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FAST FACTS for Parents: New Trends in Teen Drug Abuse | |
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The good news: Recent data show that illicit drug use among teens has declined by more than 23 percent over the past five years. The decrease is especially marked in younger teens, according to the latest survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Exceptions to the decrease are use of non-crack cocaine, which was up among 10th graders, and alcohol use, which remained stable. In addition, the latest trend in teen drug abuse is abuse of pharmaceuticals. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly one in 10 teens reported abusing Vicodin in the past year, and 4.3 percent of 12th graders reported abusing Oxycontin. And 4.2 percent of 8th graders, 5.3 percent of 10th graders, and 6.9 percent of 12th graders have abused cough medicine. This abuse is on a par with or higher than abuse of illicit drugs.
Drugs Commonly Used by Teens Alcohol. Alcohol is the number one drug problem among adolescents even though it is illegal for persons under 21 to purchase or drink it. Alcohol is associated with all the leading causes of death among teenagers, including traffic accidents, homicides and suicides, and is a factor in unprotected sex resulting in unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS. Tobacco. It is also illegal for businesses to sell cigarettes to minors under age 18. Each day, however, over 2,000 adolescents become regular, daily smokers and about half of these kids will eventually die from a tobacco-related illness, including respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Marijuana (Pot, Hash, Weed or Grass). Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. Smoking marijuana produces a "high" feeling of well-being, relaxation and enhanced sensory perceptions. Short-term effects also include increased heart rate, impaired memory and paranoia or hallucinations. Among the long-term effects of smoking pot are an increased risk of cancer of the lungs and respiratory tract. Ecstasy or MDMA (Adam, XTC, Hug, Beans or Drug). MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine), better known as Ecstasy, is a synthetic drug that is usually produced in tablet form and taken orally. The drug is frequently used at all-night parties, or "raves," and produces a sense of intense well-being. Ecstasy interferes with memory and learning and may alter brain chemistry and structure. It also increases heart rate and blood pressure, and can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature, potentially leading to a sharp increase in body temperature that causes liver, kidney and cardiovascular system failure and death. Even short-term use can cause heart attacks. Methamphetamine (Speed, Crank, Meth, Crystal Meth, Glass or Ice). Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that produces increased alertness and elation, and can be swallowed, smoked, snorted or injected. Among its side effects are increased heart rate and blood pressure, decreased appetite, anxiety, paranoia and violent behavior. It also can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes. It is highly addictive. Prescription
Drugs Vicodin and OxyContin. These are pain relievers that contain hydrocodone and oxycodone, respectively, and like other narcotics, cause a pleasurable, dreamy feeling. They also can produce drowsiness and breathing difficulties. Chronic use results in addiction, but one large dose could be lethal. Dexedrine and Ritalin. These are stimulants that contain dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate, respectively. These medications are prescribed to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, as well as narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. Abuse of these drugs can result in irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperatures or the potential for cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures. Over-the-Counter Drugs Dextromethorphan (Dex, Robo, Skittels, Syrup, Triple-C or Tussin). Some teens are abusing dextromethorphan (abbreviated DXM), the active ingredient found in many legal nonprescription cough medicines, which is safe and effective when used according to label directions. When abused in large amounts much higher than recommended, however, DXM can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and rapid heart rate. DXM abusers can experience mild distortions of color and sound, visual hallucinations and "out-of-body" sensations and loss of motor control. DXM is also sometimes abused with other drugs or alcohol, which can increase the dangerous physiological effects. A
number of Web sites promote the abuse of DXM. The information on
these sites ranges from recommending how much to take, suggesting
other drugs to combine with DXM, instructing how to extract DXM
from cough medicines and even selling a powder form of DXM for snorting.
Parents should monitor their teens' Web use for these types of pro-drug-abuse
sites. Inhalants. Inhalants are chemical vapors that are inhaled ("huffed" or "sniffed") to achieve quick intoxication. Teens often inhale these vapors from household substances, such as paint thinner, nail polish remover, glue, aerosols, butane and CD cleaners, which are cheap and easy to obtain. Inhalants slow the body's function and eventually can cause users to lose consciousness. High concentrations can cause death from suffocation. Regular abuse seriously harms vital organs, including the brain, heart, kidneys and liver. WARNING
SIGNS Your child could be using drugs if he or she:
PREVENTION Parents can help their kids resist drug use. Try the following:
TREATMENT Helping a teenager overcome substance abuse and remain drug-free can be daunting. With professional help and family involvement, however, the chance for recovery is excellent. Among the treatment options are individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, in-patient therapy at a residential center and twelve-step programs designed for teens. QUESTIONS
TO ASK YOUR HEALH CARE PROFESSIONAL
RESOURCES National
Women's Health Resource Center Consumer
Health Education Center (CHEC) Consumer
Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) National
Institute on Drug Abuse Campaign
for Tobacco-Free Kids JoinTogether.org Partnership
for a Drug-Free America To view references consulted to develop this article, click here.
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Presented by the National Women's Health Resource Center, Inc.
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Date: 8/2/04
Date Last Updated: 4/13/07
