Self –Medicating Teens
A Growing Problem
Volume 1, Issue 1
Parent Corps
NATIONAL FAMILIES IN ACTION
November 17, 2006
While the holidays are often
viewed as a cheerful time of
year for many families, some
teens may suffer from depression from stress or loneliness, and may be risk of
self-medicating.
legitimate uses, but taking
them without a prescription
to get high or “self-medicate”
can be an dangerous-and
addictive– as using street
narcotics and other illicit
drugs.
Teens may abuse illicit and
prescription drugs to mask
their emotions to friends and
family.
Kids as young as 12 are trying or using prescription
medication because they can
be taken from the medicine
cabinet at home, rather than
marijuana which necessitates
knowing someone who uses
or sells the drug.
The Partnership for a Drug
Free America’s annual tracking study released recently
showed:
1 in 5 teens has abused a
prescription pain medication
1 in 5 report abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers
1 in 10 has abused cough
medication
Many teens think these drugs
are safe because they have
What to tell your teens about
prescription medications:
Pharmaceuticals taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision can be just
as dangerous as taking illicit
drugs or alcohol
Abusing painkillers is like
abusing heroin because their
ingredients (both are opiods)
are very similar
Prescription medications
are powerful substances.
While sick people taking
medication under a doctor’s care can benefit enormously, prescription medication can have a very different impact on a well
person.
Many pills look pretty
much the same, but depending on the drug and
the dosage the effects can
vary greatly from mild to
lethal. Prescription medications, as all drugs, can
cause dangerous interactions with other drugs or
chemicals in the body.
Prescription medications,
as all drugs, can cause dangerous interactions with
other drugs or chemicals in
the body.
Helping your child adjust to a new
school
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, up to 13 percent of kids suffer from some
sort of anxiety disorder.
Experts say adjusting to a
new school takes time and
patience, “But I would say
after about a month to six
weeks, if you really don’t see
your child adjusting or
they’re having major
changes-discipline issues that
they never had before, grade
problems that they never had
before, than parents really
need to find out what’s going
on.” says Julie Lance, a
Inside this issue:
school social worker.
You don’t have to tell them
what to do but allow them
to tell you what’s going on.
And don’t forget that this is
their life and this is something that’s very important
to them and that they’re
trying to adjust.
Special points of interest:
11 Myths about Abuse and Treatment
2
Inhalants: Who, What and Effects of
3
Diet Pills
3
Internet Awareness
4
Sarah Panzau
4
• Look for any changes in behavior that signal that your child isn’t adjusting well.
• Encourage your child to join school activities where they can meet likeminded people.
• Don’t forget that change is hard on teens.
• Contact the school to make an appointment
with the counselor before the next semester
starts
11 Myths About Drug Abuse and Treatment
Myth #1: Drug addiction is voluntary behavior:
A person starts out as an occasional drug users, and that is a voluntary decision. But as times passes, something happens, and that person goes from being a voluntary drug user to being a compulsive drug user. Why? Because over time the addictive drugs change your
brain into a dramatic, toxic way.
Myth #2: More than anything else, drug addiction is a character flaw:
Drug addiction is a brain disease. Every type of abuse has its own individual mechanism for changing how the brain functions. The
drug becomes the single most powerful motivator in a drug abuser’s existence. He or she will do almost anything for the drug. This
comes about because drug use has changed the individual’s brain and its functioning in critical ways.
Myth #3: You have to want drug treatment for it to be effective:
Virtually no one wants drug treatment. Two of the primary reasons people seek drug treatment are because
the court ordered them to do so, or because loved ones urged them to seek treatment.
Myth #4: Treatment for drug addiction should be a one-shot deal:
Like many other illnesses, drug addiction typically is a chronic disorder. To be sure, some people can quit
drug use “cold turkey,” or they can quit after receiving treatment just one time at a rehabilitation facility. But most of those who abuse
drugs require longer-term treatment and, in many instances, repeated treatments.
Myth #5: We should strive to find a “magic bullet” to treat all forms of drug abuse:
There is no “one size fits all” form of drug treatment, much less a magic bullet that suddenly will cure addiction. Different people have
different drug abuse-related problems. And they respond very differently to similar forms of treatment, even when they’re abusing the
same drug. As a result, drug addicts need an array of treatments and services tailored to address their unique needs.
Myth #6: People don’t need treatment. They can stop using drugs if they really want to:
FACT: It is extremely difficult for people addicted to drugs to achieve and maintain long-term abstinence. Research shows long-term
drug use actually changes a person’s brain function, causing them to crave the drug even more, making it increasingly difficult for the
person to quit. Especially for adolescents, intervening and stopping substance abuse early is important, as children become addicted to
drugs mush faster than adults and risk greater physical, mental and psychological harm from illicit drug use.
Myth #7: Treatment just doesn’t work:
FACT: Treatment can help people. Studies show drug treatment reduces drug use by 40 to 60 percent and can significantly decrease
criminal activity during and after treatment. There is also evidence that drug addiction treatment reduces the risk of HIV infection and
improves the prospects of employment, with gains of up to 40 percent after treatment.
Myth #8: Nobody will voluntarily seek treatment until they hit “rock bottom”:
FACT: There are many things that can motivate a person to enter and complete substance abuse treatment before they hit bottom. Pressure from family members and companies, as well as personal recognition that they have a problem, can be powerful motivating factors
for individuals to seek treatment. For teens, parents and school administrators are often driving forces in getting them into treatment
once problems at home or in school develop but before situations become dire.
Myth #9: You can’t force someone into treatment:
FACT: Treatment does not have to be voluntary. People coerced into treatment by the legal system can be just as successful as those
who enter treatment voluntarily. Sometimes they do better, as they are more likely to remain in treatment longer and to complete the
program.
Myth #10: If you’ve tried one doctor or treatment program, you’ve tried them all:
FACT: Not every doctor or program may be the right fit for someone seeking treatment. For many, finding an approach that is personally effective for treating their addiction can mean trying out several different doctors and treatment centers before a perfect “match” is
found between patient and program.
Myth #11: People who continue to abuse drugs after treatment are hopeless:
FACT: Drug addiction is a chronic disorder; occasional relapse does not mean failure. Psychological stress from work or family problems, social cues, or environment can easily trigger a relapse. Addicts are most vulnerable to drug use during the few months immediately following their release from treatment. Teens are especially at risk if they return to their same environment situations that initially led them to abuse substances. Recovery is a long process and frequently requires multiple treatment attempts.
Page 2
PARENT CORPS
Inhalants: What Are They??
Inhalants are drugs that produce a quick,
temporary high; lightheadedness, and a
general good feeling when their fumes or
gases are breathed. It tends to last only a
short time, from a few minutes to about
three-quarters of an hour and may be followed by after-effects, such as drowsiness,
headache, or nausea, which last for an hour
or two.
Inhalants are readily available and relatively cheap. Many of them can be obtained legally, even by minors. More than
a thousand common household products
can be used to get high. The average age at
which adolescents first try
these drugs is 12.
What are the Main Types?
•
•
Organic solvents are
liquid compounds of carbon that have
power to break down or dissolve, other
carbon compounds. Examples of
products containing high levels of
organic solvents are: gasoline, lighter
fluid and butane lighter fuel, spray
paint, paint thinners and removers,
transparent glue, rubber-cement thinner, hair spray, nail polish remover,
degreasers, and cleaning fluids.
Nitrous oxide are compounds called
laughing gas, was first inhalant used
for recreational purposes. Introduced
as an anesthetic, dentist still use this
compound of nitrogen and oxygen. It
doesn’t completely block pain, but it
does alter the perception of pain.
Stored in metal tanks, the compressed
gas is also used to make whipped
cream. Then packaged in small cartridges, called whippets, and enclosed
in a container of Redi– Whip
cream,. The gas mixes with
the cream when the nozzle is
depressed.
•
Nitrites are compounds of nitrogen
and act mainly as vasodilators, causing
the walls of blood vessels to relax so
that the vessel enlarge, or dilate. The
most commonly abuse are amyl nitrite
and butyl nitrite. Amyl nitrite is usually packaged in small, crushable glass
or plastic capsules, know as poppers or
snappers. Butyl nitrite often comes in
a bottle or spray can and is sold as an
air freshener under such names as
Rush and Locker Room.
The fumes from organic solvents may be
inhaled from their containers. A liquid
solvent may also be poured or sprayed on
an absorbent material, such as
a sock or rag, or a roll of toilet
paper. To make the fumes
stronger, abusers put the solvent in a paper or plastic bag
or a rubber balloon, and then
hold the open end over the mouth and nose.
This is called “huffing”. The capsules containing amyl nitrite are crushed and held
beneath the nose. Butyl nitrite may be inhaled in its container, or like organic solvents, applied to cloth or paper. Nitrous
oxide may be inhaled through a mask from
a tank or directly from a punctured whippet. The nozzle of a whipped-cream container can also be depressed in such a way
that only the nitrous oxide is discharged.
Short and Long Term Effects
During the high itself and the period afterward, physical coordination and mental judgment are impaired. Abusers often
suffer falls and other accidents and cannot drive safely. They may engage in
irresponsible or dangerous behavior.
Inhalants irritate the breathing passages,
sometimes provoking severe coughing,
painful inflammation, and nosebleeds.
Nitrite inhalants often cause intense facial
flushing, feelings of severe weakness and
dizziness, and heart palpitations.
Repeated use trends to produce increased
tolerance to the drugs and larger doses
are needed to achieve the same results.
Heavy doses increase the risk of permanent brain damage, with effects such as
poor memory, extreme mood swings,
tremors, and seizures. Heavy, continuous
use also increases the risk of heart arrhythmia and respiratory failure.
Nitrite inhalants tend to raise the pressure
of the fluid within the eyes which eventually leads to glaucoma and blindness.
Organic solvents are the most dangerous
of all inhalants. They are poisons that
break down organic compounds including
those that make up living cells.
Even first time users run the risk of sudden death (SSD). Abusers may suffer
fatal irregularity of heartbeat or complete
heart arrest. The danger is especially
great if inhalants are taken along with
other nervous-system depressants, such
as alcohol or barbiturates (sleeping pills).
Use of Diet Pills by Teen Girls Soaring
It appears that national obsession with
weight and looks is hitting teenager girls
especially hard.
A study of 2,500 females by the University of Minnesota’s Project EAT found
that diet pills usage by high school-aged
girls nearly doubled in over five-year
period—to over 14 percent. And by the
time they were 19 and 20 one out of
every five of the females surveyed were
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
taking diet pills.
Another disturbing fact: nearly 22 percent of the teen girls surveyed were using
“very unhealthy weight control behaviors,” which included diet pills, skipping
meals, laxatives or vomiting.
“These numbers are starling,” says professor Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, one of
the study’s researchers, “and they tell us
we need to do a better job of helping our
daughter feel better about
themselves and avoid unhealthy weight control behaviors.”
Parents can play an important
role by establishing good
eating habits, making sure
their kids are physically active and by helping children
build a positive body image.
Page 3
Internet Awareness Program was a BIG Success
NATIONAL FAM ILIES IN ACTIO N
Pat Giuliani
Pat.giuliani@parentcorps.org
404-409-9112
Walton Parent Leader
Parent Corps
Thank you to the 57 parents who attended the educational internet
awareness program held on Monday, November 13th in the
Walton Media Center. There are a few hand outs still available if someone was unable to attend and would like an information packet. Please email me and I will arrange to leave you an envelope at the front desk at Walton. Below are the social
networking sites many Walton students are currently using.
MySapce—free service were members personalize their own Web page and create a
social, interactive environment using photos, blogs, user profiles, e-mail/Instant
Messaging, chat rooms and Web forums. www.myspace.com
Facebook—started off as a social network for college students, recently expanded,
offering high school and work directories. Facebook requires a friend confirmation
and only those friends can see an individual’s full profile. www.facebook.com
Drug Prevention
Starts Here
To search your child’s account you can google search their name or google search
Walton blog, you could also google search a club or group name and see if any sites
with individuals you know personality come up. Once you find site click onto individuals pictures and that will take you into their list of friends which might surprise
you to see others in that group, on another list or another site. Have fun surfing the
internet and educating yourself on what is going on in the world of your teen.
www.parentcorps.org
The only way Instant Message (IM) can be saved is for the teen to copy the conversation before they exit the computer. Once the computer is closed the message is
erased. But that does not mean the other individuals did not make copies before they
exited from the computer. Could do damage the next day at school if something was
shared in private during IMing. Tell your teen to be careful when talking online.
Sarah Panzau Coming to Walton
Friends, family, coaches and teachers
remember Sarah Panzau as an outgoing,
pretty girl with a wild streak, a volleyball
star who shined at Belleville West High
School and set records at Southwestern
Illinois College.
Panzau still has most of the body of a
volleyball player: tan, tall at 5 feet 11
inches, and muscular. But her left arm is
a stump, sheered off mid-bicep, just one
more scar wrought by the single-car accident in 2003.
Wednesday, December 13, Sarah Panzau will be speaking to Walton students who elect to stay for WEB that
day in the theatre. Program starts at
1:10.
That night in August, a 21-year-old Panzau went to a Cardinals game and followed it with a binge of chicken wings
and booze. The last thing she remembered was somebody ordering her another Bud Light.
"I was lying on the highway pretty much
dead -- no heartbeat," Panzau, 24, said to
students at Madison High School. "My
arm was ripped off. They found it in the
back seat.
"It happened because hours before I was
drinking," she said.
Panzau has given that speech to tens of
thousands of students around the Midwest, telling them of the perils of alcohol
abuse, of driving drunk, of being stupid.
Driving home to Belleville, she missed
the curve where Interstate 64 breaks from
I-55/70. Her blood-alcohol content was
0.308 percent, more than triple the legal
limit.
The accident shattered her jaw, ripped
her ribcage from her spine and snapped
most of her backbone. She nearly bled to
death on the highway.
It was almost the grim end of a life that
had taken an alcohol-fueled slide. Panzau had dropped out of community
college and was working at a Soulard
sports bar before falling into alcoholism and cocaine abuse.
Now Panzau has gone back to college,
coaches volleyball and talks to students. She is living with her mother in
Belleville and has recently made the
U.S. Paralympic volleyball team.
But looking in the mirror or seeing her
twin sister remains a reminder of her
mistakes.
Encourage your teens to come hear her
powerful message on Wednesday,
December 13th in the theatre. With
holiday break coming our teens need to
be reminded about how unsafe underage drinking is. We will be passing out
FREE Ice Cream Coupons after the
program is over and there will be teachers on hand to sign WEB forms.