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The New Highs: The Drugs Teens Are Taking Now and What You Can Do About It

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By Anthony Bruno

What You Can Do if Your Teen Is Using Drug

  • Pick up your teen’s mp3 player and go to the “Top 25 Most Played” section. Listen for references to alcohol, drugs, or other risky behaviors. Use these references as talking points to start a dialogue with your teen.

  • Visit social networking sites like MySpace.com, and browse the profiles of teens to see what they say, what their interests are, and what they are doing online.

  • Monitor your teen’s comings and goings. Get to know the who, what, where, when, and why of their daily activities.

  • Can you name your teen’s favorite TV show? Watch it with him or her and discuss story lines that deal with drug use.

  • Go to a video sharing Web site and type in “smoking weed.” Watch some of the videos and see if your teen’s recent behavior matches the reactions of people who are high. If you suspect that your teen has a problem, don’t wait.

  • State your concerns and what you intend to do to help your teen, whether she wants it or not. Early intervention is the best intervention.

  • When confronting your teen, don’t get angry. Be firm but also make it clear that you love your teen and you will do anything to help them lick their problem.


The Facts About the New Highs

DRUG

HOW IT’S CONSUMED

THE HIGH

HOW TEENS GET IT

DXM (dex, skittles, robo, tussin)

Swallowed

Drunken feeling, hallucinations

In over-the-counter cold medications and cough syrups

Ritalin (kibbles & bits, pineapple)

Swallowed or snorted

Increased alertness and energy, euphoria

From other kids who have prescriptions

Salvia divinorum (ska pastorum, sally-d, shepherdess herb)

Smoked, chewed, ingested in liquid form

Euphoria, loss of motor control

Not illegal in US. Can be purchased from head shops and online

Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Codeine

Swallowed or injected

Euphoria, feelings of well-being, drowsiness

Stolen from medicine cabinet, purchased illegally online

Xanax (xanabar, monkey bars)

Swallowed

Euphoria, sluggishness

Stolen from medicine cabinet, purchased illegally online

 

Readers' Comments

David Ramsey, Denham Springs 11/05/08

I realy love this site,my 14yr. old has already experianced sex,drugs and we have her in treatment,but after she got out she stole my car ans p/up friends it was reared ended by one of their friends,We are now indrug-court with her.She is doing betteror playing the system?,IWILL NOT give-up on her! 11-4-08 Debbie,Louisiana

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