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What To Watch For Regarding Teenage Drug Abuse

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For any parent out there the thought of your adolescent or teenage son or daughter using drugs is something that cannot be imagined. Unfortunately teenage drug use is more common than many of us think.

According to statistics teenage drug abuse rates regarding certain drugs continue to climb causing much concern throughout schools and communities in the United States. The abuse of marijuana, prescription drugs and synthetic drugs are said to be the primary culprit.

Basic Information On Drugs Of Abuse By Teens

Teen drug abuse rates are continually monitored by many government agencies on daily, monthly and yearly trends. Some of the concerns with use are as follows:

•    The percentages of new teen users.
•    The increase in younger than teen-age individuals who are trying drugs starting from age 8 or earlier.
•    The numbers of teens abusing prescriptions.
•    The continual abuse of marijuana.
•    Synthetic drug abuse and the negative physical effects of the problem.
•    Lack of appropriate treatment alternatives for teens.

Statistics report that kids as young as 6-8 are trying drugs for the first time and these are drugs other than marijuana. A lot of the current teen drug problem also has to do with prescription abuse; which is newly becoming the primary teen drug abuse trend. The abuse of prescription painkillers like hydrocodone, oxycodone and Oxy Contin are the primary problem as well as the abuse of stimulant prescriptions. The main stimulant prescriptions that are being abused by teens are Adderall and Ritalin.

Teens are also continuing to abuse marijuana and it remains the number one most abused drug with teens as well as the drug sending the highest numbers of teens to rehab.
Synthetic drug abuse is also a growing problem and these include drugs created using chemicals that mimic illegal narcotics. There are two main categories of synthetic drug abuse affecting teens and these are the abuse of synthetic marijuana and synthetic methamphetamine.

Synthetic marijuana, also called K2 or Spice has been responsible for a number of emergency room visits amongst teens and is now illegal across the United States.
The other abused synthetic mimicking methamphetamine is called Bath Salts. This drug can sent teen users into a paranoid frenzy and its effects are unpredictable at best.

Teenage Drug Abuse Facts & Statistics

According to the latest Monitoring the Future Survey the current teen drug abuse statistics are as follows:

•    For the first time since 1981 cigarette use is lower than marijuana use meaning that continual increases are happening with teen marijuana use.
•    General marijuana use amongst 8th graders to seniors continues to increase.
•    Marijuana is the first most abused drug by teens.
•    Prescription drugs are the second most abused drugs by teens.
•    Vicoden is the number one prescription painkiller abused by teens.
•    Prescription stimulants are the second most abuse prescription by teens.
•    Cough Syrup is the third most commonly abused drug by teens following prescription painkillers and prescription stimulants.
•    Teens who abuse prescription painkillers often end up abusing heroin.
•    Teens who abuse prescription stimulants often end up abusing methamphetamine.

Narconon Vista Bay Not Surprised By Teen Abuse Trends

Narconon Vista Bay with several locations in the state of California is not surprised by the current teen drug abuse trends. With the current availability of prescriptions, more and more teens are bound to abuse them. In addition, marijuana legislation has been becoming less and less strict over the years allowing more access to the drug and those addicted to take advantage and abuse it.

As a result Narconon Vista Bay and even programs that provide meetings like NA have seen more and more teens in trouble and searching for help for prescription abuse.
For more information on Narconon Vista Bay call 888-292-4999.

Teenage Drug Abuse

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Teenage drug abuse has been a major problem for many years. Many teens are exposed to drugs before the age of 13 and many in their teen years have tried several different types of both illicit and prescription drugs.

The latest Monitoring the Future Survey found that drug use has continued to increase amongst teens and it is starting at an even younger age. In addition to this the main culprits affecting teens include marijuana, prescription drugs and newly abused drugs called synthetics.

Marijuana Abuse Among Teens

According to a new release from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, abuse rates continue to climb for marijuana use amongst teens. More than 36% of seniors in high school have reported using the drug during a one year period. In addition to this, only 22% of 12th graders saw great risk in using the drug occasionally. There are also reports that teens are exhibiting the same attitude in regards to the use of synthetic marijuana, called K2 or Spice.

The long term effects of weed and its dangers have recently been outlined in a publication entitled “What Americans Need to Know About Marijuana” that was released by The Office of the National Drug Control Policy. The publication notes that among the long term effects of weed are the number of 12-17 year olds seeking treatment for the drug. The number of marijuana admissions amongst 12-17 year olds tops out at 62% of all rehab admissions for that age group. In addition to this the drug causes many health consequences to users including risk of cancer from the carcinogenic smoke from the drug, lung infection, bronchitis, and emphysema.

Marijuana was responsible for nearly 110,000 emergency room visits and the percentage of the visits has gone up 176% since 1994 alone.

Drug rehab programs like arrowhead Narconon as well as NA have not only seen a continuous stream of individuals seeking help for illicit and prescription drugs but marijuana.

The continuous high rates of marijuana use amongst teens are causing long term negative effects to teens across the country.

Prescription Abuse

Prescription drugs are also a major area of concern for teenage drug abuse. Teens are abusing three main types of prescription drugs. These include Central Nervous System depressants, opioid drugs and stimulants. The most commonly abused opioid drugs include codeine, methadone, Percocet, Oxy Contin, hydrocodone and oxycodone.

The most commonly abused central nervous system depressants are Valium, Xanax and sleep medications. Stimulants, the third category of most abused drugs include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder drugs like Adderall and Ritalin.
Nearly 8% of teens are abusing prescriptions and they are the most commonly abused drugs by seniors in high school.

Synthetic Abuse

Teens are also abusing synthetic drugs including synthetic marijuana known as K2 or Spice and synthetic methamphetamine or Bath Salts.
Increases in ER visits have occurred because of side effects from the drug and drug enforcement groups have been forced to take action to get them off the streets.

Narconon Meetings Handle Teen Drug Abuse

Narconon drug prevention meetings along with school and church prevention programs can stop drug abuse before it starts. There are also solutions through Narconon drug treatment and NA for those already addicted.

Narconon meetings, called drug education presentations are delivered to schools, communities and churches across the country to educate teens on the dangers of drugs and minimize abuse rates with this group of people.

The outcome is that teens are less likely to use prescriptions or illicit drugs. For more information on scheduling  Narconon meetings or to find help for a teen suffering with a drug abuse problem call Narconon at 888-292-4999.