and/or
grogginess after being alone
• Unusual demands for
privacy
• Curiosity about
asphyxiation
Car Surfing
 Teens Riding on the top, sides, or
behind moving vehicles
 With or without skateboards, bikes,
etc.
(According to reported injuries)
 Males (70%)
 Ages 15-19 years (69%)
 Extreme Sports
 “Dare Devils” / Thrill
Seekers
 Posting Videos Online
THE RISKS
 Numerous injuries, broken bones, &
death
 From 1990 to 2008, a reported 58
people died and another 41 were
injured
The Ball-Tapping Game
Males
tapping/slapping/hitting/kicking
other males in the groin area
Males
Not just the bullies!
All ages: Boys, Teens, even
members of the U.S. Navy
To be mean
As a “friendly” gesture
"It's a way of establishing
dominance
 Becomes a measure of “toughness."
THE RISKS
Serious damage to the testicles
Body Spray Flamethrower
 Spraying body spray (Axe) and
using lighter to make
“flamethrower”
 “Axe Bomb” = Dropping 2 cans of
Axe in a bucket with lighter fluid
and fireworks
 Curious children and teens
 Thrill seekers?
Curiosity
Boredom?
THE RISKS
Fires!
Damage to property and
people
Teen Fight Clubs
 Teens fighting each other for “fun”
 Males from pre-teen to midtwenties
 Cage-fighting, MMA, UFC fighting
popularity
 Competition
THE RISKS
 Injuries!
 Assault charges?
Posting Risky Videos
Online
 Teens are doing DANGEROUS things
in order to post videos on the
internet.
The more “hits” or “views” teens get
on their videos, the higher their
celebrity status (or so they think).
We can thank the show/movie
“Jackass” and other popular teen
entertainment for being influences
Thigh Gaps
• “Thinspiration" for teen girls
• Minding the gap has become
unhealthy obsession
• Post images and "how-to"
guides
• Distorted body image
 Eating disorders
http://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=L3
D0jMIOK_c
What Educators Can Do…
 Look for signs & symptoms, if applicable.
 TALK TO THE STUDENTS!
 Express Concern
 Educate Teens on the DANGERS
 One-on-one, Groups, Classes
 State the facts: Life-long
consequences
 Get others involved (Parents, Other
Faculty/Staff)
 Stay up-to-date on the current teen
fads and the terminology used
 Educate PARENTS
Update them regularly on the
latest fads taking place
Give them the terminology to
listen/look for
Parental Discussion Groups
(Support/Guidance)
Make sure they are aware of the
signs/symptoms
What can be done to prevent/stop
these activities
 Don’t “blow it off” (i.e. “Boys will
be boys”)
 Have older students be “role
models” or “mentors” to younger
students and talk about these
issues with them.
 Be cautious! Don’t “teach” students
new activities to engage in 
Remember: Knowledge is Power…