Drug AbuseTeenagers finding new ways to get high.

Prescription Drugs

Alcoholic Energy Drinks

Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use

Skittles Party

Prescription Drugs

   Today teenagers are not using as much cocaine, crack, LSD, and ecstasy as the teenagers of the 1960’s. Kids have found other ways and means to get high; painkillers and other prescription drugs are being abused at record levels. This up coming generation of teens has been given the name “Generation Rx.”

Where are the Drugs coming from?Teens are often getting caught

raiding their parent’s or grandparent’s medicine cabinets in order to get high. For the first time, national studies show that today’s teens are more likely to have abused a prescription painkiller than any illicit drug.

Commonly Abused Prescription DrugsOpiates

Depressants

Stimulants

OPIATES

Opiates are powerful drugs that have been used for centuries to relieve pain. These narcotic pain killers go by such names as OxyContin, Darvon, Vicodin, Dilaudid, Demerol and Lomotil, and are often prescribed for post-operative pain. When used as directed by a physician, opiates are safe and generally do not produce addiction. But opiates also possess very strong reinforcing properties and can quickly trigger addiction when used improperly.

Opiates act directly on the respiratory center in the brainstem, slowing down a person’s breathing. Excessive amounts of an opiate can cause the respiratory centers to shut down breathing altogether, causing death.

Hydrocodone

DepressantsCentral nervous system (CNS)

depressants have such trade names as Nembutal, Valium and Xanax. These drugs are used to treat anxiety, panic and sleep disorders.

Valium – white, yellow, blueDiazepam – whiteXanax – blue, white, pink (Bars)

Cough Medicine

dextromethorphan (also called DXM) robotripping

These drugs are also highly addictive, and those who have taken them for long periods of time should only try to stop using them with the support of trained medical professionals because they have serious physical withdrawal symptoms.

Stimulants

Finally, there are stimulants and amphetamines like Dexedrine, Ritalin and Adderall. These drugs are used in weight loss treatment programs, to treat sleep disorders and to aid those, particularly children, with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Top – AdderallBottom - Ritalin

The health risks of abuse of stimulants include dangerously high body temperature, seizures and cardiovascular complications.

In addition to the risks that all of these drugs pose when used on their own, greater risks result when they are combined with other drugs or with alcohol. Self-medicators often “try out” various combinations of “uppers” and “downers” to enhance or manage their effects, but this can cause severe physical and mental problems, and even death.

ALCOHOLIC ENERGY DRINKS

Do you REALLY know what you are drinking?

Do you know the difference?Can you tell which of these contains

alcohol?

NOTE: These are NOT energy drinks - despite the visual similarity.

TILT Tilt is an energy drink, containing alcohol. It is

marketed as a "Premium Malt Beverage". Its active ingredients include caffeine, ginseng, and Guarana. Its alcoholic content by volume varies, from 6.6 in the berry flavor and up to 8% in the lemon lime, higher than most American beer (commonly 3-6%), and slightly higher than competitor Sparks (7% maximum).

JOOSE Joose is an alcoholic energy drink and is growing in

popularity due to its relatively high alcohol content (9.0-9.9% ABV) compared with other beverages generally available at a convenience store such as beer (typically 5-6% ABV) and other alcoholic energy drinks (typically 8% ABV).

Joose is comprised of malt beverage, caffeine, taurine, ginseng, and natural coloring. Joose is currently available in 23.5 oz orange, red, or blue cans on a black background.

SPARKS Sparks is a caffeinated alcohol beverage, one of the

first such beverages. Its active ingredients caffeine, taurine, and ginseng are common to energy drinks; however, its additional focus on alcohol is not. Its packaging states a 6% alcoholic content by volume. Sparks currently is available in 16oz silver cans with bright orange tops, with a "+" printed near the top and a "-" printed near the bottom, to give the can a battery-like appearance. A diet version "Sparks Light" with a bright blue top is also produced. A higher alcohol version (7.0%) called "Sparks Plus" is available in both 16oz and 24oz cans and has a black top.

OTHER AEDs AVAILABLE24/SEVEN LIQUID TORQUE CHARGE

3 SUM 3SUM is an Alcopop "infused" with the energy

components caffeine, ginseng, and taurine. 3SUM is considered an energy drink and a flavored alcoholic beverage. 3SUM is available in 4 different flavors: original, apple, tropical, and watermelon

FOUR Four is a 16oz canned alcoholic malt beverage sold in

the United States and produced by Phusion Projects Inc. of Chicago. It contains 6.0%ABV as well as carbonation, sugar and artificial flavoring, similar to other alcopops. Its name is derived from its four other ingredients, caffeine, taurine, guarana, and FDA approved wormwood oil, the species of which is unknown.

ROCKSTAR TWENTY-ONE

Two varieties are sold both having an alcohol content of 6.9% by volume.

OTHER AEDs AVAILABLE24/SEVEN LIQUID TORQUE CHARGE

ABOUT THE PRODUCTS Alcohol is a depressant. The term “alcoholic

energy drink” is an oxymoron. There is a large body of research showing that drunk person plus caffeine still equals drunk person.

That being said, a number of brewers have been jumping in on the action. That lucrative energy drink market is just too tempting.

In many ways it’s a similar situation to the “hardcore” energy drinks. It’s all about marketing - and many of these drinks look just like a typical energy drink (and apparently fool store clerks too).

Virtually all of them are “infused with caffeine, ginseng and guarana”and are 6-12% alcoholic by volume.

Industry Sales Strategies

Three-Point Plan for Targeting Youth Create brand confusion with nonalcoholic

versions Provide a cheap alternative to mixing energy

drinks with alcohol Deploy youth-friendly grassroots and viral

marketing The Exploding popularity of Energy Drinks 500 new energy drink products introduced

worldwide in 2006 Energy drink sales = $3.2 billion 31 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds are regular

consumers v. 22 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds

Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use It is important to keep in mind that if a

child shows any of the following symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that he or she is using drugs. The presence of some of these behaviors could be the product of adolescent stress. Others may be symptoms of depression or a host of other problems. Whatever the cause, they may warrant attention, especially if they persist or if they occur in a cluster.

The Key is change

It is important to watch for any significant changes in your child's physical appearance, personality, attitude or behavior.

Physical Signs Loss of appetite, increase in

appetite, any changes in eating habits, unexplained weight loss or gain.

Slowed or staggering walk; poor physical coordination.

Inability to sleep, awake at unusual times, unusual laziness.

Red, watery eyes; pupils larger or smaller than usual; blank stare.

Cold, sweaty palms; shaking hands. Puffy face, blushing or paleness. Smell of substance on breath, body

or clothes. Extreme hyperactivity; excessive

talkativeness. Runny nose; hacking cough.

Needle marks on lower arm, leg or bottom of feet.

Nausea, vomiting or excessive sweating.

Tremors or shakes of hands, feet or head.

Irregular heartbeat.

Behavioral Signs

Change in overall attitude/personality with no other identifiable cause.

Changes in friends; new hang-outs; sudden avoidance of old crowd; doesn't want to talk about new friends; friends are known drug users.

Change in activities or hobbies.

Drop in grades at school or performance at work; skips school or is late for school.

Change in habits at home; loss of interest in family and family activities.

Difficulty in paying attention; forgetfulness.

General lack of motivation, energy, self-esteem, "I don't care" attitude.

Sudden oversensitivity, temper tantrums, or resentful behavior.

Moodiness, irritability, or nervousness.

Silliness or giddiness. Paranoia Excessive need for privacy;

unreachable. Secretive or suspicious behavior.

Car accidents. Chronic dishonesty. Unexplained need for money,

stealing money or items. Change in personal grooming habits. Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Drug Specific Symptoms: Alcohol: Clumsiness; difficulty

walking; slurred speech; sleepiness; poor judgment; dilated pupils; possession of a false ID card.

Depressants: (including barbiturates and tranquilizers) Seems drunk as if from alcohol but without the associated odor of alcohol; difficulty concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgment; slurred speech; sleepiness; and contracted pupils.

Stimulants: Hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety; excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times; may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping; dilated pupils; weight loss; dry mouth and nose.

Inhalants: (Glues, aerosols, and vapors ) Watery eyes; impaired vision, memory and thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes in appetite; anxiety; irritability; an unusual number of spray cans in the trash.

Hallucinogens: Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.

Heroin: Needle marks; sleeping at unusual times; sweating; vomiting; coughing and sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite; contracted pupils; no response of pupils to light.

Tobacco/Nicotine: Smell of tobacco; stained fingers or teeth.

Marijuana

Know as a gate way drug THC is the main active ingredient in

marijuana along with more than 400 other chemicals.

Slang terms are, Pot, Grass, Weed, Dope, etc.

It’s smoked in a pipe or rolled in a joint/ blunt

Marijuana Symptoms:

Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking and inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; a sweet burnt scent; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss, memory loss.

Stimulant

Methamphetamine Street names are, meth, crank, speedLooks like a white powder.Ingested by snorting, smoking, and needle

injection.Man made dangerous potent chemical drug that is

poison to the body.

Effects of Amphetamines

Increased heart rate Disturbed sleep patterns Bazaar behavior/ panic Poisons the entire body

Poison to the body WHY? Made with OTC pills Cooked with chemicals such as battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel, and antifreeze

For Help

If you know someone that needs help with drug abuse or addiction contact..

School counselorSchool Resource Officer (SRO)

To report drug use at school Notify Crime Stoppers at 972-721-tips or campus SRO

Cash reward, paid for tips