My Medicine Cabinet is My Child’s Dealer

Okay, my medicine cabinet is not really my child’s dealer, but it could have been easily had I not know the risks that lingered in there, tempting my child to use to gain a high.

Everyone take a moment to go to your medicine cabinet and look at what is easily assessable to your children. You would be surprised at what our kids are getting high on today, and you are putting it right in their hands. You purchase it, and stock it – over the counter drugs such as cough and cold medicine. It is the new drug of choice for kids in the age range of 13 to 16. Why - because no one would necessarily expect it nor question why they are carrying a bottle of cough syrup or cold medications around with them.

It all seems innocent enough – just how high could one get – right? Well know this.. Hospitals have reported dozens of deaths over the past two years and even more overdoses from over the counter medicines such as Robitussin, Nyquil, Vicks Formula 44, and Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold tablets. These medicines contain a chemical called Dextromethorphan (DXM). The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies DXM as a “drug of concern” because if misused it can be very dangerous. DXM is a synthetic drug that is chemically similar to morphine and has been added to cough syrups and some cold medications since the 1970’s.

DXM is cheap for kids to get, even if it isn’t in their home medicine cabinet, and even cheaper then typical street drugs. Top it off; there is a ton of information online that informs kids just how much of certain OTC medications they need to take to achieve a high. Here is the kicker, although Drug Enforcement Administration classifies DXM as a “drug of concern”, there are no legal restrictions on purchasing it. Kids can buy it on the net! Some common names kids use to reference this type of drug use are Robo, Skittles, Triple C’s, Dex, Vitamin D, and Tussin. If you hear these words, have a sit down, assess the situation carefully, and get intervention help if necessary. Educate your child the risks associated with using OTC medications out of context.

However, also keep in mind that DMX is not the only OTC drug our youth are turning to - diet pills, sleep aids, and motion sickness medication are a few of the other commonly abused OTC the youth are using today. OTC drugs are dangerous and can easily result in overdose or death. Parents should be aware of the dangers. Educate yourself on the drugs you bring in to your home. Lock them up if you have concerns otherwise monitor them closely so you can quickly assess large dosages missing at any one given time.

If you need help or know of someone who does, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

Teens and Ecstasy

The party drug of choice among many teens today is the drug ecstasy. Ecstasy, also known as on the streets as E, X-T-C, X, Adam, Hugs, Roll, Beans, Clarity, Lovers Speed, and the Love Drug has grown in popularity due to its ability to lower inhibitions and increase the sensation to touch, thus gaining the name of love drug. Ecstasy is taken in pill form, users sometimes take Ecstasy at "raves," clubs and other parties to keep on dancing and for mood enhancement. Indicators of possession of an Ecstasy pill/tablet is the tablet will often be branded with items such as Playboy bunnies, Nike swoosh, CK, smiley face, and other icons that teens can quickly relate to.

Ecstasy produces intensely pleasurable effects which makes it that much more attractive to teens and even adults. The user feels a sense of self-confidence and increased energy. They feel at peace, acceptance, and empathy with a strong desire to be close to others. The sense of touch and feel is increased. Less desirable affects can be involuntary teeth clenching, a loss of inhibitions, transfixion on sights and sounds, nausea, blurred vision, chills and/or sweating, increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as seizures, are all possible.

The draw to use ecstasy as a club or rave drug is due to the increased energy and the increased sensations to light and sound. The downside is that because of the increased energy, the user has the ability to dance for extended times above and beyond what one normally do. That mixed with a crowed club and the heat has led to many users experiencing severe dehydration and hyperthermia or dramatic increases in body temperature which can lead to muscle breakdown and kidney, liver and cardiovascular failure which can lead to death. A user coming down off ecstasy can experience sleep problems, anxiety, and depression.

If you hear your teen using any of the common names used for ecstasy, it is time to have a serious heart to heart with your child. It may be that they just picked up the slang from friends or school, but just the same it is important you sit down and talk to your child to 1st: find out where they heard the word (e.g. friend, name, relation to the drug – it may be your teen is hanging around a group that could easily persuade your teen into using as well), and 2nd educate them on the dangers of ecstasy. If you think your child may be using it is time to seek help from a professional.

If you need help or know of someone who does, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

Methamphetamine and Who is Using It.

Methamphetamine, also known as meth is a chemical stimulant similar to adrenaline but powerfully addictive. Methamphetamine effects the central nervous system.

Street names for meth are crank, crystal, speed ice, and glass. The prevalence of meth is extremely high. The reason being is that it is easily made out of cheap ingredients that are easily assessable.

The hook on meth comes from the effects the user achieves: increase wakefulness and physical activity, decreased appetite, and increased mental and physical well-being. Users report there is a brief intense sensation when meth is snorted or injected.

The rush and the high are believed to result from the release of very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine into areas of the brain that control feelings of pleasure. Usually a person who uses meth never gets as big a “high” as he or she did the first time. As tolerance for meth develops with chronic use, in an attempt to intensify the desired effects, users will take higher doses more frequently. It is not uncommon for meth abusers go without food and sleep while indulging in a form of binging known as a “run,” injecting as much as a gram every two to three hours over a several day period. This will continue until the user runs out of the drug or is too disoriented to continue. With chronic use and/or increased dosages of meth, the toxicity level increases. With the increased toxicity, the user may experience irritation, outbursts of anger, paranoia, delusional thinking, visual or auditory hallucinations, inflammation of the heart lining as well as progressive social and occupational deterioration. Psychotic symptoms can sometimes persist for months or years after use has ceased.

If that is not scary enough, the fact that our teens make up a significant number of meth users today is. In the past few years, the use of this drug has increased dramatically in teenagers from 12 to 17 years old. What makes matters worse is the internet has hundreds of web sites that provide the recipes and places to purchase ingredients to make meth. Just a couple of the ingredients that are toxic on their own, commonly known to be used to make meth are battery acid and drain cleaner. This is what is what our youth is putting into their bodies.

Regardless of social or economic background, the experimentation with crystal meth has become commonplace for our teens. The TV does not help. It portrays that thin is beautiful and has become increasingly important teen girls unfortunately. With extended meth use, one does experience dramatic weight loss but at the same time risk their lives.

Other factors that play a role in the increased drug use amongst our teens are the youth rave culture that encourages hard drug use, desire for personal freedom, self-discovery, peer acceptance, and the “non-alcohol” after hour’s club. Sadly, the increased use of meth has shown in the statistics.

According to the 2005 NSDUH, 10.4 million Americans age 12 and older had tried methamphetamine at least once in their lifetimes. (NIDA) Based on its 2007 survey results, NACO reported Meth is still the number one drug problem.

Within the criminal justice system the cost associated with enforcing Meth laws represent the second largest category of costs at $4.2 billion.


The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Drug Threat Assessment 2009 continues to report that an overwhelming percentage (68%) of state and local agencies in the 20 Western states perceive Meth as their greatest drug threat.

According to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the best estimate for the number of Meth dependent users is 270,348—an 11% increase from 2005.

Between 1998 and 2000, meth related emergency room visits doubled - 47% of hospitals report Meth as the top illicit drug involved in emergency room visits. Between 1998 and 2002, death from methamphetamine overdoses rose 125 percent.


The calculated costs associated with drug treatment are approximately $545 million, of which $491 million is in the community-based specialty treatment sector.

Treatment admissions for Meth more than doubled nationally between 2000 and 2005.

If you need help or know of someone who does, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

The Wide World of Drugs

With so many possible drugs available today, is it any wonder that 1 in every 12 people has had, is having or will have a problem/addiction. Obviously there is wide variety of street drugs. However, often overlooked is the misuse/abuse of prescription drugs, which, according to recent studies, has become an extreme danger throughout society. As a matter of information, the material below is a basic list of drugs that are commonly being abused all of which can become physically and/or emotionally addicting and all of which may lead to medical complications and withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol
Comes in many forms such as beer, wine and hard liquor.
Obviously, alcohol is the most readily available drug and it ranks third in the United States as a cause of death. It is classified as a depressant and can negatively impact the brain, vision, hearing and muscle coordination. Alcoholism is impacting millions of Americans and their families each and every day, and among teenagers and college students, binge drinking has reached near epidemic proportions.

Marijuana
Also known as 'pot', 'weed', 'grass' and can come in other forms such as 'hashish' or 'hash'.

It's not the marijuana of the 60s and 70s any more. Its potency has increased by nearly 700 percent over the years. It can produce effects on the nervous system such as loss of energy, decreased coordination, loss of memory and questionable judgment or reasoning.

Heroin
Also known as 'smack', 'horse', 'H', 'tar' and 'China White', and sometime misspelled as "heron" and "heroine."

In its street version, this drug has been used for centuries to promote a sense of well being and to relieve pain. However, it also creates a very fast physical */dependency/* that is extremely difficult to break. From a pharmaceutical standpoint, synthetically produced opiates are manufactured primarily as pain relievers. Used judiciously, they have value. Abused, and they become just as dangerous as their street cousin heroin. Some of the more common prescription drugs in this category are Morphine, */Oxycontin/*, Vicodin, */Lortab/Loratab, Dilaudid, Darvon, Percocet, Percodan, Demerol, Hydrocodone/* and */Codine/Codeine/*. Methadone has also been used as a pain reliever and as a medication to ease withdrawal symptoms from heroin. However, there are some newer alternatives such as buprenorphine and soboxin (which is a combination of buprenorphine and moloxin to prevent misuse) that have been found to be quite effective without some of the drawbacks of methadone.

Cocaine
Also known as 'coke', 'blow', 'powder', 'snow' and 'nose' candy' or, in the case of 'crack', 'rock' or 'base'.

Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs available today. It offers an intense immediate rush lasting for 15 to 30 minutes with lesser euphoria for a few hours. However, as tolerance builds, more and more cocaine or switching to crack is needed to sustain the result. Negative complications from cocaine use are quite severe and can include respiratory problems, loss of ambition and efficiency, and time distortion. In addition, chronic use can result in near permanent brain impairment.

Methamphetamine Amphetamines
Also known as 'speed', 'meth', 'crystal', 'crank', 'uppers' and 'bennies'.

Pharmaceutical versions include Ritalin, Dexedrine and Cylert. These are very potent stimulants often used by people who want to stay awake and active for extended periods of time. Other than the pharmaceuticals, which can also lead to problems, meth is usually cooked in home-based laboratories with devastating results on the end user. The chemicals are commonly available in grocery and drug stores. However, when combined to make meth, they are quite volatile and can lead to explosions. The residue is also very dangerous and hazardous to the health of those who are exposed. Meth is quite addictive and those who are cut off from their supply can become violent and paranoid.

Sedatives Benzodiazepine
Also known as 'yellow jackets', 'ludes', roofies and reds and include those pharmaceutical drugs such as barbiturates and tranquilizers such as Xanax, Librium, Ativan and Valium among others.

Because of the availability of these drugs through prescription, these drugs are very easily abused, usually over a long period of time. As a result, the long-term, negative implications can be quite severe.

Club Drugs
Including 'Ecstasy' (also known as 'E', 'extasy', 'X, 'XTC' and essence');
'GHB' (also known as 'liquid ecstasy' and 'G'); 'Ketamine' (also known as 'K', 'Kat', 'Special K' and 'Vitamin K'); 'PCP' (also known as 'Angel Dust');
and 'LSD' (also known as 'acid').

Ecstasy combines the properties of methamphetamine and mescaline offering not only a rush, but also hallucinogenic qualities. Heavy doses can have wide ranging negative consequences. GHB and Rohypnolare commonly used to relax the user. However, they are often used for the purpose of gaining submission over the user without their knowledge, thus resulting in the name 'Date Rape drugs'. A large enough dose of GHB can also result in coma and death. Ketamine and PCP are veterinary anesthetics. Large enough doses can cause delirium, high blood pressure, amnesia and respiratory problems as well as a tendency toward violence. LSD was the hallucinogenic drug of choice in the 70s and is still readily available. Its use often results in delusions and a total loss of reality. It can also cause the user to suffer delusional flashbacks long after the last dose was taken.

Drug Identification ~ Additional Stimulants ~ Ritalin

Other Names: Ritalin, Cylert, Preludin, Didrex, Pre-State, Voranil, Sandrex, and Plegine
What It Looks Like: Pills or capsules
How it's Administered: It's taken orally or injected.
Effects on User: Loss of appetite, fevers, convulsions, severe headaches, irregular heartbeat and respiration, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Drug Identification ~ Methamphetamines

Other Names: Crank, Crystal meth, Crystal methadrine, and Speed
What It Looks Like: White powder, pills, rock that resembles a block of paraffin
How it's Administered: It's taken orally, injected or inhaled.
Effects on User: During the "up" time: Extra energy, cheerfulness, confidence, prevents sleep, reduces appetite, speeds up breathing and heart rate, widens the pupils. During the "down" time (about eight hours after use): Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, anxiety, anger.
Other Info: These drugs have a high risk of psychological dependence and regular users may develop delusions, hallucinations and feelings of paranoia that can progress into permanent paranoid psychosis.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

Feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!
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Drug Identification ~ Amphetamines

Other Names: Speed, Uppers, Ups, Black beauties, Pep pills, Copilots, Bumblebees, Hearts, Benzedrine, Dexedrine, Footballs, Bennies, Dexies, Jollies, Wake ups, and Biphetamine
What It Looks Like: Capsules, pills, tablets
How it's Administered: It's taken orally, injected or inhaled.
Effects on User: During the "up" time: Extra energy, cheerfulness, confidence, prevents sleep, reduces appetite, speeds up breathing and heart rate, widens the pupils. During the "down" time (about eight hours after use): Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, anxiety, anger.
Other Info: These drugs have a high risk of psychological dependence and regular users may develop delusions, hallucinations and feelings of paranoia that can progress into permanent paranoid psychosis.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

Feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!
Facebook: facebook.com/ABTomorrow
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ABTomorrow