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Alarming Trends in Teen Substance Use: What Parents Need to Know

According to recent surveys and reports:

  1. Vaping/e-cigarette use has become increasingly common among teens, with about 20% of high school students reporting use in the past month.
  2. Alcohol remains the most widely used substance among youth. Approximately 29% of high school students report drinking alcohol in the past month.
  3. Marijuana use is prevalent, with about 22% of high school students reporting use in the past month.
  4. Prescription drug misuse, particularly of stimulants and opioids, continues to be a concern.
  5. The use of “study drugs” or “smart drugs” (often prescription stimulants) to enhance academic performance is an emerging trend.

Some key trends you should be aware of:

  1. Poly-substance use (using multiple substances) is becoming more common.
  2. Social media plays a significant role in normalizing and promoting substance use.
  3. The potency of some substances, particularly marijuana, has increased over time.
  4. New synthetic drugs continue to emerge, often marketed as “legal highs”.

Statistics on drug use

Among Americans aged 12 years and older, 37.309 million were current illegal drug users (used within the last 30 days) as of 2020.

  • 13.5% of Americans 12 and over used drugs in the last month, a 3.8% increase year-over-year (YoY).
  • 59.277 million or 21.4% of people 12 and over have used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last year.
  • 138.543 million or 50.0% of people aged 12 and over have illicitly used drugs in their lifetime.
  • Usership among people aged 12 and over is down 0.4% YoY.
  • 138.522 million Americans 12 and over drink alcohol.
  • 28.320 million or 20.4% of them have an alcohol use disorder.
  • 57.277 million people use tobacco or nicotine products (vape).
  • 25.4% of illegal drug users have a drug disorder.
  • 24.7% of those with drug disorders have an opioid disorder; this includes prescription pain relievers or “pain killers” and heroin).
  • Drug abuse and substance disorders are more likely to affect young males
  • 22% of males and 17% of females used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last year.
  • 5% of people in non-metropolitan, rural counties used illegal drugs compared to 20.2% of people in larger metropolitan counties.
  • Drug use is highest among persons between the ages of 18-25 at 39% compared to persons aged 26-29, at 34%.
  • 70% of users who try an illegal drug before age 13 develop a substance abuse disorder within the next 7 years compared to 27% of those who try an illegal drug after age 17.
  • 47% of young people use an illegal drug by the time they graduate from high school; other users within the last 30 days include:
    • 5% of 8th graders.
    • 20% of 10th graders.
    • 24% of 12th graders.
  • For more information, see our report on teen drug use.

Parents: Practice

  1. Open, non-judgmental communication with teens about substance use
  2. Setting clear expectations and boundaries
  3. Monitoring social media and online activity
  4. Being aware of their child’s friends and activities
  5. Modeling healthy coping mechanisms and responsible behavior
  6. Seeking professional help if concerned about substance use


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HEROIN FOR KID’S COUGH?

Can you believe that?

In 1912 Beyer marketed Heroin as a cough suppressant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin – mediaviewer/File:Bayer_Heroin_bottle.jpg

We do NOT recommend any commercial over the top cough syrup for kids. If you must, try honey (for kid > 1 yr) or turmeric milk.


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TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY GENERICS?

Generic drugs, both over-the-counter and prescription medications, are very strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rules for generics. Regulations include:

· A generic’s active ingredient, dosage, and strength must be the same as its brand-name equivalent.

· Generic drugs must be "bioequivalent" to brand-name drugs, meaning they have to show up as the same in the bloodstream and work in the exact same way.

· Manufacturing, testing, and packaging sites are subject to the same FDA regulations, whether the product in question is a brand name or a generic. (About half of generic drugs are actually made by the same companies making the brand-name versions.)

In the end, the variation in performance between brand names and generics is about the same as the variation between brands.

So, do Doctors buy generic?

Source: Bronnenberg et al

YES!

Now, you decide.


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DRUG AND FOOD INTERACTIONS TO AVOID

This is more for adults than for children:

· Grapefruit juice negatively interacts with more than 50 medications, including statins. Because the effects of the citrus juice last more than 24 hours, simply taking your meds at a different time won’t solve the problem.

· An enzyme found in pomegranate juice can break down several blood pressure prescriptions.

· Calcium can interfere with the effectiveness of thyroid medication. Wait at least 4 hours after dosage to drink any calcium-rich beverages.

· Caffeine can pose a serious health threat when taken with stimulants. Avoid a cup of joe when taking ephedrine (appetite suppressants), asthma prescriptions, and amphetamines (such as Adderall).

· The potassium in Sport drinks can be dangerous when coupled with some heart failure or hypertension drugs. Bananas are also very rich in potassium.

· Skip the dinnertime glass of wine when taking antidepressents; the combo can cause hypertension, headaches, fast heart rate, and stroke. The same goes for energy drinks.

· Vitamin K, also found in broccoli and kale, can decrease the effect of blood thinners such as coumarin or warfarin.


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INTERESTING INSIGHTS ABOUT ADHD DRUGS

Between 2007 and 2012, the number of adults with ADHD prescriptions TRIPLED. 55% of students who are in fraternities misuse ADHD drugs. Many people who use these stimulants without a prescription don’t think they are taking a drug.

And so has ADHD drug-related ER visits. It has tripled in recent years.

Every major ADHD drug has been cited by the FDA for false and misleading advertising. Many are known to significantly impact your Creative abilities. The perceived cognitive benefits of these drugs are caused by Placebo effects. ADHD drug + Drinking may increase the risk of heart problems for people taking these meds. The scariest of the listed side effects for ADHD drugs is the risk of sudden death. In rare cases, stimulant abuse has led to mental illness and psychosis.

Now the kicker: ADHD Drugs release a rush of dopamine in the brain, giving many people a sense of euphoria. They are additive. Doctors and Pharmas are both at fault for ignoring FDA warnings about prescription stimulants and pushing more ADHD drugs to kids.

Fight unnecessary medication of children.

Source: NY Times, BusinessInsider.com


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TEETH STUDY REVEALS “DIET SODA = METH ADDICTION”

STUDY:

Dr. Mohamed Bassiouny, professor of restorative dentistry at the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia in the journal General Dentistry:

Woman in her 30s who drank 2 liters of diet soda daily for three to five years experienced tooth rot and decay remarkably similar to that suffered by a 29-year-old methamphetamine addict and a 51-year-old habitual crack cocaine user.

Methamphetamine and crack are known to ravage the mouths of users, and the drug abusers need all of their teeth extracted. The acid in soda is in the form of citric acid and phosphoric acid and does more or less the same.

RESULT:

"You look at it side-to-side with ‘meth mouth’ or ‘coke mouth,’ it is startling to see the intensity and extent of damage more or less the same,"

How does the industry react?

A group representing soft drink manufacturers said this case study should not be seen as an indictment of diet sodas generally.

BOTTOM LINE

Sugar-free soda is no better than regular soda when it comes to dental decay. Avoid them. Especially for kids.