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 Parenting Related NewsLet’s face it. Teens are not that interested in talking to someone whose sole intent is to pepper them with questions, judge their answers, and offer unsolicited advice. In fact, these forms of communication serve to obstruct rather than facilitate communication with our teens. As a matter of fact, they are part of a longer list of communication blocks that parents would do well to avoid if they’d want their teens to talk to them.
Truth be told, the lessons about alcohol consumption that are the most powerful may just be the ones that are not accompanied by a wagging finger and a tongue lashing. It is the small, accumulated lessons about drinking that add up to make a difference.
While it was hard to immediately see the outward effects of my pill intake, inside, I was detaching from reality. I always describe the feeling of being on pills as being inside a protective bubble. You feel like nothing can hurt you…and eventually, nothing can, simply because you’ve got no emotions left.
As a college student living 5 hours away from my parents, I have the freedom to do pretty much whatever I want. If I got into any real trouble, with the university or the law, only then would the school contact my parents. Otherwise, I can get away with a lot without my parents ever knowing. That’s a scary thought for parents reading this, right?
I am betting that very few of you have sat through a week’s worth of sex education classes at your teenkid’s school. If your school district offers – or mandates – such classes, you no doubt have received a carefully crafted note listing the topics to be covered. And, if you have somehow managed to raise one of those rare tweens or teens who, in response to “so, what happened at school today?” replies polysyllabically, you might have a general notion of what goes on.
One in five teenagers has abuse prescription pain medication. Dr. Drew shares some reasons why teens are abusing pills and what parents can do if they suspect their child is using.
She smiled and said she was proud of him. He had come to a 180 degree turn in his life. And with that, he turned to the other teens and thanked them for helping him change his life. His victory became theirs.
Do you know an outstanding youth coach or student athlete who demonstrates a commitment to fair, drug-free play and an overall healthy lifestyle? Does this person inspire others to give it their all, make the team smile after a big defeat, or show exemplary character and integrity on and off the field?
If you answered YES, [...]
Being a responsive parent instead of a reactive parent begins with more matter-of-fact interactions with our kids. This means speaking to them in a calm manner and not freaking out, overreacting and getting extreme with our emotions. Too often, when we see something in our relationship that we don’t like, we try to change everything wholesale. We say things like, “From now on, things are going to be different!”
My colleague told me she was having her 10-year-old stepson practice his reading and comprehension skills while reading entries from my personal blog. Effectively, she noted, along the way she discovered that it’s a creative method of early drug prevention too.
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Meth-a Monster DrugAs writer Kathy Sena was preparing columns about methamphetamine and cocaine, the two most insidious drugs in our culture today, I decided to see what I could find on the Internet, where most of our children live. I searched for cocaine, and several sites came up offering to show me how to make crack at home. Another web site instructed me on how to pass a methamphetamine test. Then I discovered that it’s just as easy to learn how to make crystal meth. Crystal meth may be the most dangerous of the addictive drugs. It’s cheap, it’s easy to make, it’s easy to get. Because it is so pure, it may even be more addictive. Adding to its popularity is the fact that it can be smoked, which is less uncomfortable than snorting or injecting. Cocaine is usually snorted, and heroin usually requires a syringe. But crystal meth, too, can be snorted or injected. You may know that crystal meth has become a suburban nightmare. Meth labs have been found in homes in a variety of suburbs. Small town America doesn’t get off easy either (see below). The ease with which it is made is frightening, and the ingredients are plentiful. Crystal meth is the reason why over-the-counter Sudafed and other cold medications with pseudoephedrine were taken off the shelf and put behind the pharmacy counter. It is frightening how quickly kids become addicted. One health professional told me that crystal meth hot-wires the brain so that the same stimuli that were around when the user first tried the drug would cause instant cravings if the user is around those same stimuli in the future. And its destruction does not stop after one hit: Crystal meth’s affects can come back for years even if the habit is kicked. Methamphetamine What is it? Methamphetamine is a very addictive stimulant drug that strongly activates certain systems of the brain. Chemically, it is closely related to amphetamine, but the central nervous system effects of methamphetamine are greater. Also known as: Speed, meth, co-pilots, Christmas tree and chalk. The crystal form, inhaled by smoking, is referred to as ice, crystal meth, tina and glass. The injected form is sometimes called crank. How taken: Methamphetamine can be taken by mouth (pills), snorted (also called bumping), injected or smoked. How teens get it: From friends, at parties and dance clubs and through buying it themselves on the street. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), methamphetamine has become the most dangerous drug problem in small-town America. Traffickers make and distribute the drug in some of the most rural areas in the U.S. Twelve- to 14-year-olds who live in smaller towns are 104% more likely to use methamphetamine than those who live in larger cities, according to the DEA. Effects & dangers: Immediately after smoking or injecting methamphetamine, the user experiences an intense sensation, called a "rush" or "flash," which lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Oral or intranasal use produces euphoria and a high, but not the same rush. Methamphetamine appears to damage brain cells that contain dopamine and serotonin. Over time, it appears to cause reduced dopamine levels, which can result in symptoms like those of Parkinson’s disease, a severe movement disorder. Methamphetamine use causes increased heart rate and blood pressure and can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes. Other effects include respiratory problems, irregular heartbeat and extreme anorexia. Its use can result in cardiovascular collapse and death. Signs of abuse: Increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, increased body temperature (hyperthermia), euphoria, irritability, insomnia, confusion, tremors, convulsions, anxiety, paranoia and aggressiveness. Methamphetamine use also can lead to what dentists refer to as "meth mouth," a condition in which a user has rampant, severe dental cavities. Some users describe their teeth as blackened, stained, rotting, crumbling or falling apart. Often, the teeth cannot be saved and must be extracted. Meth mouth is thought to be caused by methamphetamine use leading to dry mouth; extended periods of poor oral hygiene; frequent consumption of high-calorie, carbonated beverages and tooth grinding and clenching. Some reports also have speculated that the acidic nature of the drug is a contributing factor. Is methamphetamine addicting? Yes. Users may become addicted quickly and then use the drug with increasing frequency and in increasing doses. --Kathy Sena |
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