Teenagers finding new ways to get high.
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Prescription Drugs
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Alcoholic Energy Drinks
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Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use
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Today teenagers are not using as much
cocaine, crack, LSD, and ecstasy as the
teenagers of the 1960’s. Kids have found
other ways and means to get high; painkillers
and other prescription drugs are being
abused at record levels. This up coming
generation of teens has been given the name
“Generation Rx.”
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Teens are often getting caught raiding their
parent’s or grandparent’s medicine cabinets
in order to get high. For the first time,
national studies show that today’s teens are
more likely to have abused a prescription
painkiller than any illicit drug.
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Opiates
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Depressants
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Stimulants
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Opiates are powerful drugs that have been used for
centuries to relieve pain. These narcotic pain killers
go by such names as OxyContin, Darvon, Vicodin,
Dilaudid, Demerol and Lomotil, and are often
prescribed for post-operative pain. When used as
directed by a physician, opiates are safe and
generally do not produce addiction. But opiates also
possess very strong reinforcing properties and can
quickly trigger addiction when used improperly.
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Opiates act directly on the respiratory center
in the brainstem, slowing down a person’s
breathing. Excessive amounts of an opiate
can cause the respiratory centers to shut
down breathing altogether, causing death.
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Hydrocodone
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Central nervous system (CNS) depressants
have such trade names as Nembutal, Valium
and Xanax. These drugs are used to treat
anxiety, panic and sleep disorders.
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Valium – white, yellow, blue
Diazepam – white
Xanax – blue, white, pink (Bars)
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dextromethorphan (also called DXM)
robotripping
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These drugs are also highly addictive, and
those who have taken them for long periods
of time should only try to stop using them
with the support of trained medical
professionals because they have serious
physical withdrawal symptoms.
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Finally, there are stimulants and
amphetamines like Dexedrine, Ritalin and
Adderall. These drugs are used in weight loss
treatment programs, to treat sleep disorders
and to aid those, particularly children, with
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
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Top – Adderall
Bottom - Ritalin
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The health risks of abuse of stimulants
include dangerously high body temperature,
seizures and cardiovascular complications.
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In addition to the risks that all of these drugs
pose when used on their own, greater risks
result when they are combined with other
drugs or with alcohol. Self-medicators often
“try out” various combinations of “uppers”
and “downers” to enhance or manage their
effects, but this can cause severe physical and
mental problems, and even death.
Do you REALLY know what you are drinking?
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Can you tell which of these contains alcohol?
 NOTE: These are NOT energy
drinks - despite the visual
similarity.
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Tilt is an energy drink, containing alcohol. It is marketed
as a "Premium Malt Beverage". Its active ingredients
include caffeine, ginseng, and Guarana. Its alcoholic
content by volume varies, from 6.6 in the berry flavor and
up to 8% in the lemon lime, higher than most American
beer (commonly 3-6%), and slightly higher than
competitor Sparks (7% maximum).
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Joose is an alcoholic energy drink and is growing in popularity due
to its relatively high alcohol content (9.0-9.9% ABV) compared with
other beverages generally available at a convenience store such as
beer (typically 5-6% ABV) and other alcoholic energy drinks
(typically 8% ABV).
Joose is comprised of malt beverage, caffeine, taurine, ginseng, and
natural coloring. Joose is currently available in 23.5 oz orange, red,
or blue cans on a black background.
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Sparks is a caffeinated alcohol beverage, one of the first such
beverages. Its active ingredients caffeine, taurine, and ginseng are
common to energy drinks; however, its additional focus on alcohol is
not. Its packaging states a 6% alcoholic content by volume. Sparks
currently is available in 16oz silver cans with bright orange tops,
with a "+" printed near the top and a "-" printed near the bottom, to
give the can a battery-like appearance. A diet version "Sparks Light"
with a bright blue top is also produced. A higher alcohol version
(7.0%) called "Sparks Plus" is available in both 16oz and 24oz cans
and has a black top.
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24/SEVEN LIQUID
CHARGE
TORQUE
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3SUM is an Alcopop "infused" with the energy components caffeine,
ginseng, and taurine. 3SUM is considered an energy drink and a
flavored alcoholic beverage. 3SUM is available in 4 different flavors:
original, apple, tropical, and watermelon
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Four is a 16oz canned alcoholic malt beverage sold in the United
States and produced by Phusion Projects Inc. of Chicago. It contains
6.0%ABV as well as carbonation, sugar and artificial flavoring,
similar to other alcopops. Its name is derived from its four other
ingredients, caffeine, taurine, guarana, and FDA approved
wormwood oil, the species of which is unknown.
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Two varieties are sold both having an alcohol content of 6.9% by
volume.
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24/SEVEN LIQUID
CHARGE
TORQUE
Alcohol is a depressant. The term “alcoholic energy drink”
is an oxymoron. There is a large body of research showing
that drunk person plus caffeine still equals drunk person.
 That being said, a number of brewers have been jumping
in on the action. That lucrative energy drink market is just
too tempting.
 In many ways it’s a similar situation to the “hardcore”
energy drinks. It’s all about marketing - and many of these
drinks look just like a typical energy drink (and apparently
fool store clerks too).
 Virtually all of them are “infused with caffeine, ginseng
and guarana”and are 6-12% alcoholic by volume.
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Three-Point Plan for Targeting Youth
Create brand confusion with nonalcoholic versions
Provide a cheap alternative to mixing energy drinks with
alcohol
Deploy youth-friendly grassroots and viral marketing
The Exploding popularity of Energy Drinks
500 new energy drink products introduced worldwide in
2006
Energy drink sales = $3.2 billion
31 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds are regular consumers v.
22 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds
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It is important to keep in mind that if a child shows
any of the following symptoms, it does not
necessarily mean that he or she is using drugs. The
presence of some of these behaviors could be the
product of adolescent stress. Others may be
symptoms of depression or a host of other
problems. Whatever the cause, they may warrant
attention, especially if they persist or if they occur in
a cluster.
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It is important to watch for any significant
changes in your child's physical appearance,
personality, attitude or behavior.
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Loss of appetite, increase in appetite, any
changes in eating habits, unexplained weight
loss or gain.
Slowed or staggering walk; poor physical
coordination.
Inability to sleep, awake at unusual times,
unusual laziness.
Red, watery eyes; pupils larger or smaller
than usual; blank stare.
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Cold, sweaty palms; shaking hands.
Puffy face, blushing or paleness.
Smell of substance on breath, body or
clothes.
Extreme hyperactivity; excessive
talkativeness.
Runny nose; hacking cough.
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Needle marks on lower arm, leg or bottom of
feet.
Nausea, vomiting or excessive sweating.
Tremors or shakes of hands, feet or head.
Irregular heartbeat.
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Change in overall attitude/personality with no
other identifiable cause.
Changes in friends; new hang-outs; sudden
avoidance of old crowd; doesn't want to talk
about new friends; friends are known drug
users.
Change in activities or hobbies.
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Drop in grades at school or performance at
work; skips school or is late for school.
Change in habits at home; loss of interest in
family and family activities.
Difficulty in paying attention; forgetfulness.
General lack of motivation, energy, selfesteem, "I don't care" attitude.
Sudden oversensitivity, temper tantrums, or
resentful behavior.
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Moodiness, irritability, or nervousness.
Silliness or giddiness.
Paranoia
Excessive need for privacy; unreachable.
Secretive or suspicious behavior.
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Car accidents.
Chronic dishonesty.
Unexplained need for money, stealing money
or items.
Change in personal grooming habits.
Possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Alcohol: Clumsiness; difficulty walking;
slurred speech; sleepiness; poor judgment;
dilated pupils; possession of a false ID card.
Depressants: (including barbiturates and
tranquilizers) Seems drunk as if from alcohol but
without the associated odor of alcohol; difficulty
concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgment; slurred
speech; sleepiness; and contracted pupils.
 Stimulants: Hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability;
anxiety; excessive talking followed by depression or
excessive sleeping at odd times; may go long
periods of time without eating or sleeping; dilated
pupils; weight loss; dry mouth and nose.
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Inhalants: (Glues, aerosols, and vapors ) Watery eyes;
impaired vision, memory and thought; secretions from the
nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and
nausea; appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle
control; changes in appetite; anxiety; irritability; an unusual
number of spray cans in the trash.
Hallucinogens: Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational
behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations;
mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self
or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.
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Heroin: Needle marks; sleeping at unusual
times; sweating; vomiting; coughing and
sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite;
contracted pupils; no response of pupils to
light.
Tobacco/Nicotine: Smell of tobacco; stained
fingers or teeth.
Know as a gate way drug
THC is the main active ingredient in marijuana along
with more than 400 other chemicals.
 Slang terms are, Pot, Grass, Weed, Dope, etc.
 It’s smoked in a pipe or rolled in a joint/ blunt
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Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking and
inappropriate laughter followed by
sleepiness; a sweet burnt scent; loss of
interest, motivation; weight gain or loss,
memory loss.
Methamphetamine
Street names are, meth, crank, speed
Looks like a white powder.
Ingested by snorting, smoking, and needle injection.
Man made dangerous potent chemical drug that is poison to
the body.
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Increased heart rate
Disturbed sleep patterns
Bazaar behavior/ panic
Poisons the entire body
WHY?
 Made with OTC pills
 Cooked with chemicals such as
battery acid, drain cleaner,
lantern fuel, and antifreeze
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If you know someone that needs help with
drug abuse or addiction contact..
School counselor
School Resource Officer (SRO)
Notify Crime Stoppers at 972-721-tips or
campus SRO
Cash reward, paid for tips