The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

It may start with pot, but where will it end? With the recent tragedy of Corey Monteith it leaves the door open for conversation. You may have a teen that is smoking pot.  I speak to many parents that believe that "it is only marijuana."  Maybe that is true, but have they considered what happens when their highly intelligent (because they also share with me how smart their teenager is) teen decides to maybe try some pills or alcohol with it? What is addiction? Addiction has long been understood to mean an uncontrollable habit of using alcohol or other drugs. Because of the physical effects of these substances on the body, and particularly the brain, people have often thought that “real” addictions only happen when people regularly use these substances in large amounts. Addiction – there is a psychological/physical component; the person is unable to control the aspects of the addiction without help because of the mental or physical conditions involved. – ...

What does this say to parents of teenagers?    Are the parents too trusting of the teens or are the teens too smart for the parents? Are you still digesting that?    Let's understand this. One in four teens (24 percent) reports having misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime (up from 18 percent in 2008 to 24 percent in 2012), which translates to about 5 million teens. That is a 33 percent increase over a five-year period.   -According to Drugfree.org That is a lot teens using illegal prescription drugs to get high or alter their moods.  Where are they getting these drugs from?   Parents, grandparents, a friend's home or simply buying them off the street.    This isn't   blame game it is time to get a grasp on it and communicate to your kids about the risks of prescription medicine when it is not taken for the reasons it is prescribed for by a doctor.   Sometimes it takes a ne...

OTC - Over the Counter Medicines Drugstore medications can be dangerous! Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines like painkillers and cold medicines are generally safe when used as intended. But if your teen takes them in large doses to get high, they can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Many young people abuse cough medicines containing dextromethorphan, among other drugs. Get the facts on this disturbing trend. 1. The statistics are frightening: Government surveys show that 3.1 million people age 12 and older have misused OTC medications in their lifetime—with nearly 4 percent of misuse among those younger than 18. Nearly 6 percent of 10th graders and roughly 5 percent of high school seniors report abusing cough or cold medicines, particularly those containing dextromethorphan. 2. Dextromethorphan goes by many names: Pharmacists may call this medication DXM. ...

Shatter the Myths! National Drug Facts Week is Monday, October 31st through Sunday, November 6th, 2011. Why do people and teens smoke when they know it is bad for them? Maybe they smoke because they can’t stop. People start smoking for different reasons,but most keep doing it because of one reason—they are addicted to nicotine. DID YOU KNOW? Research says that teens who see a lot of smoking in movies are more likely to start smoking themselves. Sometimes characters smoke to look edgy and rebellious; but sometimes it’s justabout “product placement” — the tobacco industry trying to get into your head and your pockets. Teen Drinking: FACT:  More than 4 in 10 people who begin drinking before age 15 eventually become alcoholics. Teen Prescription Drug Use: FACT:  In 2007, prescription pain medications like Vicodin and OxyContin were involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined. Want to learn more FACTS about teens and substance use?  Down...

Parenting teens is a challenge today. Schools and parents today need to work together to help prevent teen drug use. Fast Facts : Preventing Teen OTC Cough Medicine Abuse - From Home to Homeroom A Wake Up Call for Parents Thirty-three percent of American high school teens know someone who has abused cough medicine, a wake up call for those parents who think that their teen is not affected or being exposed to the issue. Six percent of high school teens admit to abusing cough medicine containing dextromethorphan, or DXM, to get high in the past year. Cough Medicine Abuse Does Not Happen By Accident While safe and effective when taken as directed, teens looking to get high from cough medicine take excessive amounts, sometimes 25 to 50 times the recommended dosage. This translates to multiple bottles or packages of medicine at one time. Teens often abuse cough medicines with other prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol. Even the best kid in the world doesn't h...

It’s not just pot anymore! It’s not the pot some parents smoked in college! It’s not just pills that gave you a quick high or a downer! Today’s teen drug use is worse than generations prior.  Why?  The access, the technology, the peer pressure, society, many reasons that all lead to one result:  Parents need to take the time to not only educate their teens on they dangers of substance abuse, but also themselves. What is Oxycontin? OxyContin is a drug that is administered in pill form.  The actual drug name is oxycodone and OxyContin is a brand name for the pills that are produced by Purdue Pharma. OxyContin is considered a narcotic painkiller and is in a class of drugs called opiates because it contains chemicals called opioids which bind with particular opioid receptors in our brain. Other drugs that are opiates include: Heroin Codeine Vicodin (brand name for a drug with active ingredieant hydrocodone) Morphine Percodan (also contains ...

Drug use (substance abuse) is a serious cry for help, and making your teen feel ashamed or embarrassed can make the problem worse. Some common behavior changes you may notice if your teenager is abusing drugs and alcohol are: Violent outbursts, rage, disrespectful behavior Poor or dropping grades Unexplained weight loss or gain Skin abrasions, track marks Missing curfew, running away, truancy Bloodshot eyes, distinct “skunky” odor on clothing and skin Missing jewelry money New friends Depression, apathy, withdrawal Reckless behavior Tips to help prevent substance abuse: 1. Communication is the key to prevention. Whenever an opportunity arises about the risks of drinking and driving or the dangers of using drugs, take it to start a conversation. 2. Have a conversation not a confrontation. If you suspect your teen is using drugs, talk to them. Don’t judge them, talk to them about the facts of the dangers of substance abuse. If your teen isn’t opening up to you, be sure...

After speaking with Dr. Drew last week in an insightful call on teens and cough syrup abuse, the conversation turned to the many parents that are in denial or constantly looking to blame others for their child’s behavior. How many times have you blamed your child’s friend or a neighbor for negative behavior of your child? It is not your child, it is the friends he/she is hanging with. Your child would never do drugs, they are too smart for that. Are they? Yes, many are highly intelligent but that doesn’t mean they are immune to drug use. The faster you remove yourself from the “it’s not my child” excuse, the sooner you can work on getting your child the help he/she may need. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America , one in five teens reports having abused a prescription drug to get high. Teens who learn a lot about the dangers of drugs from their parents are half as likely to abuse drugs. – StopMedicineAbuse . Some red flags parents should be aware of, and not ...

Learn more about Inhalant use and your teens Inhalant abuse is a growing problem that many parents are not aware of. We are cautious of drug abuse and alcohol consumption , however huffing, sniffing, dusting, bagging and the use of inhalants is not a frequent discussion. Why is inhalant abuse to important to learn about? Because many of the products teens are using today to get high through inhalants, are located in your home. Many are household items such as nail polish remover, paint thinner, correction fluid, lighters, gasoline and many more. As a Parent Advocate , I am constantly reminding parents that keeping your lines of communication open with your teens can help prevent drug use and other negative behavior that can stem from peer pressure , depression , etc. Here are some talking tips to open your dialogue with your teen today: Source: Inhalant.org • Ask your pre-teen or teenager if he or she knows about Inhalant Abuse or is aware of other kids abusing products. • Reinfor...