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become popular with the HS students. Xanax Chemical Health is the most prescribed medication in the United States, and it has extremely addictive properties. Trend Corner: The current trend is e-cigarette use. This “Vaping” trend has become an epidemic as 1.7 million high school students used e-cigarettes in the past month. So that’s half a million middle schoolers. What was promoted to help adult smokers quit has become an epidemic among children. Millions of children that are now struggling with a nicotine addiction. These companies appear to be targeting kids with flavored e-liquids juices like tutti frutti, cotton candy, and sour gummy worms. These flavored juices contain dangerous chemicals; measure metal levels in the aerosol which is what the e-liquids turn into when heated. Chromium, nickel, zinc, and lead are also found and no level of lead is safe to consume. The list of e-cigarettes devices is vast and growing targeting our younger generation. District #423 Chemical Health Prevention Specialist: Carmen Morrow The potency of today’s marijuana is said to be 5 times stronger than 18 years ago. Many of As the Chemical Health Prevention Specialist our students don’t believe it is addictive or for a School District, I am constantly being harmful. This mindset has made marijuana a asked questions like: Do we really have drugs popular drug used by students for escaping in our schools? Community? What type of stress and wanting a high. Nationally, each drugs are the students abusing? How can we year there are over 100,000 individuals who help? seek treatment because of marijuana addiction. The overall majority of students Unfortunately, McLeod schools have the same needing chemical health treatment at the High drug issues that most schools do. Students School level have developed a dependency on that choose to use chemicals usually start to marijuana. Synthetic pot (K2-“Spice'' is a experiment in the middle school years. These mixture of dried herbs sprayed with initial drug choices are usually alcohol, nicotine psychotropic drugs similar to THC in marijuana (cigarettes/e-cigs/chew), and inhalants. The but can be 10 times stronger), next three drugs in the progression are usually marijuana, and pills. A popular pill is Xanax Prescription drug abuse has been increasing Bars. Xannax is a very addictive drug that has over the years. Students steal, buy, exchange
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prescription and over the counter medication. The newest student trend is the increased use Teens can use cold and cough suppressant of brain boosting stimulants/amphetamines. In medication that has the ingredient the last few years, there has been a shift in Dextromethorphan /DXM to get high and cause what type of individuals use these stimulants delusions. These types of highs are referred to and the reasons behind the use. The pressure as “Robbo-Tripping” and” Triple C’s trips.” They to succeed at academics, ACT scores, or to be drink or use tablets of cold medicine in large alert for online gaming sessions often cause quantities to achieve a high that may last up to our high achieving students to look for 6 hrs. Allergy medication, such as Benadryl, or Adderall, Ritalin or a similar stimulant. For ADHD/ADD medication; Ritalin, Adderall those without the ADHD disorder, the drugs when taken/snorted in large quantities are can be dangerous and have serious side other popular means for a high. effects. Taking brain-boosting stimulants aren't a smart choice either as they can be very Students may get high on either one or multiple dangerous to students developing brains. types of medication/drugs. You may have Those students who want a brain boosting, seen on the news lately; mixing pills, academic advantage, are seeking out ADHD combining alcohol, or ingesting large doses medication; Adderall, Ritalin and other brain can be fatal. The pills that are most commonly enhancer pills like Addium and Modafuni. abused are pain relievers, such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percodan. These pills are Super–caffeinated energy drinks, with names metabolized into morphine, just like heroin is. like Red Bull, Monster, Full Throttle and Amp These highly addictive prescription drugs are have surged in popularity. Caffeine intoxication almost always obtained by a student's family is exhibited by students who drink several cans and friend’s medicine cabinets and not through in one day. They report feeling anxious, drug dealers. Opiate/pain relievers abuse can restless, insomnia, tremors and a rapid result in heroin use. The increase of heartbeat. Students report mixing energy prescription drug abuse has made heroin surge drinks (stimulant) and alcohol (depressant) at in popularity. Heroin is cheaper and easier to parties in order to drink more, and to drink obtain than prescription drugs. Nationally, we longer. This is a very dangerous combination. are seeing heroin and opiate addicts turning to much stronger, dangerous drugs such as Methamphetamine, bath salts (synthetic Fentanyl and Carfentanil. The drug Carfentanil hallucinogens promoted as legal cocaine, is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and methamphetamine, amphetamine, Ecstasy and 100 times more potent than Fentanyl. An LSD), 2C-E (powerful psychedelic hallucinogen amount as small as a couple of grains of salt similar to LSD and heroin), cocaine, and LSD can kill a person. Ecstasy is still popular and (Acid) are also available to our students. Those widely available among our heavier users. that use these drugs can be addicted quickly. Students who are abusing pills find it easier to The majority of the students do not experiment hide the physical signs of usage from teachers with these drugs. They see it as crossing the and parents. However, the abuse quickly turns line over to addiction. Those students that into dependency. choose to experiment with cocaine, heroin or meth. usually get addicted quickly, requiring
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inpatient treatment in their high school years. from life’s pressures, avoid painful feelings, “Molly” (pure MDMA), Ecstasy or LSD “Acid” and to fit in. We have found that the earlier the are common hallucinogen, psychedelic drugs intervention, the better chance a student has in which are very potent. LSD is usually found on remaining drug free. Talk to your children often blotter paper which is perforated into small about the risks of chemical use and your squares. “Molly” is usually taken in pill form values on underage/illegal drug use. Statistics and is popular at concerts. show that they do listen to what their parents say. Designer or synthetic drugs are very dangerous and causing deaths. Synthetic Sources: NCDAS: Substance Abuse and Addiction drugs are widely sold as bath salts and Statistics [2021] incense. They are often smoked, inhaled, eaten or injected. These designer drugs are constantly changing their chemical structure to “Abuse Among Teens & stay ahead of the state and national banning. College Students is They can be purchased easily online and in local head shops. These very dangerous drugs Alarming” have been popular for those on probation or by Resource: TruVida Recovery, April 2021 anyone that wants to get around testing positive on a UA. (Urinalysis drug test)
Alcohol is still the number one drug of choice for children and adolescents. Alcohol is the leading cause of death among young people in the United States. Binge drinking has Xanax Bars continued to be accepted by peers and even Common slang terms: “Planks,” “zanies,” and “school encouraged. Nationally and locally, binge buses” (for yellow pills) drinking continues to cause deaths, resulting from poor judgment and alcohol poisoning. We Xanax is the most prescribed medication in the now know that brain development continues to United States, and it has extremely addictive take place until the age of 22 yrs. Those under properties. 22 yrs. are much more vulnerable to brain damage, poor decision making, and addiction Xanax is popular among teenagers to help than adults. them cope with the stressors, depressions, and anxieties of teenage life. This is problematic as So what can we do to help our children? Seek early Xanax use among teens increases the out support from chemical health professionals likelihood of a life-long dependence. if you notice changes that concern you. Educate yourself on current drug trends and be It is widely available in schools, and some aware of the pressures your children face. teens get the drugs from their parents’ Most students identify with one or more of medicine cabinets. Since Xanax relaxes the these three reasons for their use; to escape mind and body, teens often find themselves
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abusing the substance and then want use involving Xanax is alcohol. This something stronger. Some teenagers up the combination is especially dangerous and likely risk by combining Xanax with alcohol or other to lead to overdose or other disastrous drugs and can take multiple Xanax bars a day. consequences. People also take Valium with Xanax for similar reasons and with similar Xanax Bars and College Students consequences.
Xanax continues to be one of the most As a person takes Xanax bars consistently and popularly-used drugs among college students. in higher quantities, they will begin to rely on 31% of drug overdoses in this age group the drug to feel normal. This is the state of involve Xanax or other benzodiazepines. dependence. If that person stops using Xanax, Benzodiazepine use is high on campus, due to they will suffer withdrawal. A sudden case of college students experiencing the pressure Xanax withdrawal can cause a fatal seizure. If exams and fitting in. you want to stop taking Xanax bars, it is best to gradually reduce your dose. The prevalence of other drugs on college campuses can encourage students to combine Why Xanax Abuse is on the Xanax with other drugs like alcohol, marijuana, and opioids. Combining drugs increases the Rise Among Teens potential to overdose, especially when the By Priscilla Henson, MD July 19, 2019 student does not know that they are doing it.
What Is Xanax?
Xanax is a benzodiazepine primarily used to treat generalized anxiety disorder by enhancing chemicals in the brain known as GABA. Xanax reproduces GABA in the brain which helps to calm the brain and nervous system. Also called Alprazolam, Xanax works to treat insomnia and panic disorders that affect millions in America.. Xanax is the most prescribed medication in the United States, Xanax is one of the most commonly prescribed and it has extremely addictive properties. benzodiazepine medications and is routinely used to treat short-term anxiety and panic In some cases, people combine Xanax bars disorders.The prevalence of Xanax abuse in with other drugs like cocaine. In other cases, teens is rapidly on the rise, as this drug is people have been misled into taking counterfeit frequently being used by high school aged versions of the drug which have caused adolescents to battle stress and anxiety. sudden death when the counterfeit contains Two key reasons have begun to stand out as other dangerous substances. The most underlying causes for this recent surge. common and well-known example of poly-drug 1. Increased Stress August/September/October 2021
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Teenagers in today’s society are more Protective factors are those associated with stressed than ever before.1 The number of reduced potential for drug use. Risk factors reported cases of generalized anxiety disorder are those that make drug use more likely. (GAD) and other issues is going up year after Research has shown that many of the same year. And as these statistics continue to rise, factors apply to other behaviors such as the level of Xanax use in teens is climbing right youth violence, delinquency, school along with it. Offering a release of euphoria dropout, risky sexual behaviors, and teen and relaxation that starts within 10 minutes or pregnancy. less, many individuals become dependent on Xanax as a means to calm down or even get to sleep at night. Addiction to these pills is often paired with opioids as an added means to remove the “pains” of stress.
2. Easy Access While some teens are getting their own prescriptions to Xanax, many others need only to walk into their parents’ bathroom and take a look into the medicine cabinet. But unfortunately, easy access to Xanax isn’t limited to homes. The internet is also opening doors for this generation to get their hands on Protective factors: Xanax in other ways. strong and positive family bonds; parental monitoring of children's “Social drug dealing” has facilitated the activities and peers; increase in prescriptions like Xanax finding clear rules of conduct that are their way into the possession of teenagers. consistently enforced within the family; involvement of parents in the lives of Risk and Protective Factors their children; success in school performance; strong in Drug Abuse Prevention bonds with institutions, such as school and religious organizations; and adoption of conventional norms about drug use. In more than 20 years of drug abuse research, NIDA has identified important principles for Risk factors: prevention programs in the family, school, and chaotic home environments, particularly community. Prevention programs often are in which parents abuse substances or designed to enhance "protective factors" and to suffer from mental illnesses; reduce "risk factors." ineffective parenting, especially with children with difficult temperaments or conduct disorders; August/September/October 2021
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lack of parent-child attachments and According to the National Institute on Drug nurturing; Abuse, approximately 22.7 million Americans inappropriately shy or aggressive (8.6 percent) have an addiction to drugs or behavior in the classroom; alcohol. failure in school performance; poor social coping skills; With such a significant percent of the affiliations with peers displaying deviant population having an addiction, it’s important to behaviors; and take a deeper look into which substances are perceptions of approval of drug-using particularly difficult to overcome a dependence behaviors in family, work, school, peer, on. and community environments. Read more here These Are The 5 Most Addictive Substances On Common Causes of Behavior Problems in Kids Earth Author: Caroline Miller Jeffrey Juergens ❘ March 9, 2016
Knowing what makes kids act out is the first
step to finding solutions.When children act out Find out which drugs researchers have more than occasionally — with frequent determined are the most addictive substances tantrums, outbursts or defiance — the first step on the planet. to dealing with the problem behavior is finding out what’s behind it. And the cause may not Over the years, there has been much debate be obvious. among researchers regarding which substances should be classified as the “most Especially when children are young, they may addictive”. An addiction is marked by not be able to tell you what they’re feeling. And compulsive substance-seeking behavior, a in fact they may not even know what’s growing tolerance to the drug or alcohol and bothering them. the presence of withdrawal symptoms when use is stopped. Read more here
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