But Everybody’s Doing it But Everybody’s Doing it! Myths and Trends of Alcohol, Drugs, and Teenage Behavior

What did we learn last month? Prefrontal Cortex: Directs our judgment & decision-making (rational, mature thinking) Amygdala: Directs our emotional response (immaturity) Deny, Delay, Discourage! SS

Myth #1: I need to teach my children how to drink before they go to college. May hinder frontal lobe development. Does not reduce the likelihood of your child binge drinking or becoming dependent on alcohol. Your child’s brain is not in a place to handle alcohol as an adult would. Remember the brain stops development at 25y/o. Drinking as a teen will reduce development of executive functioning skills. The frontal lobe is even less useful while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. SS

Myth #2: Europe has a lower drinking age and less problems with alcohol. Globally, the earlier young people start to drink, the worse the alcohol related consequences can be. Majority of European countries have higher rates of intoxication among young people than do youth from the United States The U.S. actually has lower rates of binge drinking for 15-18 year olds that Canada, Ireland, Poland, and the UK. Alcohol related consequences: Alcohol dependence, Traffic crashes, Physical violence Injuries after drinking, Damage to still-developing brain, Lower chances of success in school A greater percentage of young people from nearly all European countries report drinking in the past 30 days. Friese & Grube (2010) SS

Myth #3: They are going to do it anyway Myth #3: They are going to do it anyway. I might as well let them do it at my house so I know they are safe. If children are drinking in your home, you are technically breaking the law. You can be charged with contributing to a minor. You are sending mixed messages. Adolescents may be confused about the boundaries you have set and apply the “it’s okay to drink in the home rule” to setting outside of your home and outside of your control. If something happen that harms a child who was served at your house, you could be held liable BF

Myth #4: My kid is a good kid. Even “good kids” make mistakes. Adolescent brains are all still developing, so there are no “bad kids.” BF

Myth #5: I did it when I was in high school, and I’m fine. Children who live in an environment where alcohol abuse or dependence is occurring are three times more likely to become dependent themselves. Kids today are constantly exposed to media promoting alcohol and drug use. What are some messages your teens are getting from the media about drug and alcohol use? Kids today are also constantly exposed to media images promoting alcohol. The messages kids are getting about drugs and alcohol are very mixed and very different from the messages 20 years ago. BF

Myth #6: Drinking is different than drugs. Nope! Anything that spikes dopamine levels in the brain can become addictive. Is marijuana a gateway drug? The happy meal story… AG

Amazing Statistics Students who wait to use drugs or alcohol until age 21, are likely NEVER to have problems with addiction during their lifetime. Students who have a genetic predisposition to addiction and wait to use until age 21, are 40% less likely to have problems with addiction. WHY? WHY? SAMSHA, 2012 AG

What trends are you seeing in teen alcohol and drug use? Parents allowing teens to drink at their homes Synthetic marijuana use The black out game AG

Alcopops Premixed alcoholic energy drinks – Most of these are off the market now because of the efforts of multiple attorneys general. Sparks is the only one that is easily found. The problem with these is that they look so much like non-alcoholic energy drinks. Plus, there is not any research on the effects of alcohol, caffeine, natural stimulant additives, and sugar on the body. The pre-mixed energy drinks are marketed to help consumers “party all night” – it gives consumers a false sense that they are not as intoxicated as they actually are but we all know that you can’t sober up with caffeine. Use is also associated with increased drinking and driving as well as increase risky behavior such as unprotected sex. This product directly targets youth and young adults who are the largest consumers of energy drinks – 31% of 12-17 year olds and 34% of 18-24 year olds. SOURCE for information: Marin Institute, Alcohol, Energy Drinks, and Youth: A Dangerous Mix PICTURE came from: Alcohol Marketing and Youth: Evidence of a Problem, David H. Jernigan – Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health SS

How many drinks fit in a deposable water bottle? If an average mixed drink contains 1.5 fl. oz., then a water bottle can contain 11.27 drinks! SS

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Marijuana Trends Vaporizers: Discreet and almost odorless Uses multiple forms of marijuana Marketed as a healthy alternative Wax: Marijuana concentrate Can contain up to 90% THC Used when “dapping” Dap is a BHO, butane hash oil. It is made it labs by armature chemist who use products like butane and CO2 to extract the hash oil from the marijuana. The way can be smoked in some vaporizers and in other traditional ways. When smoking it the more traditional way, a higher level of heat is needed and some people get this by using butane torch. SS

Tobacco Trends Hookah- contains higher milliliters of smoke than smoking from cigarettes. WHO estimates one hour-long hookah session can equal over 100 cigarettes. Snus- an alternative to traditional chewing tobacco packaged similar to gum and comes in a teabag-like form. Requires no spitting. E-cigarettes or Personal Vaporizer- an electronic inhaler that vaporizes a liquid solution into an aerosol mist, simulating the act of tobacco smoking. BF

Prescription Drugs 3rd most commonly abused substance for Americans 14 years an older. Youth who abuse Rx drugs are more likely to report use of other drugs. Most teens get Rx drugs from friends, relatives, or someone they personally know. Commonly abused drugs: Opioids Stimulants Depressants Common reason for use: Get high (boys) Loose weight (girls) Help with school work BF

MDMA/Molly/Ecstasy Lasts 4-6 hours Users believe it is “Most pure” Cause confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, sleep problems, drug cravings Sometimes cut with other drugs Powder or crystal, or can come in pill form. Story of student charged with intent to distribute meth because the molly he had was cut so heavily. AG

Synthetics Bath Salts Tablets or a powder that users can swallow, snort or inject, producing similar effects to MDMA, amphetamines and cocaine. Spice or Fake Weed A mixture of leafy-looking herbs and spices that are sprayed with a chemical , then smoked. Sold as incense or potpourri. Unethical chemists make slight changes to the molecular structure of the parent drug to produce a new compound with similar effects. AG

Let EHS help support you! Off-campus behavior that brings discredit to the individual and thereby to the School, will be dealt with as a major offense via the Discipline Council. Criminal or unlawful behavior, inappropriate conduct that draws widespread community focus, or any behavior that is contrary to the intellectual, physical, and emotional well-being of Episcopal students, is unacceptable. If a student possesses, uses, and/or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol on this campus, he or she may be expelled from EHS without prior notice. In addition, if a student is detained by the police in the surrounding area of campus and is determined to possess, use, and/or be under the influence of drugs, he or she may also be expelled from EHS without prior notice. If the student or his or her family needs help regarding drugs or alcohol, they should meet with the Dean of Spiritual Life prior to a disciplinary situation. This help will remain confidential to the extent possible. AG