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Drug Information

Alcohol

FACTS:
1 - Alcohol is the number 1 drug of choice for teenagers.
2 - Alcohol-related car crashes are the # 1 killer of teenagers in the U.S.
3 - Alcohol is the number 1 drug problem in the U.S.
4 - Eight young people die each day in alcohol related car crashes.

The changes that you've noticed in your teenager may just be signs of growing up, but some can be dead giveaways for alcohol and drug use. 

If your child is using alcohol and drugs, it's a good bet he (or she) is doing everything possible to keep that activity hidden. The last thing he wants is for his parents to give him a "hassle" about his newly-found "entertainment."

Here are some signs to look for, if you think that your child may be using:

Mood Swings
Most teenagers go through normal mood swings. But look for extreme changes -- one minute happy and giddy followed by withdrawal, depression, or fits of anger or rage.

New Friends?
If you child is using, chances are he will begin hanging out with others with similar interests. Has your child suddenly turned away from his old friends? Is he hanging out with an older (driving age) group or with those that you suspect are using drugs?

Bad Performance in School
Has your child's attitude toward school suddenly changed? Have his grades gone from pretty good to very bad? Has he been skipping classes or school altogether?

Physical Health
Have you noticed a change in appetite? Does your child suddenly have digestive problems. Has he been treated for medical conditions that might be attributed to substance abuse, like gastritis or ulcers? Have his sleeping patterns changed?

"Evidence"
Have you notice any alcoholic beverages missing? How about the medicine cabinet? Anything missing there? Have you found unexplained empty containers around the house or grounds? Any paraphernalia? Has he suddenly started smoking cigarettes openly?

Attitude
Has your child developed a negative attitude against anti-drug or anti-alcohol programs, materials or literature? Has he been in trouble with the law for any reason? Has he developed a bad attitude toward any authority figures in his life? Have you found that your child has generally become dishonest about things?

Little Things
Have you noticed a change in hairstyle or "fashion" choices? Is he suddenly using breath mints consistently? Has he lost interest in tidiness in his room or does he pay less attention to personal hygiene?

Overt Signals
Has anyone ever told you your child is drinking or using drugs? Do you know that he has "experimented." Has he suddenly developed the need for additional money, for vague or unexplained reasons? Have you ever seen him stagger? Or have you noticed any slurred speech? Changes in the pupils of his eyes, or redness or bloodshot eyes?

Raves and Club Drugs

Drugs like MDMA (Ecstasy), ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, and LSD--known collectively as "club drugs"--are an integral part of the rave culture. Many ravers use club drugs and advocate their use, wrongly believing that they are not harmful if they are used "responsibly" and their effects are managed properly. Many of the commercially designed rave clothes display pro-drug messages, and rave posters and flyers often promote drug use.

Street names: XTC, "go", X, Adam, 
hug drug 1, scoop, easy lay, home boy,GHB=Grievous Bodily Harm, Goop 1                                     
           Ecstasy                                            

Cough Medicine Abuse

Teens are abusing over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine.  This medicine is legally purchased.  This cough medicine contains dextromethorphan (DXM).  Some teens are attempting to get high by taking much larger than recommended doses of DXM in the form of OTC cough syrup, tablets and gel caps. In these high doses, DXM can produce hallucinogenic and dissociative effects.
Source: Partnership for a Drug Free America

Youths' nicknames for DXM: Robo, Skittles, Triple C's, Rojo, Dex, Tussin, Vitamin D. DXM abuse is called "Robotripping" or "Tussing." Users might be called "syrup heads" or "robotards."     Source: USA Today

Symptoms of abuse: They include sweating; high body temperature; dry mouth; dry, itchy or flaky skin; blurred vision; hallucinations; delusions; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting; irregular heartbeat; high blood pressure; numbness in toes and fingers; red face; headache; loss of consciousness.    Source: USA Today

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

LSD, aka "acid," is odorless, colorless, and has a slightly bitter taste and is usually taken by mouth. Often LSD is added to absorbent paper, such as blotter paper, and divided into small, decorated squares, with each square

GD-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is the most potent hallucinogenic substance
known to man.  Compared to other hallucinogenic substances, LSD is 100 times more potent than psilocybin and psilocin and 4,000 times more potent than mescaline. 

LSD is classified as a Schedule I drug in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. As a Schedule I drug, LSD meets the following three criteria: it is deemed to have a high potential for abuse; it has no legitimate medical use in treatment; and, there is a lack of accepted safety for its use under medical supervision.     Source: streetdrugs.com

Physical reactions may include dilated pupils, lowered body temperature, nausea, "goose bumps," profuse perspiration, increased blood sugar, and rapid heart rate. During the first hour after ingestion, the user may experience visual changes with extreme changes in mood. In the hallucinatory state, the user may suffer impaired depth and time perception, accompanied by distorted perception of the size and shape of objects, movements, color; sound, touch, and the users own body image. During this period, the users' ability to perceive objects through the senses is distorted: they may describe "hearing colors" and "seeing sounds." The ability to make sensible judgments and see common dangers is impaired, making the user susceptible to personal injury. 

After an LSD "trip," the user may suffer acute anxiety or depression for a variable period of time. Flashbacks have been reported days or even months after taking the last dose. Distribution of LSD is unique within the drug culture. A proliferation of mail order sales has created a marketplace where the sellers are virtually unknown to the buyers, giving the highest level traffickers considerable insulation from drug law enforcement operations. The vast majority of users are middle-class adolescents and young adults attracted by its low prices. Rock concerts continue to be favorite distribution sites for LSD traffickers; however, distribution at raves throughout the United States is becoming more popular. Contacts made at raves and concerts are used to establish future transactions and shipments of larger quantities of LSD.
Source: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/lsd.html

Oxycontin

The growing abuse of OxyContin®, commonly known as Oxy’s, OC’s, Killers, Poor Man’s Heroin, and Hillbilly Heroin, is leading to an increase in burglaries, thefts, and robberies of residences and pharmacies. OxyContin® is a tradename for the narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride (HCl), an opiate agonist. Source: DEA Drug Intelligence Brief, "OxyContin: Pharmaceutical Diversion," March 2002

Oxycodone is a central nervous system depressant. Oxycodone's action appears to work through stimulating the opioid receptors found in the central nervous system that activate responses ranging from analgesia to respiratory depression to euphoria.  Most individuals who abuse oxycodone seek to gain the euphoric effects, mitigate pain, and avoid withdrawal symptoms associated with oxycodone or heroin abstinence.
 Source: National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), "OxyContin Diversion and Abuse," January 2001
Source: National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), "OxyContin Diversion and Abuse," January 2001

Side Effects (when taken as directed):
Constipation, dryness of the mouth, confusion, sedation, light-headedness, respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, headache, sweating

Symptoms of Overdose:
Slow breating, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, cold or clammy skin, small pupils.