DRUG CULTURE AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH: A ravaged generation

Michael Burns – D&A CounselorPATH Adolescent Male Halfway House

Middleburg, PA

DRUG CULTURE: A ravaged generation• Drug Culture– American Culture Drives Teen Substance Use– In Central PA– Drugs in Central PA

• Why Substance Abuse?– Needed healing– How easy is it get?

• How do we fight back?

As parents, siblings, neighbors and leaders, we must work together and remain vigilant in our efforts to generate greater awareness about the dangers of substance misuse and the suffering, violence and death that far too often results when our children use alcohol and other drugs. We must encourage our teens to make the right choices, resist peer pressure and recognize that substance use by teens can have life-altering and tragic consequences.

-- Lucille Roybal-AllardCongresswoman (CA-34)

AMERICAN CULTURE DRIVES TEEN SUBSTANCE USE

• Strong parental disapproval of substance use can help offset cultural messages promoting substance use, but too many parents by their own attitudes or behaviors further increase the chances that their teens will use:

• 59% Nearly half (46.1 percent) of children under age 18 (34.4 million) live in a household where someone age 18 or older engages in risky substance use; 45.4 percent (33.9 million) live with a parent who is a risky substance user.

• Less than half (42.6 percent) of parents list refraining from smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, using marijuana, misusing prescription drugs or using other illicit drugs as one of their top three concerns for their teens, and 20.8 percent characterize marijuana as a harmless drug.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011 http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf

• In 2005, 28.1 percent of 9th graders and 19.9 percent of 12th graders reported having been victims of bullying at school in the past six months. Teens who are bullied are likelier than those who have not been bullied to engage in substance use, whether the bullying is physical or mental such as rumors, teasing or threats, and whether the bullying occurs through face-to-face interactions or online. One study found that teens who experience online harassment or online sexual solicitation are twice as likely as other teens to report multiple types of substance use.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011 http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf

AMERICAN CULTURE DRIVES TEEN SUBSTANCE USE

DRUG CULTURE• We must understand that substance abuse

culture is– An all accepting immediate friendship• It does not care if you have friends or not, if your parents

are married or not, how tall or how much you weight. It does not care your religious, ethnic or financial background.

– It is all-inclusive– …I lived in Denmark…

Understanding the consequences of teensubstance use is a big deal. It affects the child,the parent, the school and our tax bill. We needto face these consequences squarely and do allwe can to prevent them.

--Darrell ThompsonFormer NFL Running Back, Green Bay Packers

Executive Director, Bolder Options

• Of the 13.2 million high school students in the United States, 1.6 million meet clinical criteria for an alcohol or other drug use disorder involving nicotine, alcohol or other drugs, yet only 99,913 (6.4 percent of those with an alcohol or other drug use disorder) have received treatment† in the past year

• In 2009, 32.0 percent of all substance related reports in emergency department visits made by patients ages 12 to 17 were alcohol related and 18.7 percent were marijuana related.

• More than one in six (17.8 percent) children under age 18 (13.3 million) live in a household where someone age 18 or older has a substance use disorder;† 16.9 percent (12.6 million) live with a parent who has the disorder.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011 http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf

DRUG CULTURE

DRUG CULTURE IN CENTRAL PA

• The use of certain substances varies depending on– what law enforcement is cracking down on in each

area– what is available in each area based on demand,

supply, price, the local economy, etc.It is important to remind young people, theirparents and others that marijuana is not a beginning drug Marijuana can be addictive; itinterferes with critical brain functions, likelearning and memory.

--Nora D. Volkow, MDDirector National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

DRUG CULTURE IN CENTRAL PA

• No longer are the drugs of choice just – Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Alcohol

• Today we deal with these and – Meth, Synthetics/ Designer (Bath Salts, K-2/

Spice), DXM, Prescription medsThe major worry of teen substance use is not the addiction; it is overdose, accidents, contraction of diseases, etc. It is harder to anticipate these kinds of risks.

--A. Thomas McLellan, PhDDirector Center for Substance Abuse Solutions

University of Pennsylvania

Designer drugs are pharmaceuticals, created or reformulated (if the drug already exists) to avoid current laws (such as the Control Substance Act) by modifying the molecular structures of drugs to varying degrees.

History of Synthetic hallucinogens (modifications of LSD and PCP) in the 1960’s, MDMA (ecstasy and methcathinone in the 1980’s.

Synthetic cannabinoids • are marketed under dozens of product names including

Zombie World, Bad to the Bone, Black Mamba, Blaze, Fire and Ice, Dark Night, Earthquak, Berry Blend, The Moon and G-Force. Dispensed in small packets (1-5 grams each), nearly all contain the moniker “herbal incense,” along with the disclaimer “not for human consumption.”

http://www.ndcrc.org/content/spice-k2-and-problem-synthetic-cannabinoids

DRUGS IN CENTRAL PA

• In Pennsylvania (on June 23, 2011), SB 1006 was passed by the House, Senate and approved by the Governor. This bill SB 1006 bans 6 synthetic cathinones including MDPV and Mephedrone (this PA bill bans the same 6 synthetic cathinones that NJ banned on April, 28, 2011). This Act became law on 08/22/11.

• This bill is also proposing to ban Salvia divinorum & Salvinorin A, and 8 synthetic cannabinoids and their analogues.

• An amendment added to the PA SB 1006 also includes language barring all chemicals that are similar to the substances that are currently found in bath salts, synthetic cannabinoids and 2C (hallucinogens such as 2C-E, 2C-I, 2C-P, 2C-H and their analogues, congeners, homologues, isomers, salts and salts of analogues, congeners, homologues and isomers), and prohibits those chemical compounds from being used to create the same effect as the current bath salts, sytnthetic cannabinoids and 2C chemical structures.

• This addition to the law will make Pennsylvania’s the strongest such law in the nation.

Glen Duncanhttp://www.slideshare.net/Guedde/mdpv-bath-salts-emerging-drug-trends

DRUGS IN CENTRAL PA

3, 4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone - MDPV (Bath Salts)• What is MDPV (bath salts) The term ‘bath salts’ refer to commercially available products

that have as part of their composition a legal stimulant (synthetic cathinone) called 3, 4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV.

• Currently illegal in New Jersey, however legal nationally (though 3 synthetic cathinones are in the process of being temporarily banned nationally, MDPV, Mephedrone and Methylone). They are sold mostly on the internet, but can also be found in select shops locally. They're known by a variety of names, including “Red Dove,” “Blue Silk,” “Zoom,” “Bloom,” “Cloud Nine,” “Ocean Snow,” “Lunar Wave,” “Vanilla Sky,” “Ivory Wave,” “White Lightning,” “Scarface” “Purple Wave,” “Blizzard,” “Star Dust,” “Lovey, Dovey,” “Snow Leopard,” “Aura,” and “Hurricane Charlie.” While they have become popular under the guise of selling as ‘ bath salts ’, they are sometimes sold as other products such as insect repellant , or plant food with names like “Bonsai Grow” among others.

• Much like the marketing of Synthetic Cannabinoids (Spice/K2) as incense, MDPV has been market as “bath salts” and just like Spice/K2 MDPV is specifically labeled “not for human consumption.”

http://www.slideshare.net/Guedde/mdpv-bath-salts-emerging-drug-trends

DRUGS IN CENTRAL PA

“Robitussin high” (Robo Tripping)• is derived from abusing Robitussin, a common cough and cold product, and

when taken in recreational doses, which far exceed recommended doses, the user may experience a “high.” This Robitussin high is caused by the excessive dose of dextromethorphan, a common ingredient found in many cough medications, including Robitussin. When such medications are abused they become a dissociative drug.* Teens often buy Robitussin because it is a recognized cough and cold brand. Also, many of the slang terms surrounding DXM abuse are spin-offs from the Robitussin brand, such as “Robo Tripping.”

Statistics on Teen Abuse of Rx and Over-the-Counter Medicine:• The Partnership’s 18th annual study of teen drug trends confirms that

Generation Rx has arrived as an alarming number of today’s teenagers are more likely to have abused Rx and OTC medications than a variety of illegal drugs like Ecstasy, cocaine, crack and meth. Nearly one in five teens (19 percent or 4.5 million) report abusing prescription medications to get high; and one in 10 (10 percent or 2.4 million) report abusing cough medicine to get high.”

http://www.dxmstories.com/robitussin_high.html

DRUGS IN CENTRAL PA

WHY SUBSTANCE ABUSE?• We can try to address the behavior only.or we can get to the root of the addiction/behavior

PATH of Life Relationship based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Model (CBT)

• What needs to be done? – Find out the cause of addiction.• Find It, Feel It, Face It, Forgive It, Forge Ahead!

I believe that my drug use was a result of theculture of American youth. I did these thingsbecause they are the norm.

--EricA person in recovery

HOW EASY IS IT TO GET DRUGS?

Meth, Synthetics/ Designer (Bath Salts, K-2/ Spice), DXM, Prescription meds

VERY EASYAs much as I’d like my kids to never do anything that’s addictive I do know it's a part of growing up and if you shun everything, then I believe a child will rebel.

--Parent ParticipantCASA Focus Group with

Parents of High School Students

I think many parents need educating themselves. I have heard of so many parents permitting underage drinking in their homes. They use the excuse, 'Well, I would rather them do it in my house than somewhere else.’ This creates an atmosphere of acceptance which I believe contributes to the abuse.

--CASA Focus Group withParents of High School Students

HOW DO WE COMBAT THIS RAVAGING?

• Treat the root to the use/ addiction/ behavior• Do not just treat the addiction/ behavior

Trigger – Thought – Feeling – Action A COMMUNITY NETWORK– Parental Involvement – Role Models and Positive Peer Influences– Future Goals– School, Community Engagement w/ Athletic

Involvement– Religious Involvement

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT• CASA’s survey of high school students conducted for this study found that 80.1

percent report that their parents’ concerns, opinions or expectations either “very much” (50.9 percent) or “somewhat” (29.2 percent) influence whether or how much they smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or use other drugs. Perhaps surprising to parents is that the majority (79.5 percent) of teens also say that they feel having a good relationship with their parents is “somewhat” or “very” cool.

• A significant body of evidence shows that a positive family environment and positive parenting practices related to affection, support, monitoring, rules, discipline and reward are associated with reduced risk of teen substance use.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011 http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf

It's got to be confronted. We are parents. Andparents need to quit trying to keep fromoffending our children. We are their parents--not their buddies.

--CASA Focus Group withParents of High School Students

ROLE MODELS AND POSITIVE PEER• Teens who have the guidance of positive adult role models and the

companionship of positive peer influences26 are at reduced risk of substance abuse.

• Not every child has the benefit of a healthy family life. Yet there is some evidence that adolescents who have non-parental positive adult role models‡ are significantly less likely than other adolescents to use tobacco and illicit drugs.

• One study found that, compared to teens who report no role model, those who report a teacher as a role model are less likely to be current smokers, drinkers or marijuana users.* Adolescents who see athletes as the role models are more likely to be current smokers and drinkers, but are less likely to use marijuana.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011 http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf

I believe that my drug use was a result of the culture of American youth. I did these things because they are the norm.

--Eric A person in recovery

FUTURE GOALS• Teens who want to succeed in school and who

have goals for the future are at reduced risk of substance use.

• CASA’s survey of high school students found that students who have never smoked, used alcohol or used marijuana are more likely than their peers who have engaged in one or more of these behaviors to believe it is very important that they get good grades and to feel that they are able to achieve the goals they set for themselves.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011 http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ATHLETIC INVOLVEMENT

• Adolescents’ participation in extracurricular activities generally is associated with reduced risk of substance use. Student athletes, while at increased risk for using smokeless tobacco, alcohol and anabolic steroids, are less likely than non-athletes to smoke cigarettes or use illicit drugs, including marijuana.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011 http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf Prevention is the foundation of our public

health system and of my work as Surgeon General. One of the greatest challenges we face is preventing teen substance use and related risky behaviors. --Vice Admiral Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA

U.S. Surgeon General

RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT• Religious involvement or religiosity—devotion to religion--is associated with

reduced substance use risk among adolescents. Religious institutions and organizations not only view teen substance use as inappropriate and dangerous behavior, but also may create an interpersonal network of support for adolescents that helps protect them from pro-substance use influences.

• In CASA’s survey of high school students, two thirds reported that religion is “somewhat” or “very” important to their family (65.4 percent) and that they attend religious services at least once a month (66.0 percent). Approximately one in four (26.3 percent) attribute the decision by some of their peers to refrain from drinking or using other drugs to religion or spirituality.

• CASA’s 2010 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XV: Teens and Parents found that teens who attend religious services at least four times a month are less likely to smoke, drink or use marijuana than teens who attend religious services less frequently.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011 http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf

PREVENTION: WE KNOW WHAT WORKS BUT FAIL TO ACT

• In the case of substance use and addiction, the key target group is teens because the vast majority of cases of addiction are rooted in substance use that began during the teen years, and because of the enormous range of social and health consequences associated with teen use

• Helping the public understand that teen substance use is a health concern and understand the consequences of adolescent substance use, factors that increase the risk that teens will use, the link between early use and addiction, ways to prevent adolescent substance use and how best to respond if a problem is identified.

• Incorporating screening and early intervention into routine health care practice and into health services offered through schools, child welfare programs and juvenile justice systems.

• Providing targeted prevention and intervention services– Youth Centers, Mentoring Programs, Faith based resources, Target resources,

Networking.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011 http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf