The Safety Net

U P C O M I N G SUPPORT AND PREVENTI ON DECEMBER 2013 OBSERVANCES

 MADD’s Tie One on for Safety Campaign “Krokodil” Appears in U.S. (Nov. 28-Jan. 1)  National Drunk and Krokodil is an ultra-cheap way to save a patient’s life. 10 years. She started using Drugged Driving substitute that counts crushed The – chemically called krokodil a month before her Prevention (3D) pills, , cooking desomorphine – became popular hospitalization, and is in Month (December) oil, , , in Russia about 10 years ago as a extremely critical condition. paint thinner and lighter fluid  National No Name- cheap replacement for heroin. It Dr. Abhin Singla, the hospital's among its toxic ingredients. Calling Week is up to 10 times cheaper than director of services, (Jan. 20-24) When a person injects the drug, heroin and produces a similar, says regarding the patient, it destroys tissue and turns the  National Drug Facts but much shorter, high. “When she came in, she had the scaly and green. Week (Jan. 27- The first U.S. cases came to light destruction that occurs because Feb. 2) Because of its effect on skin and in Utah and Arizona in late of this drug over 70 percent of muscle, it is called krokodil (as in her lower body.”  National Teen September of this year. Within crocodile). and Dating Violence the first two weeks of October, Awareness Month amputations are common, and five more cases were discovered (February) the toxic mix of chemicals used in Illinois. In addition, the to produce the drug dissolves Oklahoma Bureau of is jawbones and teeth, much like investigating the deaths of two . men in late 2012 as being caused Many addicts suffer brain damage by krokodil. Some of the patients INSIDE THIS and speech impediments from have said they learned how to ISSUE: the drug, but it is from the fact it manufacture the drug Singla calls the drug “frightening.” often causes blood vessels to themselves, but in most of the He adds, “It almost immediately and Driving: 2 burst – leaving foul-smelling cases the users thought they had starts to destroy blood cells and A Fatal Mix wounds to fester on the body – purchased heroin. blood vessels, literally causes Gun Violence in 2 that krokodil acquired its sinister For now, the cases in Arizona, gangrene from the inside of the Movies name and reputation. Illinois and elsewhere in the U.S. body coming out.” Singla also noted the average life expectancy (Not So) New and remain unconfirmed. Frank 3 after the first use of the drug is Emerging Drugs LoVecchio of Phoenix-based Banner Poison Control Center, one to three years in Russia. Sports/Diet 3 which first received reports One recovering krokodil addict Supplements May of krokodil use in Arizona, said told Time Magazine in 2011, Contain Meth-Like the DEA requires the original among the dozen or so addicts Chemical injected substance – not merely she shot up with, "practically all positive urine tests for codeine of them are dead now. For some Teen Dating 4 Violence Pictures of users in Russia show or desomorphine metabolites – it led to , some got blackened fingertips, large open in order to confirm the drug’s blood poisoning, some had an Media Influence on 4 wounds, and even exposed use. artery burst in their heart, some Adolescent where skin has fallen off. got , others simply Use One of the patients at Presence Prolonged or even short-term St. Joseph’s Medical Center in rot." use can damage blood vessels, Joliet, Illinois, is a 25-year-old Sources: Time Magazine, USA muscle, cartilage, and bone, and woman who has used heroin for Today, CBS Chicago, The amputation is frequently the only Partnership at Drugfree.org

Jarrod McCraw, Safety and Security Director Don Novak, School Security Coordinator Lisa Callaham, Prevention Specialist http://sdfs.ucps.k12.nc.us P A G E 2 Drugs and Driving: A Fatal Mix Drugged driving has been a Results of the study led 23 times for those who were safety issue of increasing public by Guohua Li, MD, DrPH, positive for both alcohol and concern in the U.S. and many professor of Epidemiology and drugs. other countries, but its role in director of the Center for While heightened risk of fatal motor vehicle crashes had not Injury Epidemiology and crash involvement associated been adequately examined. In a Prevention, show that 31.9 with driver drug use was new study conducted at percent of drivers involved in comparable across Columbia University's Mailman fatal car crashes (“cases”) and demographic groups and School of Public Health, 13.7 percent of drivers geographic regions, Dr. Li researchers assessed the interviewed at the roadside cautions that findings need to association of driver drug use, survey (“controls”) tested be carefully interpreted. First, as well as the combination of positive for at least one non- a positive test indicates that drugs and alcohol, with the alcohol drug. Overall, drivers the driver had used the drug risk of a fatal crash. They found testing positive for drugs were detected but does not that drug use is associated with three times as likely as those “...drug use is necessarily mean that the a significantly increased risk of testing negative to be involved driver was impaired by the fatal crash involvement, in a fatal crash. Among the associated with drug at the time of crash or particularly when used in drugs studied, survey. Secondly, variations in a significantly combination with alcohol. presented the highest risk, individual tolerance and Data for the study came from followed by , pharmacological properties of increased risk of two national sources narcotics and marijuana. different drugs make it difficult sponsored by the National Elevated blood alcohol levels to determine drug impairment. fatal crash Highway Traffic Safety were found in 57 percent of Also, there is no uniformly involvement, Administration: the 2007 the cases and 8.8 percent of accepted definition of National Roadside Survey of the controls, and the risk of impairment for different drugs. particularly Alcohol and Drug Use by fatal crash involvement “The possible interaction of Drivers and the Fatality increased exponentially as drugs in combination with when used in Analysis Reporting System these levels rose. About one- alcohol on driving safety has (FARS), a repository of fifth (20.5 percent) of the cases combination long been a concern,” said Dr. investigation data for all tested positive for alcohol and Li. “While alcohol-impaired with alcohol.” crashes on public roads that one or more drugs, compared driving remains the greatest resulted in at least one fatality with 2.2 percent of the threat to traffic safety, these within 30 days of the crash. controls. Compared to drivers findings about drugged driving FARS also contains detailed who tested positive for neither are particularly noteworthy in information about the crash alcohol nor drugs, the odds of light of the increases in the circumstances as well as fatal crash involvement availability of prescription individuals and vehicles increased by more than 13 stimulants and involved in the crash. This is times for those who were (painkillers) over the past the first study to use both data alcohol-positive but drug- decade.” sources to quantify relative negative, more than double for risks of fatal crash involvement those who were alcohol- Source: Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, associated with different drugs. negative but drug-positive, and news release, Sept. 25, 2013

“You have to Gun Violence in Movies According to Ohio State "Based on what researchers wonder why with gun violence. University researchers, the have found, it is not good for we are seeing "The trend of increasing gun amount of gun violence in teens to be viewing this much violence in PG-13 movies is this surge in PG-13 films has more than gun violence in films," he said. disturbing because … those gun violence tripled since 1985, the year the Overall, findings showed that are the films kids are most in PG-13 rating was introduced. the rate of violent sequences attracted to," Bushman movies, when "It is shocking how gun use nearly quadrupled from 1950 said. "In addition, these movies it is not has skyrocketed in movies that to 2010. Since 1985, 94 essentially provide young appearing in are often marketed directly at percent of the movies studied people scripts for how to use G-, PG- and the teen audience," said (367 in total) had one or more guns in real life, as we have R-rated films.” professor of communication five-minute segments that seen in copycat killings. It is a and psychology Brad Bushman, included violence. Overall, the bad situation." co-author of the study. films contained 700 segments Source: The Ohio State University SUPPORT AND PREVENTI ON P A G E 3 (Not So) New and Emerging Drugs Our youth are exposed to an ever- promethazine mixed with clear methods are used to vaporize changing landscape of drugs of soda (Sprite, Mountain Dew) and alcohol, generally spirits or “hard abuse on a daily basis. Following are flavored with Jolly Ranchers or liquor,” and inhale the vapors; some of the most common current Skittles; ingredients are mixed commonly used methods include trends: together and drunk; pressurizing with air, pouring over LSD/acid/psychedelic mushrooms – – an herb found in dry ice, or heating the alcohol; hallucinogenic drugs; comes in southern Mexico and Central and Kratom – a tree found in Southeast powder or on liquid-infused paper South America; fresh leaves can be Asia; leaves can be chewed or that is swallowed or dissolved in chewed but generally are dried and brewed into a “.” Small amounts the mouth; smoked like marijuana to produce a act as a , but large Molly – purported to be “pure mild hallucinogenic effect; amounts have a sedative effect. MDMA,”the active drug in Ecstasy, – synthetic stimulant N-bomb/Smiles – synthetic but is often mixed with other compared to or 25I-NBOMe, 25C- Vaporized alcohol substances; can be swallowed, methamphetamine. Due to changing NBOMe or 25B-NBOMe; ingested snorted or injected; legal status, some names have been as powder, liquid or infused paper Spice/K2 (sometimes called herbal changed to “jewelry cleaner,” (like LSD); incense or fake weed) – synthetic “plant fertilizer,” etc.; can be e-Cigarette – use rates among THC sprayed on dried plant snorted, smoked or injected; teens doubled between 2011 and material, usually herbs or flowers; Heroin – again nothing new, but 2012; is vaporized and smoked in a pipe, bong or rolled use rates are climbing, due in large smoked; into joint or blunt; part to prescription painkiller abuse e-Hookah pen or stick – much like Prescription medications, especially and addiction; heroin is often easier an e-Cigarette but may or may not painkillers – to find and is much cheaper. New, contain nicotine; flavored liquid is (OxyContin, Percocet, purer heroin can be snorted or vaporized and smoked; smoked. Roxycontin), This list is by no means a full (Vicodin, Lortab), Over-the-counter cough and cold representation of all that is available (Opana), etc.; many adults are medicines (CCCs or “Triple Cs”) – to our teens and young adults. e-Hookah pens aware of prescription drug abuse, common types abused include There are many reliable resources but not necessarily the methods of Coricidin Cold and Cough, Mucinex online to help stay abreast of the abuse – in addition to pills simply DM, Robitussin cough syrup and fluid nature of substance use and being swallowed, they are often others. These products contain abuse. The sources cited below and crushed and snorted or dissolved (DXM) which, others listed on page four are and injected; in large doses, causes hallucinations excellent web sites with verified, Cocaine/crack – nothing new, but and disassociative (out-of-body) research-based information. increasing use among teens; experiences; medicines are taken orally, usually in very large doses; Sources: National Institute on Drug /syrup/juice – prescription Abuse (NIDA), Just Think Twice cough syrup with codeine and “” alcohol – primitive Sports/Diet Supplements May Contain Meth-Like Chemical A popular and controversial sports only natural ingredients, raise continued to be sold elsewhere supplement widely sold in the U.S. significant health and regulatory online and in GNC stores. and other countries has been found concerns, the researchers said. Detonate is sold by a variety of to contain a meth-like chemical – The U.S. researchers also said they online retailers. N,alpha-diethylphenylethylamine – found the same meth-like chemical Most common products do not which has a structure similar to in another supplement, Detonate, contain mystery ingredients not methamphetamine, according to which is sold as an all-natural listed on the label. Some of these tests by scientists in the U.S. and weight loss pill made by Gaspari diet, workout and body building South Korea. Nutrition. products, however, seem to be The test results on samples of While Walmart.com and several promoting the idea that you can Craze, a pre-workout powder online retailers have stopped selling shortcut or bypass the traditional made by New York-based Driven Craze in the wake of the methods to fitness and health. Sports and marketed as containing investigation, the product has Source: USAToday Internet Resources Teen Dating Violence Foundation for a Drug Free World – www.drugfreeworld.org One in three young people experience some Get Smart about Drugs – form of dating abuse. Teen Dating Violence www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com (DV) Awareness and Prevention Month is a National Institute on Drug Abuse national effort to raise awareness about (NIDA) – www.drugabuse.gov abuse in teen and 20-something relationships NC Parent Resource Center – and promote programs that prevent it. www.ncparentresourcecenter.org The repercussions of teen dating violence are Office of National Drug Control impossible to ignore, and may lead to: less Policy – www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp attention to academics, increased exposure to drugs and alcohol, higher risk of teen The Partnership at Drug-Free.org – pregnancy, growing isolation and sexual assault. Even one of these consequences can www.drugfree.org have a profound impact on the physical, social and emotional growth of a young person. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Moreover, his or her family, friends, school and community are affected as well. Services Administration (SAMHSA) – www.samhsa.gov Types of abuse suffered by these victims can be emotional/verbal abuse, stalking, Time to Talk – www.timetotalk.org physical abuse, sexual abuse, or digital abuse/stalking (via cell phone/text or internet). Free Kids – Loveisrespect is an online resource which provides information, tips and action www.tobaccofreekids.org strategies for young people to prevent and end dating abuse, along with 24/7 Too Smart to Start – confidential peer-led support available by phone, text or chat. http://toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov

Everybody deserves a safe and healthy relationship. Developmental Asset #36

Sources: teenDVmonth, loveisrespect Peaceful conflict resolution seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.- Young person Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets® are common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults www.search -institute.org/assets . http://sdfs.ucps.k12.nc.us Media Influence on Adolescent Alcohol Use Alcohol use by  Teens who see alcohol use in Parents can help prevent the media adolescents is a major movies and on television are more from influencing their children’s health concern. Youth likely to start drinking at a younger attitudes toward alcohol use. First, who begin to drink at an age. reduce exposure to types of media early age are at higher risk  Music that is popular among that show alcohol use. This can be for injury, illness, long- adolescents often includes lyrics done by reducing your child’s media term alcohol abuse, or relating to alcohol use, as well as use overall, which has other health even death related to other drug use, sex and violence. benefits as well. Another suggestion is alcohol use. to view media with your child and  The alcohol industry spends well Many factors influence whether an reduce exposure to media that have over one billion dollars every year references to alcohol use. adolescent begins to drink alcohol at on advertising, and many ads are a young age. Some of these include placed in different types of media Second, talk to your child regularly home life and whether parents have that are popular among youth. about what he or she is seeing or talked about rules for alcohol use hearing in media related to alcohol with their children.  Brands of alcohol named by use. You can help your child adolescents as their favorites Whether an adolescent’s peers drink “outsmart” the alcohol advertisers by tended to be the same brands that discussing false or misleading greatly influences his or her likelihood have high advertising expenditures. of drinking alcohol. Another influence information. This strategy is called on adolescent drinking is the media –  Youth who were exposed to media literacy. You can discuss how movies and television that depict alcohol advertisements were more television, movies and ads usually do alcohol use, music that includes lyrics likely to say they had a positive not show the negative side of alcohol about alcohol use, and advertisements attitude toward alcohol use, and use and talk about what some of for alcohol. Research studies have were more likely to have started those negative outcomes might be. shown: drinking by the end of the research Source: Journal of American Medical study period. Association (JAMA) Pediatrics

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