Friends Don't Give Friends Prescription Drugs

I will let this blog from NPR speak for itself. What a good idea or take off of an old slogan.

Drugs are Prevalent in Local Schools

One of the most interesting attitudes that I sometimes see in suburban schools is that parents believe that drugs can somehow be eradicated from our schools. Or that somehow all the other kids in the school are using except for their child or their children's friends. I feel bad for them because while they may find this comforting; it allows their child to be at risk.

We must never forget that drug sellers are in business to make money. They will seek where they can get a better price for their merchandise. This is not in the stereotypical ghetto. It is in the stereotypical suburb.

The article that I supplied the link to really is a fundamental article that all parents should read before the school year starts. Parents have to realize that in fact every single child sometime in his or her school career will be offered a drug at least once. Whether that young person takes the drug depends on the environment in which he or she was raised, the drug education that he or she has had,and how aware this child is to how a drug can affect him or her.

'“The chances of your child learning about drugs and alcohol from their peers is high,” comments Mary Rieser, Director of the Atlanta Recovery Center, Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia. “ Eleven million high school students (80 percent) and five million middle school students (44 percent) attend drug-infested schools, meaning possession, student drunk and/or student high on the grounds of their school, according to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII Teens and Parents."'

Drug-infested is really a scary term that Rieser uses. But what are the chances the above definition could be applied to any one of our schools? Well, let's see. Marijuana is easier to get than beer (please see August 30, 2008 post) How many parents take the time to count how many prescription drugs are in each bottle in their medicine cabinets that is an opiate? Plus count how many pills is each one of those bottles?

I like this quote also. "Couple this with the increase in back-to-school themed ads, marketing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs, and you have the potential of chemical experimentation at school, beyond the scope of the chemistry classes."

I wish I could reassure each parent of my students that teachers keep an eye on each child. I think teachers do. But again let's be realistic. The recession we hear about in the news is hitting schools too. As each levy doesn't pass, there are cut back in staff and teachers. That is one more set of eyes that is no longer there to help safeguard each child in a school.

One more time. Safe guard starts at home. Talk to your kid. If you do have prescription drugs do one of a few things, throw them in the used kitty litter or coffee grounds or keep a count and place it with your important papers. Kids are not only watering down the gin (or vodka I forget which they water down), they are taking pills from parents. Ask your parents to do the same.

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Cases of AIDS increasing in teens

Coming from Medill and Northwestern University, our teens have one more thing that they have to live with as they grow older.
In 1981 a new danger was identified the United States. It was recognized that HIV had reached our shores. When this horrible disease was identified,
the treatment methods were unidentified. The disease quickly and painfully took its victims. The good news is now, almost 30 years later, treatments are effective and the diagnosis is not an immediate death sentence. Patients live many years after contracting HIV/AIDS.

The bad news? Our teens who personify risky behavior believes that HIV will not happen to them. According to Medill Reports, adolescents and young adults reportedly have the highest rates of new cases. The availability of better treatment "may be increasing the risks by lulling the fear."



"Cases of AIDS increased nationwide among teens by 16 percent from 2006 to 2007, the most recent year for which statistics are available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cases increased by more than 20 percent for young adults ages 20 to 24 in the same time period, the fastest paced increase among Americans, CDC figures show." (see above link)

Parents: Please remember during this season, it not your job to be your child's friend

Parents, It is time for you to draw the line. Actually you should have drawn it ages ago. Yes, you want your kid to love you. You don't want to seem old to your kid. But you took on the role of parent. Not friend. That is the job of your kid's friend who happens to be the same age. Please read below and know the facts. You cannot only hurt your precious kid but yourself... your life and your retirement. By the way, that would really hurt your kid.

I am not a judgmental soul. But seriously, a hotel room for after prom? Why do you give condoms as party favors? Seriously. What are you doing? Think about it.

Here are the facts:

There are many health-related consequences of youth consuming alcohol including negative effects on brain development, deviant behavior including stealing and skipping school and a greater risk of becoming alcohol-dependant later in life.
Parents who give alcohol to their teen’s friends under any circumstances, even in their own homes, are breaking the law.
Parents who knowingly allow a person under 21 to remain in their home or on their property while consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages can be prosecuted and everything associated with such a violation can be confiscated, including personal property.
Parents can be sued if they give alcohol to anyone under 21 and they in turn hurt someone, hurt themselves or damage property.
Underage use of alcohol is a serious problem that too often leads to harmful consequences for youth and their families. Parents can protect themselves and their teens by following these guidelines when hosting parties for their children:

Host safe, alcohol-free activities and events for youth during prom and graduation season.
Refuse to supply alcohol to children or allow drinking in your home or on your property
Be at home when your teenager has a party
Make sure your teenager’s friends do not bring alcohol into your home
Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol at youth events
Report underage drinking
Our youth deserve to live and grow to adulthood in an environment where alcohol is not misused. Let’s be unified in our message, and host alcohol-free parties with plenty of fun activities to show our youth that we care about their future.

A new anti drug commercial on CNN

A really good commercial which connects you to a really good website has started on CNN.com.
You may not be able to see the commercial whenever you want to but you can access the
website whenever you need to. It really breaks down what you can do to stop your teen if you suspect him or her
in taking perscription drugs.

Heroin Addiction Started with the use of Prescription Drugs

I have been studying and trying to talk to parents and teachers about prescription drugs now for 7 years. But today's
Dispatch really got to me. We have here in the Columbus area a perfectly beautiful suburban family. Two parents, together, no blended family situation to blame. No urban situation to click our tongues over. To quote: "Ciara is the country's new face of heroin: a young, white, suburbanite whose addiction began at 15 (yes, that is 15) with PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS her boyfriend stole from his father's medicine cabinet." Couldn't write it better myself.

Officials at Maryhaven(the largest addiction treatment center here in Central Ohio) have seen a steady increase in opiate use by adolescents in the last eighteen months. The number of people seeking help from publicly funded treatment centers for opiate addiction has increased by 300% in the last decade. Here is a real stopper: "...officials at both publicly and privately funded facilities agree that young, well-educated white suburban residents are driving the increase, according to the Ohio Dept. of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. 'The bottom line is, if you think your community is immune, think again,' said department spokesman Eric Wandersleben."

To see more about Ciara and her family, Facts about Heroin, and how to get help, see Sunday May 3 Dispatch.