Parent Power!! Jasper High School PARENT POWER!! Parent Power!! Jasper High School Kay Glawe and Carrie Stevens Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists

Some facts we know:  The brain grows fastest during adolescence than at any other time in life.  Adolescent brain + drug use = bad decisions and poor impulse control!  Genetic factors account for 40% - 60% of a person’s vulnerability to addiction.

 Family members who abuse alcohol and drugs increase the risk for addiction.  Peer drug use is the strongest predictor of adolescent substance use. (Do their friends use?)  There is a strong correlation between the level of substance use and the number of peers that use. Environmental Factors:

 The brain produces less Dopamine and reduces the number of receptors causing decreased ability to experience pleasure.  This brain adaptation is called tolerance, which produces a need to use a drug to have normal Dopamine function. Sundown Ranch Long term abuse impairs brain functioning.

A Few Statistics o Average age of first use of tobacco: 12. o Average age of first use of alcohol: 12. o Average age of first use of marijuana: 13.

Over 400,000 people die each year due to cigarette smoking. 3,000 non-smoking Americans die of lung cancer each year due to second hand smoke and it causes up to 300,000 children to suffer from lower respiratory-tract infections. 40 chemicals in tobacco smoke have been identified that cause cancer in humans and animals according to researchers. Short term effects VS Long term increase in blood pressure chronic lung disease increase in heart rate heart disease causes arteries to narrow stroke reduces amount of oxygen in blood cancer (lung, throat, esophagus…) Tobacco

Alcohol  Most teenagers who drink alcohol, drink to get drunk.  Teens who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who wait until age 21.  Youth under the age of 21 drink almost 20% of the alcohol consumed in the US.  Adolescents who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active, which places them at greater risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases.  According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2.6 million young people do not know that a person can die of an overdose of alcohol. Alcohol poisoning occurs when a person drinks a large quantity of alcohol in a short amount of time.

Drug Trends The new drug threat for teens could be in your home already! Abuse of prescription pain killer medication ranks second in the USA (marijuana is first). 47% of teens say they get prescription drugs free from a relative or friend.

Why do parents need to know this? Currently there are more new users (12 and older) of prescription drugs than any other illegal drug. Abuse of prescription drugs is dangerous, even fatal! (Pharming parties) Prescription drugs are easy to get and often free to teens. Getting prescription drugs withou t a prescription is illegal.

Marijuana The most used illegal drug in this country. Short term effects include: Problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination, increased heart rate and anxiety. Long term effects include: Marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing compounds as tobacco.  Extended use is associated with Anti- Motivational Syndrome and lung damage.  Over 90% of people that use methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs have started off using marijuana.  Students who smoked marijuana in the past year were twice as likely to skip class than those who did not smoke.

Xanax  Is used to treat anxiety disorders  Most students will refer to Xanax as “bars” or “xanies”  The state of relaxation and euphoria induced by benzodiazepines is the main reason for their illicit use  Teens may use this drug in conjunction with other drugs

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications  Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough- suppressing ingredient found in a variety of over-the counter cold and cough medications  Slang terms include: Dex, Robo, Skittles, Triple C, Orange Crush, Red Devils  National reports indicate some teens have consumed three or four bottles of cough syrup in one day and taken up to tablets of Coricidin at once. There have been reported cases of overdoses that have resulted in coma and death.  Teens have reported stealing “Triple C” off the shelf at various stores.

Synthetic LSD

COMMON NAMES  2C-I NBOMEe  25I-NBOMe  25I  N-Bomb  Smiles  Legal Acid/ Legal LSD  Students are under the impression that it’s LSD and it’s NOT! It’s much more dangerous!!

Drug Slang  Tabs = Ecstasy  “Rollin” = Ecstasy high  Bars = Xanax  Hydro = Hydrocodone (Opioid Rx pain medication)  Blunt = A small cigar hollowed out and filled with marijuana  Bud = Marijuana  Dabs/Wax = Marijuana with very high THC concentrate  K2/Spice/7H = Synthetic marijuana  Big C/Blow/White Girl = Cocaine  Bath Salts = Ivory Bliss, Plant food  Triple C = Coricidin Cough and Cold

Plano ISD Substance Abuse Prevention Website 

The Power of Parents! According to the Partnership for a Drug- Free America, kids who learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50% less likely than their peers to use drugs, yet fewer than a third of teens, just 31 percent, say they are getting that message from their parents.

Warning Signs of of Alcohol or Drug Use  #1 sign of use is a change in friends or having friends who drink or use drugs.  Grades drop for no apparent reason.  Change in personality (mood, attitude change)  Giving up extracurricular activities.  Reduced motivation and interest in previously enjoyed activities.  Less interest in being at home.  Refusing a drug test. (Urine, hair, blood)

More Warning Signs  Increased rage and aggression.  Skipping school.  Finding drugs or paraphernalia.  They talk a lot about alcohol or drugs.  Some teens get excited when someone they know has a medical issue (wisdom teeth removed- pain killers may be prescribed).  They have alcohol or drug posters or clothes.  You see the numbers 420 or 710 on notebooks, clothes, etc.  They smell like alcohol or act drunk.  They look or act high.  You are just concerned - TRUST YOUR GUT!

What to Do if You Suspect Alcohol or Drug Abuse by a Teen:  Take it very seriously. Middle and high school today are not the same as when you were in school.  Think about health, social and legal ramifications.  Consequences should get the child’s attention.  Talk to your substance abuse prevention counselor and/or school counselor.  Get an alcohol/drug assessment.  If use is found, then consider a treatment program. A simple discussion with your child rarely works.  Treatment does work and the longer it lasts the better.

What We Want Parents to Know…  Make sure your teen swallows/consumes medication in front of you.  Remove or lock up all prescription medications. Half of all teens obtain pills from a friend or relative.  Know their friends. Get to know their parents and talk with them.  Check the contact list on your teen’s cell phone.  Don’t be afraid to search their room and check their computer and phone.  Be a parent, not a friend.  Avoid falling for the line, “I have friends who use but I don’t.”  Avoid being lulled into a false sense of security (negative drug test, my child tells me about all the kids who are using so I know they are not using).

Remember  Your home is not a democracy. You are in charge.  You need to keep your child safe and should do anything and everything to ensure that.  Let them know how much you love them and tell them you’re proud of them!!  Encourage discussions about your values and expectations for them.  Do not ignore alcohol or drug use.  Do not ignore depression or talk of suicide. Be willing to talk to your child and get them professional help if needed.

As parents, we need to try to...  Be consistent.  Set a good example.  Eat dinner together.  Attend religious services as a family.  Have critical/crucial conversations with your child often. Weave into the conversation things that make you proud of them; when they’ve shown good judgment and made good choices/decisions.

Being a parent isn’t easy, but it’s worth our time and effort! PARENT POWER!! Questions?