Addictions

Because alcohol is by far the most commonly used drug among teens, it is logical- although still unfortunate- that binge drinking is popular among young people. But it’s not just college students who overindulge in alcohol; binge drinking is common at high school parties, too.

Just because alcohol is popular, however, does not mean that it’s completely safe, and although the prevalence of alcohol makes it nearly inevitable that teens will continue to experiment with it, helping them to understand the risks could help to dissuade them from dangerous binge drinking. Below you will find the top risks associate with binge drinking:

Alcohol Poisoning

One of the most well-known risks of binge drinking is alcohol poisoning, and this is also one of the most dangerous possible effects. If a teen consumes too much alcohol in too short a period of time, their ability to breathe could be affected, as well as their gag reflex, which opens up the possibility of them choking on their own vomit should they be left improperly supervised. Therefore, it is extremely important to call 911 or contact a medical professional if you suspect that an individual could have alcohol poisoning. A person could have alcohol poisoning if they:

• Cannot be woken up
• Are vomiting uncontrollably
• Have had a seizure
• Exhibit extreme confusion
• Are breathing slowly or irregularly
• Have pale or bluish skin
• Have a low body temperature

Poor Health

Teens who binge drink throughout high school have been shown to have diminished physical health compared to their peers who abstain from drinking. By the time they turn 24, teens who binge drink are more likely to have high blood pressure and to be overweight. In fact, the immense amount of calories consumed during a binge drinking episode is one of the main reasons behind the college weight gain epidemic known as the “Freshman 15.”

Impaired Judgment

Everyone knows that alcohol can impair your judgment, and the more alcohol a teen consumes, the worse their decision-making skills and motor skills become. Teens- a segment of the population already known for engaging in risky behavior- can become even more reckless while under the influence of alcohol. After binge drinking, teens are more likely to make poor decisions that could even put their lives at risk, such as driving drunk or having unprotected sex.

Mental Health Issues

Binge drinking can cause a number of mental health problems for teens. Drinking can have a negative impact on teens’ sleeping patterns, which can in turn disrupt their ability to stay awake and focused throughout the day. Teens who binge drink often experience a harder time with school than teens who don’t drink, and drinkers’ academic performance often suffers as a result of their habit. Binge drinking teens are also more likely to drop out of school.

What’s more, a teen’s social life could suffer as a result of their binge drinking because while most teens accept alcohol consumption as “normal,” if a teen becomes out of control (which is not uncommon among drunken teenagers), they could become alienated from their friends- even their fellow partiers. Finally, studies have also shown that drinking excessively as a teen could contribute to the development of alcoholism as an adult, something that no teen wants to look forward to as a part of their future.

Although many teens underestimate the dangers of alcohol, those dangers are, in fact, very real. A teen could potentially die from alcohol poisoning through binge drinking, and the health issues- both physical and mental- and the dangers of impaired judgment make binge drinking a very risky endeavor.

If you suspect that your teen could be engaging in binge drinking or other dangerous behaviors, it could be time for you to seek help from an outside source. One great source of help for at-risk teens Christian boarding schools. At these schools, students are rehabilitated through a time-tested and individualized program consisting of both discipline and reward. Students receive the love and guidance they need to transition from a troubled teen into an emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually healthy young adult.

In 2009 there were no calls to the Poison Control Center in regards to bath salts. In 2011 there were more than 6,000. Parents are concerned about this dangerous drug, but many don’t know much about it and are confused about the facts.

Bath Salts hit national news this year, hitting its peak when one Florida man, high on bath salts, was found eating the face of another man. A few years before, two adults in Pennsylvania died of hypothermia in the woods and had bath salts in their system and paraphernalia in their car. There have been numerous accounts of overdose and other accidents by teen users recorded all over the country.

This new designer drug is wildly dangerous and far too common for the parents of teens to ignore. The over the counter drug was sold at mini-marts and smoke shops. Like many other substances before it, this drug was stuck in a legal gray area: It probably should have been illegal, but the law hadn’t caught up yet. In October of 2011 the Drug Enforcement Agency placed bath salts on the list of schedule one drugs, or most dangerous, for one year, pending an investigation. It is expected that bath salts will be permanently remain on the list. As parents know, though, the illegality of a drug does not stop its use, so it is important to know all you can about the drug.

Most importantly, despite their name, bath salts are not what you would buy in the bath and soap aisle. While they can look similar, they often come in much smaller packages at the front counters of stores. They often read “not for human consumption” and are a small packet priced much higher than you would pay for Epsom Salts.

Bath salts are often found under names like purple wave, zoom, vanilla sky, cloud nine, ivory wave, and bliss. They contain the drug MDPV, or Methylenedioxypyrovalerone. The salts are usually swallowed, snorted or injected to get high.

What’s the point of bath salts?

According to Wikipedia, most individuals who use bath salts are hoping to experience

• Euphoria
• Increased alertness and awareness
• Increased wakefulness and arousal
• Increased energy and motivation
• Mental stimulation/increased concentration
• Increased sociability
• Sexual stimulation/aphrodisiac effects
• Less need for food and sleep

What are the side effects, and how can I tell if my teen is using bath salts?

Bath salts are similar to stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine. Bath salts have also been described to be similar in effect to LSD, PCP, and heroin, and often a combination of some or all.

Here is a list of side effects:

• Increased heart rate
• Dizziness
• Paranoia
• Panic attacks
• Nose bleeds
• Nausea
• Hallucinations
• Suicidal thoughts and actions
• Chest pains
• Confusion
• Agitation
• Insomnia
• Hypertension
• Pupil dilation

It is important to note that there is no drug test available to test for MDPV, and there’s therefore no way to test to see if your teen is using it. Because the drug is such a recent phenomenon, it is unknown if bath salts are truly addictive. We do know, however, that bath salts are a stimulant, and stimulants may cause a craving that can lead to addition. The long term effects of bath salts are unknown, but with similar stimulants long term use can lead to a laundry list of heart, respiratory, and mental issues.

If you suspect your teen is using bath salts it is important to talk to them and seek professional help right away. As always, it is important to try to keep an open dialogue with your teen, whether you suspect they are using the drug or not. Talking with your teen about the facts is an important way to get them to understand the true dangers of the drug.

Adderall, a drug most often prescribed to combat the symptoms of ADD/ ADHD, is very commonly abused among today’s teenagers and college students. Although it is available through prescription only, that hasn’t stopped legions of teens from taking advantage of the drug’s availability and abusing Adderall- sometimes to a dangerous degree. If you are a parent of a teen or a teenager yourself, it’s important to understand that despite its popularity, Adderall can be quite dangerous if not taken as prescribed. Below you will find some of the top facts about Adderall and Adderall abuse/ addiction:

It’s very popular among today’s young people.

Adderall is probably one of the most widely abused prescription drugs among teens and young adults, and because of its popularity, many young people mistakenly believe that the drug is free from harmful side effects. One of the most popular uses for Adderall among those who abuse it is as a study aid. Affectionately nicknamed “college crack,” Adderall enables students to concentrate for long periods of time, a characteristic many students abuse in order to write long papers or study for exams.

Adderall is also commonly used as a party drug. The pills contains dextroamphetamine, a stimulating substance that makes the user feel energized and more aware. In fact, Adderall’s side effects are often compared to those of cocaine, and it is therefore often abused at parties because of the feelings of confidence, well-being, enhanced libido, and talkativeness that it elicits. Finally, Adderall is commonly abused for the purpose of losing weight. Because the drug is a stimulant, it is extremely effective at suppressing one’s appetite. As a result, many young people (especially females, who are statistically more likely than males to feel pressured to be thin) choose to abuse Adderall for the sole purpose of losing weight.

There’s a fine line between abuse and addiction.

As with all substances, there is a fine line between Adderall abuse and Adderall addiction. As a result, it is important to recognize the signs of Adderall abuse before it has time to develop into a full blown addiction.

Signs that could possibly indicate Adderall abuse or addiction include:

• Purchasing it without a prescription
• Using it for purposes other than to control ADHD symptoms (or for any purpose other than the one recommended by the doctor prescribing the medication)
• Overusing the drug (whether you have a prescription or not)
• Faking symptoms to obtain a prescription
• Crushing or breaking the pills
• Snorting, smoking, or injecting the drug
• Increasing Adderall dose due to an increased tolerance
• Abusing the drug in the face of negative or damaging side effects

 

If you fear that a loved one could be abusing the drug, look for the signs. If someone is high on Adderall, they will likely exhibit some of the following cocaine-like symptoms, such as:

• Dry mouth
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Talkativeness
• Mania
• Restlessness
• Agitation/ irritability

Adderall abuse can have some very serious consequences.

Abusing Adderall can have a number of negative side effects. Some were covered in the list of symptoms found above, but others are more serious. When an individual is given an Adderall prescription, they are first screened for certain conditions, including underlying heart problems, seizure conditions, thyroid problems, and high blood pressure. These conditions can have severe and sometimes deadly interactions with Adderall, so it is important to know whether you are at risk before taking the drug. Therefore, when someone takes Adderall outside of a doctor’s orders and without these medical screenings, they are putting themselves at great risk. The negative (and sometimes very serious) consequences of Adderall misuse can include:

 

• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased body temperature
• Psychosis (such as paranoia)
• Extreme depression, nausea, irritation, and exhaustion (especially during the “crash”)
• Dangerous weight loss and anorexia
• Hallucinations
• Prolonged insomnia
• Sudden death

As you can see, Adderall, despite its popularity, is not something to be taken lightly. Without proper medical supervision, the drug can cause some very serious negative side effects. Therefore, if you are addicted to Adderall or suspect that someone you know could be abusing the drug, it’s very important that you find help as soon as possible. If you don’t, the consequences could be disastrous.

If you are a teen who smokes and wants to quit or the parent of a teen who smokes and wants to quit, then you’re probably feeling the pressure of the task ahead. Quitting smoking is certainly no easy feat, but previous smokers have taught us that the earlier you start trying to quit, the easier it will be. On the other hand, the longer you put it off, the more engrained the addiction will be in your life and the harder it will be to kick the habit. Before you try to quit, understand that it is possible. It’s been done by many, many people before you, and you can join their ranks if you remain positive, keep your will strong, and follow the tips below:

Establish a set date.

Quitting smoking can be scary, no matter how much you want to do it. It helps, though, if you establish a concrete quitting date. Stopping an addictive substance like cigarettes is going to involve reworking several parts of your life, and it’s okay to give yourself time to come to terms with the idea. Set a date a few days, a week, or even two weeks in the future to start the quitting process. However, it is extremely important that you stick to your date no matter what. Avoid making excuses to push the date back (“Well, I’m going to a party on Friday, and I know I’ll want to smoke, so I’ll just quit after this weekend instead.”) because delaying the quit date could result in you smoking for weeks or even months longer than you wanted. Also, allowing yourself to push back your quitting date only reinforces the bad habit of breaking promises to yourself.

 

Make your plans known.

This is a time-tested and proven strategy for accomplishing a new task. People often use this method when they want to lose weight, and it works just as well for smoking. Tell your friends and family about your plans to quit, and put your intentions in writing. This step is just as simple as it sounds, but it is an important and effective way to convince yourself that you’re serious about quitting. Knowing that your loved ones are counting on you to follow through on your plans acts as additional incentive for you to trash your cigarettes.

Avoid your triggers.

Before you quit, take the time to evaluate your triggers. These are things that you’ll need to avoid as much as possible, especially for the first few weeks after you quit. Your triggers will be unique to you, but common smoking triggers include:

• Finishing a meal
• Riding in a car
• Being around other smokers
• Taking breaks at work
• Sitting in the smoking section at restaurants
• Drinking alcohol

Obviously, you won’t be able to avoid all your triggers all the time, but it’s a good idea to make substitutions whenever possible. For example, if you know that you usually smoke a cigarette on the car ride to school, consider riding the bus or getting a ride from a non-smoker friend or parent instead. If you crave a cigarette after finishing a meal, find something else to occupy your mind for the strongest part of your craving. Reading a book, drinking a cup of tea, or even doing sit-ups or some other form of exercise are all examples of things you can do to ward off your craving during this time. You’ll just need to find what works for you. If you have the desire to quit smoking, then you’re already on your way to being cigarette-free. You will need to take the necessary steps to prepare for quitting, such as making your intentions public and deciding on a concrete date, and you will also need to do everything possible to avoid your trigger situations. Just remember that quitting smoking is not only entirely possible; it’s also one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.