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Statistics on Teenage Drug Use Approximately 15 percent of 10th and 12th graders have used amphetamines. In a study at San Francisco General Hospital, 25 percent of seizures were found to be caused by amphetamine use. An estimated 1.8 million (0.8 percent) of youth age twelve and older are current users of cocaine.Teen arrestees often test positive for recent drug use. The National Institute of Justices Arrestee and Drug Monitoring System (ADAM) drug testing program found that 66 percent of underage male arrestees tested positive for marijuana.

There is encouraging news from the national Institute on Drug Abuse. It appears that illicit drug use by teenagers is decreasing. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, which has been tracking teen drug use since the 1970’s, “The improvement so far is very modest, but at least the troublesome trends observed through most of the 1990’s have begun to reverse direction.” The troublesome trend is in reference to six years of steady increases in drug use among teenagers between 1991 and 1996.

The current trend relates to how young people perceive drugs. Many teens are reassessing the dangers and social acceptability of drugs. This may be due in part to the increased attention being paid to the issue of drugs by parents, community groups, the media, and the government. Many rock stars and actors no longer sing the praises of drugs as much as they have in the past (The Teen Drug Scene). One clear change is teenager’s shifting attitudes toward the legalization of marijuana and other drugs. The vast majority of high school students disapproved of legalizing the private use of LSD (63%), heroin (71%), amphetamines and barbiturates (56%), and marijuana (39%).

The percentage of high school students favoring prohibitive laws on the private use of marijuana fell dramatically from 1990 to 1997 (from 56% to 39%). Nearly 33 percent of high school seniors in the year 2000 believed that marijuana use should be legalized, and nearly one quarter (23%), believe it should be treated as a minor violation, rather than a crime. Three in ten feel that marijuana should be treated as a crime.

Given ecstasy’s growing popularity, teenager’s lack of concern about the risks surrounding it are surprisingly low. The percentage of 12th graders who perceive any health risk in using ecstasy has risen only slightly to 38 percent from 34 percent in 1997. Even so, the vast majority of teens disapprove of experimenting with ecstasy (82%) – about the same as those who disapprove of experimenting with LSD (81%) (Statistics on Drug use Among Teenagers).

Legalization of marijuana and other drugs is not the answer. Just the medical cost of drug abuse was estimated by the National Center for Health Statistics to be nearly $60 billion, and the medical bill for alcohol was nearly $100 billion. Parents and families face one of the most difficult battles in today’s society – that of raising drug free children. Communication is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal in keeping our kids off drugs. Yet for some reason, it is the most feared, and is seldom used. We as parents, educators, and supportive organizations, must set the tone, set the standards, and set the societal norm. We must talk to our children on a continuing basis about the dangers of drugs, and be active participants in their lives. Together we can change the face of drug addiction in our communities.

Statistics on Teenage Drug Use1. How many students out of 100 students have used amphetamines?

a. 10 b. 15 c. 20 d. 25

2. According to ADAM, how many male arrestees tested positive for marijuana?a. 1/3 b. 2/3 c. 3/3

3. Overall, according to the article, teen drug use is ___________.a. Increasing b. decreasing c. staying the same

4. The least popular drug is _________?a. Cocaine b. Amphetamines c. Marijuana

5. More teens feel the use of marijuana should be treating as a crime, rather than a minor violation.

a. True b. False

6. A vast majority of teens approve experimenting with the use of ecstasy.a. True b. False

7. According to the article, a main reason for a change in teen drug use is a change in a teen’s perception of the dangers and social acceptability of drugs.

a. True b. False

8. What drug had the lowest disapproval rate for the legalization of private use?a. Alcohol b. Marijuana c. Heroin d. Barbiturates

Alcohol On Campus

The marriage between alcohol consumption and college life has long been accepted as the norm within the confines of campus existence. However, the past decade has marked a period in time when violent outbreaks and campus riots are being attributed more and more to teen alcohol abuse, rendering it illegal on several major school grounds.. The issue at hand is not casual social drinking but a phenomenon known as binge drinking. Teens who choose to imbibe do so without considering the detrimental effects of such heavy consumption, rendering them volatile and defiant when authorities are summoned to calm down a situation that has become out of hand. The 1990's heralded in a new kind of teenage college student who does not take kindly to authority figures, frequently utilizing alcohol as the means by which to call forth the courage necessary to defy it. Teen alcohol abuse has become far too common in colleges across the country. A combination of "youthful self-indulgence and fearlessness” has been to blame for the recent rash of alcohol-related campus riots. Teenage college students have become "more aggressive and less respectful". Attributing many problems to teen drug use, police and on-site campus authorities have said that they are having a significantly more difficult time controlling alcohol-related behavior before it escalates to riotous activity. Campus protests are nothing new; indeed, the 1960's reflected the birthplace of radical appeals, civil rights marches and a number of other demonstrations. However, in spite of how violent these historical protests might have become, they always had a cause behind the fervor, a concept that has been lost on today's alcohol-related riots. The 1990's spawned a new type of retaliation -- one that occurs for no other reason than because students feel antagonistic toward authority figures. It has come to pass that this is the decade where alcohol "fuels the most newsworthy student uprisings". Teen alcohol abuse has led to such unproductive uprisings on some of the most prestigious university campuses, namely Michigan State University, Washington State University and Penn State. The blatant display of inappropriate, and illegal behaviors have many campus authorities extremely concerned with the direction such conduct is headed. In the 1990's, college students demonstrated a tremendous defiance toward any kind of authority figure, often taking to physical means as a way to signify their rebellion. It has not been uncommon to find bottles and rocks being hurled at police officers, rendering many of them - as well as innocent bystanders - injured in the alcohol-related riotous outbursts. The relative newness of disrespect toward law enforcement has authorities puzzled with regard to its intensity. While protests of the 1960's often transpired into tussles between teens and police, there was still little resemblance to the outright defiance toward this particular social entity. Indeed, there is an underlying basis to the foundation of such insolence, which has inadvertently and reluctantly pushed some the country's most notable institutions of higher education into the limelight.

Alcohol On Campus

1. Alcohol consumption on college campuses has been linked to what type of behavior?a. Persuasive b. Respectful c. Violent

2. In the second paragraph, the term volatile means what?a. Calm b. Unpredictable c. Persuasive

3. In what decade were civil rights marches a common occurrence?a. 1960’s c. 1970’s c. 1980”s

4. In the fourth paragraph, the term fervor most likely means?a. Event b. Ceremony c. Passion

5. The author’s main focus of the article includes the positive correlation between?a. Non-violent behavior and alcohol use.b. Violent behavior and social drinking.c. Violent behavior and binge drinking.

6. In the fifth paragraph, the term blatant mostly likely means?a. Conspicuous b. Obvious c. Specific

7. In the last paragraph, the term insolence most likely means?a. Disrespect b. Respect c. Trust

8. In the last paragraph, the term inadvertently most likely means?a. Intentionally b. Unintentionally c. Respectful

Teens and the Drug Ecstasy

Ecstasy is a pyschostimulantive drug used mostly by teens and young adults. Ecstasy consists of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA. Ecstasy works by affecting the concentration in the brain. This drug changes the natural effects of serotonin. The chemical serotonin is a messenger that carries signals from one nerve cell to another, which helps to modulate moods and emotions. Once this chemical has done its job, it is then sucked back into the cell that created it by a protein called serotonin transporters. Ecstasy works by disenabling the transporter protein, and at the same time opening the flood gates so that all the brains serotonin is released in one glorious gush.

There have been many publications claiming that ecstasy is a safe, recreational drug. Many party goers and rave enthusiasts support this claim. Unfortunately, there are no references to prove or even support this idea. In fact, most scientific studies show the opposite in that the drug is harmful. Studies of ecstasy users show that there are risks in the safety and reduction in the brain activity, due to the loss of serotonin levels going up and down so drastically. Long periods of ecstasy use indicate that the increases of MDMA may be fun at first but very toxic to the brain, and can cause damage to the body and brain cells. Here are some consequences caused by long periods of use: • Dehydration • Hypertension • Hyperthermia • Heart failure • Kidney failure The aforementioned are some of the deadly things that can happen from the prolonged use of ecstasy. What are some common street names for ecstasy? Some slang words include: “E” X-T-C X Adam `Hugs Beans Clarity Lovers Speed The Love Drug

These are just a few street names for ecstasy.

One of the more alarming facts about ecstasy is that despite the detrimental consequences, there seems to be an increase in the amount of young teenagers and adults who continue to use this drug. There is also an increase in the number of overdoses that have been reported within the last five years.

One of the indicators of the use of ecstasy is the growing popularity of clubs and underground raves. These are the places that the police are raiding and finding overdosed teenage victims. There is a great need to do more research and answer many more questions about the dangers of ecstasy. We must all work together in finding ways to prevent ecstasy use from taking over a teenager’s lives.

Teens and the Drug Ecstasy

1. What chemical in the brain does ecstasy affect the most?a. Adrenaline b. Serotonin

2. Another name for ecstasy is?a. MMA b. MMS c. MDMA

3. According to the article, overall there has been a (an) _______________ in the use of ecstasy.a. Decrease b. Increase

4. Which one of the following is a side effects for ecstasy use.a. Dehydration b. Heart Failure c. Kidney Failure d. All

5. Which one of the following is not a street name for ecstasy.a. Ex b. X c. E d. X-T-C

6. The main point the author is trying to make is…a. Use ecstasy in moderationb. There is no safe use for ecstasyc. Ecstasy use should only be in adulthoodd. Ecstasy use is alright as long as the drug is not combined with another drug

7. In the second to last paragraph, the word detrimental most likely means?a. Beneficial b. Harmful c. Normal

8. In the first paragraph, the word modulate most likely means?a. Alter b. Simplify c. Minimize d. Maximize

Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse

Over-the-counter drugs, especially cough and cold medications are becoming very popular as recreational drugs for young teenagers between the ages of 13 to 16. Hospitals have reported dozens of overdoses in the past two years, including five deaths where the abuse of over-the-counter medicines was a factor. Cold medicines such as Robitussin, Nyquil, Vicks Formula 44, and Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold tablets contain a chemical called Dextromethorphan (DXM), which is found in more than 120 non-prescription cough and cold medications.

Teenagers have various nicknames for DXM including: Robo, Skittles, Triple C’s, Dex, Vitamin D, and Tussin. Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold tablets contain much more potent doses of DXM than cough syrups, so the kids don’t need to drink a whole bottle of nasty tasting cough syrup. They can easily and conveniently take a few pills containing DXM to get high. DXM costs just a few dollars as compared to other much more expensive illicit drugs. Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of information on the Internet regarding how much DXM it takes kids to get high, and teens can easily log on to get the information they need.

The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies DXM as a “drug of concern” because if misused it can be very dangerous. However, there are no legal restrictions on purchasing the drug. Drug manufacturers have expressed sympathy regarding concerns about the abuse of DXM, but so far they have resisted efforts to restrict access to consumers.

DXM is a synthetic drug that is chemically similar to morphine and has been added to cough syrups and some cold medications since the 1970’s. Authorities say that DXM overdoses typically occur in clusters, as word of mouth spreads through community middle schools and high schools.

Growing concerns about DXM have led to some store chains and drugstores restricting access to products containing DXM, and to limiting the amount that can be purchased at any one time (Youth Risk). DXM is not the only over-the-counter drug that teenagers are abusing. The list also includes diet pills, sleep aids, and motion sickness medication. Some teenagers use excessive amounts of diet pills in an attempt to lose weight quickly, others take them to get high. Diet pills are not meant for teens as they contain potentially dangerous ingredients. Even herbal diet pills can be dangerous as they are not well regulated by the FDA (Diet Pills).

Motion sickness pills such as Dramamine are being used by teens; taken in large doses (one entire package or more), Dramamine can cause hallucinations. Sleep aids such as Tylenol PM, Excedrin PM, and Sominex can cause extreme drowsiness when abused. Extreme drowsiness can be a problem and it can lead to Narcolepsy, which is characterized by short sleep episodes and sudden and abrupt weakness in the arms and legs. Sleep aids can also exert a stimulant effect that disrupts the teen’s regular sleep pattern (OTC Medications and Drowsiness). Over the counter drugs can be extremely dangerous resulting in overdose, and even death. Parents should be aware of the dangers and to any possible abuse of these potentially dangerous over-the-counter medications.

Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse

1. What does O.T.C. stand for?

2. List 3 examples of specific cold medicines?

A.

B.

C.

3. What is DXM?

4. Why is DXM so dangerous?

A.

B.

C.

5. What are some side effects for DXM use?

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Teenage Abuse of Common Household Products If your teenager decides to experiment with drugs, their first high may not come from illicit drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, or marijuana. It may be something completely unexpected; the white out on your desk, or the paint thinner in your utility closet. Abuse of common household products by teens and pre-teens has steadily increased since the 1980’s. This is because paint thinner, spray paint, solvents, rubber glue, and household cleaners are far more accessible and inexpensive than prescription or illegal drugs. These products are more likely to be abused by kids in the 12-17 year age range group because they can easily get them at home or purchase them at any grocery store.

Generally household inhalants are the first items teens use to get high; these kids are also more likely to try illicit drugs, such as meth, cocaine, and marijuana according to health experts (Health A to Z). There are more than 1000 household products that teens can use to get high. Some of these products include: typewriter correction fluid, felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, butane, cooking spray, various types of glue, gasoline, deodorant spray, fabric protector spray, whipping cream aerosols, hair spray, and household cleaners. Not only are these items available in the home, teens can walk into any grocery store, hardware store, or pharmacy and purchase them with no questions asked.

Teens who abuse household products commonly “sniff” them through the nose or mouth, either by snorting fumes from containers or spraying aerosols directly into the nose or mouth. They may also “huff” these products by soaking towels or rags and pressing the rags to their mouths. Another method is “bagging,” where the fumes from chemicals are poured into plastic or paper bags and then inhaled.

Teens who abuse common household products often look and act as if they are intoxicated from drinking alcohol. Signs of abuse include:

∑ Lightheadedness ∑ Dizziness ∑ Loss of inhibitions ∑ Excitation followed by drowsiness ∑ Slurred speech ∑ Euphoria ∑ Hallucinations or delusionsMany of these users continue to sniff or huff in order to prolong the high. This can lead to loss of consciousness and even death (Mayo Clinic.com). Teenagers can die anytime they abuse household products – even the first time. This is called Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. Those who don’t die may become brain damaged or suffer kidney failure. Parents should be aware of the following warning signs: glassy/glazed eyes, loss of appetite, chemical smells coming from their child’s breath or clothing, signs of paint or other products on the face or fingers, and missing household products. If you suspect your child is abusing household products, seek professional help immediately. Educating parents and children about the dangers of sniffing chemicals is the most effective prevention tool. Open discussion now can help prevent a tragedy in the future (Signs of Inhalant Abuse).

Teenage Abuse of Common Household Products

1. What age group is most likely to abuse common household products?

2. Approximately, how many household products are produced?

3. What are some signs of abuse?

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

4. What are some side effects of drug use?

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

5. Define Huff?

6. Define Bagging?

The Dangers of Club Drugs

Many teens like to go out and play during the night; parents should know where their child is and what they are doing. Dances and teen clubs are not always a safe environment when it comes to hanging out. Parents need too know that frequent hang-out clubs including movie theaters, bowling alleys, pool halls and video arcades are places that can be dangerous for teens in groups.

As a parent you should check on your child and make sure that the places they frequent are safe and in good standards. Be readily available to know what is going on in your teen’s life. Parents should also know that, contrary to the wisdom on the street, most drugs are not safe. MDMA (Ecstasy) can be fatal, even when taken in small doses. MDMA interferes with the body’s thermostat, especially during the summer months. In combination with vigorous physical activity and insufficient fluid intake, which can happen at dances or parks, the user could experience heatstroke or death.

The drug MDMA impairs kidney function and users are at risk for water intoxication. This means that physical activities, such as dancing and playing in parks can turn deadly. This is due to the fact that MDMA combined with too much water shuts down the internal body. Teens should also be cautioned that MDMA can be even more dangerous when used with some common antidepressants. MDMA is especially harmful to individuals with pre-existing heart conditions or who for genetic reasons, are less efficient at detoxifying the compounds of the drug.

The following are some of the more negative effects of club drugs: ⎫ Memory loss ⎫ Hepatitis ⎫ Damage to nerve endings ⎫ Behavioral problems ⎫ Crime ⎫ Sexual assaults ⎫ Violence

Teenagers are vulnerable for several reasons. These drugs do not have to be smoked, injected, or snorted, which makes them easy to conceal or hide. It is as easy as popping a pill or taking a drink. The rave culture promotes acceptance, which can be very appealing to a teen that does not feel like they fit in, or does not have very high self esteem.

Club drugs are becoming commonplace at raves, arcades, and other teen hang-outs. Teens are using these drugs in order to fit in. We are now finding out that these drugs are in our schools and homes. Teenagers are giving little thought to the dangers of club drugs and what the long term effects may be. This is due to the short-term high these kids experience, which is very exhilarating and intense. It is a euphoric feeling of “Wow” and it gives off a false feeling of no more worries; the sensation is a feeling of nirvana.

Parents need to be informed about the club drug scene and its potential for danger. Here are some short descriptions of the club drug scene:

The first are raves, which are large, underground dance parties. These parties often go on all night and are designed to produce and enhance a hallucinogenic experience through drugs, music, and lighting. Next on the list are trace parties. These parties are private and are usually held at someone’s home. The crowd is typically elite and wealthy, and often includes young professional males seeking to take advantage of underage girls. Then there are the dance clubs – these are public business establishments where teens and young adults often go to mix and mingle. These are places where club drug users go to party and hang out.

Teenagers of today have good imaginations in the way they package their club drugs. Be alert for these types of deceptive packaging:

• Pills in Pez dispensers or Tic Tac boxes, and other candy containers, such as Skittles and Tootsie Rolls. • Liquid kept in eye drop and mouthwash bottles, and the drug mixed in with water or sports drink bottles.

If you suspect that your teenager is involved with club drugs, get the facts, stay informed, and know the risks. Look around you and know the signs, because club drugs are easily hidden and can be consumed in plain sight.

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The Dangers of Club Drugs

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Marijuana use among Teens

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug used by teens today. Approximately 60 percent of the kids who use drugs use only marijuana. Of the 14.6 million marijuana users in 2002, approximately 4.8 million used it on 20 or more days in any given month (Kids and Marijuana). The marijuana that is available to teens today is much stronger than the marijuana that was available in the 1960’s. Sometimes it is also laced with other, more potent drugs. Marijuana is physically addictive. Each year, 100,000 teens are treated for marijuana dependence. Teens who smoke marijuana heavily experience much the same symptoms of withdrawal as users of nicotine. The University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future study, which assesses drug and alcohol use among American youth, reported substantial increases among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders from 1992 to 1997. These statistics show a disturbing national trend in the increase of marijuana use by teenagers (Facts about Marijuana Use). Between 1991 and 2001, the percentage of eighth graders who used marijuana doubled from one in ten to one in five. Kids are using marijuana at an earlier age. Research indicates that the earlier teens start using marijuana, the more likely they are to become dependent on this or other drugs later in life. Of teens admitted for treatment for marijuana dependence, 56 percent had first used the drug by fourteen years of age, and 26 percent had begun by twelve years of age (Kids and Marijuana). According to the 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), marijuana was the most frequently used drug of choice by teens. The NHSDA also reported that teens using marijuana on twelve or more days during the past year, 58 percent of them had one problem that they related to their marijuana use, 41 percent had two problems, and 28 percent had at least three problems that they related to their marijuana use. From age 12 to age 13, the proportion of teens who say they could buy marijuana if they wanted to more than triples, from 14 to 50 percent. Also the percentage of teens who say that they know a student at their school who sells drugs almost triples, from eight percent to 22 percent (Psych Central). There are many reasons why some teens start smoking marijuana. Many kids start using because their older siblings or friends are consuming it in front of them. Often peer pressure plays a major role. Teens think it’s cool to use marijuana; they see their favorite movie stars smoking it in movies and their favorite bands sing songs about it. The problem becomes more severe when teens start relying on marijuana and think that they need it to escape from problems at school, home life, or with friends. Some of the signs teenagers exhibit when using marijuana are: dizziness and trouble walking, red bloodshot eyes, trouble remembering things that just happened, and they often appear silly and giggly for no apparent reason. The way marijuana affects each teen depends on several factors including: • How strong the marijuana is; • What the user expects to happen; • Whether the user is drinking alcohol or using other drugs; • The user’s previous marijuana consumption; • Where the drug is used Some teens feel no effects from marijuana the first few times they smoke it. Others may feel relaxed and somewhat giddy. Quite often marijuana makes the teen feel very hungry and thirsty.

Others can sometimes experience bad effects from marijuana. They may become highly paranoid or have feelings of anxiety or dizziness (N.I.D.A.). Regular marijuana users often develop breathing problems, such as chronic coughing and wheezing. Marijuana contains the same cancer causing chemicals as tobacco. The amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed by those who smoke marijuana are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers. The active ingredient in marijuana is THC (tetrahydrocannabinal). The behaviors exhibited by introducing THC to the brain are similar to those demonstrated by alcohol consumption. Marijuana can induce several emotional responses such as relaxation, introspection, feeling “in tune” with the world, and irrationality. The teen drug abuser attempts to reconcile his basic urges with the demands of reality through the use of marijuana and other drugs. This behavior is directed toward the pursuit of pleasure and reduction of pain. If and when the teen seeks treatment, they are often underdeveloped emotionally, academically, and vocationally (Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, pg. 350). The use of marijuana by teens can affect school, sports, and other activities; marijuana also affects memory, judgment, and perception. Teens who smoke marijuana on a regular basis start to lose interest in their appearance and how they are doing in school, at work, and at home. The short-term effects of marijuana include memory problems, distorted perception, trouble problem solving, and loss of motor coordination. Marijuana has a strong odor that clings to teens’ hair and clothing and can remain on their breath despite efforts to mask it. The reactive properties of marijuana aren’t like other drugs. Not much is known for sure about the physical mechanisms of addiction and withdrawal. Some claim that marijuana is totally non-addicting, while others say that it is just as addicting as other substances. Since the reasons for marijuana addiction among teens are unclear, it is impossible to assess whether or not they may become hooked until it has already happened. Research has now established that marijuana is addictive. Every year more teens enter treatment with the diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined. Sixty percent of teens admitted for drug treatment say marijuana is their primary drug of choice. Researchers have found that heavy marijuana use impairs teenagers’ ability to retain information and concentrate. Regular marijuana use has been shown to be associated with poor academic performance. This is of a huge concern during teens’ peak learning years, as their brains are still developing. There is an association between an increase in marijuana use and a decrease in the likelihood of attaining at least a high school education. Students who smoke marijuana are more than twice as likely to cut class that those who don’t smoke. Teens get a mixed message about marijuana, but the message needs to be clear. Marijuana is an illegal substance that affects teens in many harmful ways. It is very important to begin taking with kids about it by at least twelve years of age. Magazines or newspaper articles are often a good place to start your discussion about drugs. Teens need to be told clearly and often that using marijuana and other illegal substances carries significant health, safety, and legal risks (Kids using Marijuana).


Marijuana use among Teens

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The Health Effects of Teen Drug Use:

In recent years, much has been learned about the health effects of teen drug use. Drugs are readily available to those who choose to use them in either an “experimental” way or to those who are chronic drug abusers. The consequence of such use, even causal use, can be devastating to both the user and to the users family members. But, teen drug use is costly to more than just families. It is especially costly to our society as a whole. Youth’s immature physical, emotional, and psychological development make them MORE susceptible than adults to the harmful effects of drug abuse. In the 7 years that the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University has published the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse, results have indicated that teens and their parents view drugs as their biggest concern. The health effects of teen drug use can vary, depending on such factors as frequency of use, the kind of drug taken, how much is taken, how quickly it gets into the brain, what other drugs are taken at the same time, the differences in body size and chemistry, the length of time the drugs are used, and other components. Some, but certainly not all, of the most frequently used drugs and their effects will be discussed in this article. Amphetamines: Street names: speed uppers, dexies, bennies How they are used: Amphetamines can be swallowed, inhaled, or injected Effects and Dangers: *Swallowed or snorted, these drugs hit users with a fast high, making them feel powerful, alert and energized. *Uppers pump up heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, and they can also cause sweating, shaking, headaches, sleeplessness, and blurred vision. *Prolonged use may cause hallucinations and intense paranoia. How addictive? Amphetamines are psychologically addictive. Users who stop using them report that they experience various mood problems such as aggression and anxiety and intense cravings for the drugs.

Cocaine and Crack: Street names: coke, snow, blow, nose candy, white, big C Street names for crack: freebase, rock How they are used: Cocaine is inhaled through the nose or injected. Crack is smoked. Effects and Dangers: *Cocaine is a stimulant that rocks the central nervous system, giving users a quick, intense feeling of power and energy. Snorting highs last between 15 and 30 minutes; smoking highs last between 5 and 10 minutes. *Cocaine also elevates heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. *Snorting can put a hole inside the lining of your nose *First-time users-even teens-of both cocaine and crack can stop breathing or have fatal heart attacks. Using either of these drugs even one time can kill you. How addictive? These drugs are highly addictive, and as a result, the drug, not the user, calls the shots. Even after one use, cocaine and crack can create both physical and psychological cravings

that make it very, very difficult for users to stop.

Cold and Cough Medicines (DXM): Several over-the-counter cough and cold medicines contain the ingredient dextromatorphan (also called DXM). If taken in large quantities, these over-the-counter medicines can cause hallucinations, loss of motor control, and “out-of-body” (or disassociative) sensations. Street names: triple C, candy, DM, drex, red devils, robo, rojo, skittles,tussin,velvet, vitamin D How they are used: Cough and cold medicines, which come in tablets, capsules, gel caps, and lozenges as well as syrups, are swallowed. DXM is often extracted from cough and cold medicines, put into powder form and snorted. Effects and dangers: *Small doses help suppress coughing, but larger doses can cause fever, confusion, impaired judgment, blurred vision, dizziness, paranoia, excessive sweating, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, headache, lethargy, numbness of fingers and toes, redness of face, dry and itchy skin, loss of consciousness, seizures, brain damage, and even death. Sometimes users mistakenly take cough syrups that contain other medications in addition to detromethorphan. High doses of these other meds can cause serious injury of death. How addictive? People who use cough and cold medicines and DXM regularly to get high can become psychologically dependent upon them.

Marijuana: The most widely used illegal drug in the United States, marijuana resembles green, brown, or gray dried parsley with stems or seeds. A stronger form of marijuana called hashish (hash) looks like brown or black cakes or balls. Marijuana is often called a gateway drug because frequent use often leads to the use of stronger drugs. *Street names: pot, weed, blunts, chronic, grass, reefer, herb, ganja How it is used: Marijuana is typically smoked in cigarette (joints), hollowed out cigars (blunts), pipes (bowls), or water pipes (bongs). Some people mix it into foods or brew it as a tea. Effects and dangers: *Marijuana can affect mood and coordination. Users may experience mood swings that range from stimulated or happy to drowsy or depressed. Marijuana also elevates heart rate and blood pressure. Some people get red eyes and feel very sleepy or hungry. The drug can also make some people paranoid or cause them to hallucinate. Marijuana is as tough on the lungs as cigarettes-steady smokers suffer coughs, wheezing, and frequent colds. How addictive? Teens who use marijuana can become psychologically dependent upon it to feel good, deal with life, or handle stress. In addition, their bodies may demand more and more marijuana to achieve the same kind of high experienced in the beginning.

Inhalants: Inhalants are substances that are sniffed or “huffed” to give the user an immediate rush or high. They include household products like glues, paint thinners, dry cleaning fluids, gasoline, felt-tip marker fluid, correction fluid, hair spray, aerosol deodorants, and spray paint. *How it is used: Inhalants are breathed in directly from the original container (sniffing or snorting), from a plastic bag (bagging), or by holding an inhalant-soaked rag in the mouth (huffing). Effects and dangers: Inhalants make you feel giddy and confused, as if you were drunk. Long

time users get headaches, nosebleeds, and may suffer the loss of hearing and sense of smell. Inhalants are the most likely of abused substances to cause severe toxic reaction and death. Using inhalants, even one time, can kill you. How addictive? Inhalants can be very addictive. Teens who use inhalants can become psychologically dependent upon them to feel good, deal with life or handle stress.

The reasons teens choose to use drugs vary widely. Some teens use drugs to be popular or to fit in with their friends. Others use drugs to get attention from their parents, while others use them to escape or solve problems. Drug abuse does NOT solve problems, it only masks emotions and problems, often making things worse. Drugs can take over a life to the extent that nothing else matters; food, friends, family, health, etc. Some users go to great lengths to get drugs using, whatever means necessary. The drug becomes the master of the users life. It will crush an individuals emotional, spiritual, and physical health, ruining every aspect of their life.


The Health Effects of Teen Drug Use:

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The Silent Epidemic: Teens and the Use of Inhalants

According to the most recent study by the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, nearly seventeen million Americans have tried huffing or inhaling the intoxicating fumes from common household products. Despite a small decline in huffing since 1995, experts say that millions of American kids will try huffing at least once, and some of those will develop a habit. This is the “silent epidemic” and it needs to be more recognized.

Easy access to chemicals makes huffing a popular alternative for teens. Inhalants effect the biological and neurobiological involvement by abusing brain receptors in the neurotransmitter system. These areas of the brain change by an action of the different chemicals, which are facilitated by inhaling or breathing in enough molecular levels to change the biological influences, which leads to intoxication.

More adolescents are using inhalants than those who use illicit drugs. Teenagers who might never try illegal drugs may try inhalants because they are legal, and easy to access. Inhalants are inexpensive and relatively easy to steal. Inhalants come in many shapes and forms. Kids find it in spray paint, glue, shoe polish, and Toluene. Studies show that white Caucasians and Hispanics among the ages of twelve to seventeen are more likely to use inhalants. In junior high schools, teens find easy access to chemicals located in the wood shop, auto shop, and the janitor closet that will get them high. Parents need to be educated, as well as teachers, coaches, counselors, and young children to the warning signs of intoxication from inhalants, and that every day chemicals can be used for this purpose.

There are one thousand common household products that can be used for intoxicating proposes. These volatile chemicals such as Toluene and other fumes, can be inhaled and offer a rush that lasts for forty five minutes or more. These products are legal, inexpensive, and easy to get. Studies have shown that it is easy to walk into any hardware store and walk out with a can of paint thinner, or any other chemical that can be used to get high by huffing.

Stephen Dewey, an inhalant researcher at the U.S. Department of Energy in Brookhaven New York, says that many parents and school teachers don’t even realize how easy and dangerous these products are, and that they are being used by our youth to get high. Addiction is just one of the many pitfalls that kids who huff go through. Many kids turn to inhalants as a cheap and easy way to get high; yet huffing can easily turn into a fatal mistake. Inhalants can trigger a dangerously irregular heartbeat, even in the first time user. These kids may start out laughing or giddy, and several minutes later they are dead.

We have no accurate statistics on how many kids have died from huffing, due to the fact that many of these deaths are mistakenly documented as suicides or accidents. Their friends don’t want to get caught so they say that they were depressed and that it probably was a suicide. The parents hope that if they deny there is a problem it might go away; they don’t want their child’s name dragged through the mud by the stigma of addiction. This way the huffer never gets found out. Denial is a subtle foe and with it comes unresolved issues regarding the danger and abuse of inhalants.

The following are some known substances that are categorized as being abused by inhalation: • Hydrocarbons • Nitrites • Anesthetics • Alcohol • Halogen compounds • Airplane glue • Scotch-guard • Pam cooking sprays • Carbon tetrachloride - used in swimming pools • Gasoline • Paint thinner • Butane • White out or correction fluid • Colored markers There are other items too numerous to list, because there are over fourteen hundred known substances that are categorized as a capable substance that can be abused by huffing. Often children are abusing inhalants right in front of us, and without our knowledge. The youth of today abuse potentially toxic substances because they like how it makes them feel. It may produce a feeling of euphoria, which is associated with inhalants. As parents, teachers, counselors, and any other professional, we should fear that inhalant abuse could become the “in thing” to do in our neighborhoods schools and that peer pressure will prompt others to experiment with toxic inhalant products.

There are physical and mental complications associated with inhalant abuse. These include: • Cardiac arrhythmias • Suffocation • Asphyxia • Unintended trauma • Damage to the optic nerve • Diminishing of cognitive abilities • Kidney damage • Liver damage • Heart diseases • Bone disease • Breathing disruptions Worst yet, according to medical professionals it is a fact that few young people care or feel that the above things will ever happen to them. Statistically it does happen and most children that suffer from any of these ailments eventually die at a young age. Inhalers that abuse chemicals have permanent brain damage and an increase of problems with their organs, such as the lungs, heart, and liver.There is hope to this bleak epidemic if the public can recognize the dangers that inhalants pose, and that through our resources we will become more aware of what is going on with our youth. There are many studies and information available to help in resolving the silent and deadly abuse of inhalants.


The Silent Epidemic: Teens and the Use of Inhalants

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Cocaine

Cocaine use among teens has been decreasing since the 1990’s. Illicit drug use among the youth is a major concern among parents, schools, communities, and governments across the country. Cocaine use among young teens between the ages of 11-14 seemed to peak in the 1970’s, but then declined throughout the 1980’s. Cocaine use then climbed up again between the years of 1984-1997. Now we have seen cocaine use stabilizing and decreasing among our youth.

The trend of reduction in cocaine use among the youth is a very good trend. This trend helps in reducing bad behaviors and encourages active ideas that help teens to stay or become drug free. Here is some general information on cocaine use and some of cocaine’s street names; watch for these terms:

♣ Cocaine Powder ♣ Bad Rock ♣ Bazooka ♣ Beam ♣ Bernice ♣ Big C ♣ Blast ♣ Blow ♣ Snow Storm ♣ Blizzard ♣ Coca

Cocaine is the most potent stimulant of a natural origin; it is a very addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. Cocaine is not a new drug; in fact it is one of the oldest known drugs. Cocaine is manufactured from a plant called Coca Leaf. The pure form is a chemical known as “cocaine hydrochloride”. This has been an abused substance for more than 100 years. Coca leaves (ethrythroxylon coca) are indigenous to the Andean Highlands of South America. In this area cocaine has been ingested for thousands of years.

This is what cocaine looks like so that you can identify it, if you think your teen is using cocaine. Cocaine consists in two forms: 1- A powder, which is a white crystalline looking substance and is known as cocaine hydrochloride. 2- Crack cocaine- it looks like a chip or is in rock form. This is cocaine hydrochloride that has been cooked down by using baking soda to form ammonia or sodium bicarbonate that is used by smoking.

Cocaine is used by snorting the powder through the nose taking it to the blood stream. This can cause major damage to the sinus passages. This also causes teeth to decay from inside the mouth making a hollow tooth. Injection is another way to release the drug into the blood stream. Many cocaine users mix other drugs together to get a better high. Cocaine and heroin mixed

together gives the user that euphoric feeling and becomes addicting the first time it is used. In the drug culture this is called a speed ball. Another way that cocaine is used is by smoking it; this form is done by rocking the powdered cocaine in the process known as cooking it. The drug user uses baking soda and water with a hot flame to cook the cocaine down into chunks or rocks. Then the user takes these rocks and breaks them into pieces that can be smoked in a glass pipe. This is also very addicting and the duration of its effects are immediate the user receives a euphoric feeling that is indescribable in words. The effect of cocaine depends upon the route by which it is administered.

Know the signs to look for. If you think that your teenagers may be experimenting with cocaine, take action. Here are some things you should know about using cocaine. Some of the warning signs are as follows but are not limited to:• Red eyes, bloodshot from lack of use • Runny nose or frequent sniffing. • Change of eating habits and loss of weight • Change of sleeping habits; sleeps all day and is up all night • A change in friends and groups within different ages. • A change in behaviors, such as flunking out of school or not going to school. • Frequently needing money and stealing it to support their habit • Losing interest in the things they used to like to do, such as family activities. • Acting withdrawn or depressed, very tired and careless about personal appearance.

In addition to these signs, it appears that compulsive cocaine use may develop into addiction even more rapidly if the substance is injected and smoked. Some of the things you can do if your child is addicted to cocaine are: be there for them and encourage them to get help; find a professional treatment center, wilderness program, or some other form of intervention that will give them a chance to heal; and get information on the drug and the effects it has on other people so that you can gauge what kind of help will best suit your child and your family.


Cocaine

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Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse

Today teenagers are not using as much cocaine, crack, LSD, and ecstasy as the teenagers of the 1960’s. Kids have found other ways and means to get high; painkillers and other prescription drugs are being abused at record levels. This up coming generation of teens has been given the name “Generation Rx.” Teens are often getting caught raiding their parent’s or grandparent’s medicine cabinets in order to get high. For the first time, national studies show that today’s teens are more likely to have abused a prescription painkiller than any illicit drug. Teenagers may get involved with prescription drugs in various ways. The experimental stage can be very dangerous, because kids often don’t see the link between their actions today the consequences of their actions tomorrow. Most teens have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience. Some teens will experiment and stop, while others may continue to use occasionally without any significant problem. Then there are those who develop a dependency; these are the ones that need immediate intervention and help learning to make better decisions. It is impossible to predict which teens will experiment and stop and which ones will develop serious problems. Know what your teen is doing and who they are doing it with. The following are some warning signs of teenagers at risk for developing serious prescription drug dependency:• A family history of substance or alcohol abuse • Depression , Low self-esteem • Feel like they don’t fit in and are not popular with the mainstream • Frequently feel sluggish and have difficulty sleeping • Aggressive and rebellious attitude toward authority figures Prescription drug abuse is increasing; the main reason is that they are so easily accessible. If your child has one or more of the above behaviors, seek help from a professional. Some things that you can share with your teen about prescription medications are:• pharmaceuticals taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision can be just as dangerous as taking illicit drugs or alcohol • Abusing painkillers is like abusing heroin because their ingredients are similar (both are opiates). • Prescription medications are powerful substances. Medications help sick people and are administered by a doctor. When prescription medication is not used for sickness and not administered by a professional, it becomes a controlled substance and the impact on the person can be deadly. • Many pills look the same and teenagers may get them mixed up. This can cause different reactions in different people due to the body’s chemistry. It is extremely dangerous to take pills that are unknown. • Mixing drugs with other substances is very dangerous. Some people have allergic reactions to different chemicals when they are mixed together. What can you do to help prevent teens or any other person from getting involved with prescription drug abuse? The best thing to do is keep your prescription drugs in a safe place: don’t put them in the medicine cabinet in your bathroom because that is the first place teenager’s will look. If possible, lock them up in a cabinet or safe box. Talk to your teen and warn them of the dangers of prescription drug abuse.


Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse

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Teenagers and Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens have been used throughout the centuries for their ability to alter human perception. They are among the oldest known drugs, many of which are found in plants and fungi. In the past, hallucinogens have been used for religious, social and medical practices.

When consumed by teens, hallucinogens cause imagined experiences that seem real. The word “hallucinate” comes from the Latin words meaning “to wander in the mind.” When consumed in non-toxic dosages, hallucinogens produce changes in perception, mood, and thought. These changes in perception include:

• Psychic effects, which are disorders of thought associated with time and space. • Physiological effects, such as elevated heart rate, dilated pupils, and increased blood pressure.

• Sensory effects – perceptual distortions that vary with setting, mood, and dose (Hallucinogens).

Hallucinogens affect a teenagers well being and may change the way they feel emotionally. They may cause them to feel suspicious, confused, paranoid, and disoriented. Hallucinogens can cause mixed up speech, loss of muscle control, and make the teen act in aggressive, irrational, or violent ways.

The use of hallucinogens leads to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to heart and lung failure. The drug changes the way the brain interprets reality, time, and the surrounding environment. Also affected is the way the teen reacts to situation, images, voices, and things that don’t exist (Hallucinogens affect the Heart).

Ingesting hallucinogens can be pleasurable for some teenagers and extremely frightening for others. Hallucinogens are unpredictable; each time they are used the results can be different. The user may experience flashbacks, weeks or even months after the drug has been consumed. Flashbacks are more likely to occur when the teen is under stress and they seem to occur more frequently in the youth. Various types of hallucinogens include:

• PCP • LSD • DMT • Psilocybin • Peyote • MDA and MDMA

LSD is the most potent hallucinogen and is derived from a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. However, it can be manufactured synthetically in illegal labs. LSD is usually taken by mouth, but can also be inhaled or injected. Pure LSD is a white, odorless powder that is water soluble. The drug is usually mixed with other substances, such as sugar and is sold on the street as: blotter acid – pictured paper that has been soaked in an LSD solution, capsules, microdot tablets, and thin squares of gelatin known as window panes.

The body can quickly form a tolerance to a hallucinogen, so the teen will have to take more and more of the drug for the same effect. This is very dangerous because taking stronger doses may cause severe side effects, which could lead to an overdose.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a teen is using hallucinogens. They sometimes have different effects, depending on the user and the dose. Look for the following signs: irrational behavior, distorted sense of light, touch, and hearing, faintness, mood swings, dilated pupils, and anxiety or paranoia (Look around you).

Hallucinogens such as MDA and MDMA cause the release of serotonin in the brain. The released serotonin can over-activate the serotonin receptors. In animals, MDA and MDMA have been shown to damage and destroy nerve fibers of neurons that contain serotonin. This can be a big problem for the user because serotonin neurons have a major role in the control of heart rate, sleep, and mood.

MDA and MDMA are extremely popular in the dance and rave club scene that is so popular with kids today. Parent’s are under the delusion that these dance clubs are safe because they don’t serve alcohol. This idea could not be further from the truth. Teenagers hide the hallucinogens in inventive and secretive ways, such as in eye drop bottles, candy containers, and energy drinks so that law enforcement and parents cannot easily detect them.

Teens who abuse hallucinogens over an extended period of time can experience severe anxiety, depression, and paranoia. There have been cases documented where an excessive amount of hallucinogens can cause the user never to come down from their “trip” and they remain in a permanent state of delusion (A Recent Discovery).

There is no way to predict a bad trip. Hallucinogens are not consistent, so each trip may differ depending on the drug’s purity and strength. Don’t try to help someone through a bad trip – call 911 and a trusted adult immediately. Be supportive, responsible, and encourage the teen to seek professional help.


Teenagers and Hallucinogens

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Too drunk? Your car won't go along for the ride.

The technology developed in the past decade to sniff out terrorist bombs eventually could be used to combat another scourge: drunk drivers. Researchers funded by auto manufacturers and federal safety regulators are working on sensory devices - to be installed as standard equipment on all new vehicles - that would keep a vehicle from starting if the driver has had too much to drink.

"We're five to seven years away from being able to integrate this into cars," said Robert Strassburger, vice president for safety for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group for the world's major auto companies. The new technology would not require that the driver blow into a tube, like the interlock devices some states require after drunken-driving convictions. Instead, either a passive set of sensors permanently installed in the vehicles or touch-sensitive contact points on a key fob or starter button would immediately register the level of alcohol in the bloodstream.

Less clear is whether such technology - which presumes that all drivers are potential drunks - will antagonize some car buyers, and it's uncertain how much it would cost. But that's a marketing problem for down the road. Alcohol was a factor in 10,839 highway deaths in 2009. In the past two decades, it accounted for 268,442 deaths. And 10 percent of people in the United States recently admitted to being drunk behind the wheel in the past year, a poll found.

Drunken driving "remains the leading cause of fatalities on America's roads, killing more than 10,000 people in 2009," said David Strickland, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The "technology presents a new opportunity for us to dramatically lower drunk-driving deaths and has the potential to save literally thousands of lives every year." Strassburger, whose group is part of the development task force, said the goal is to have an operating model in two years.

The objective is to produce a device that will react in less than a second and function without maintenance for a least 10 years or 157,000 miles. "We haven't met our criteria yet, but we feel comfortable that we will," said Susan Ferguson, a longtime safety expert who is leading the research. "Speed, accuracy and precision are the three key criteria." Right now, she said, the sensors that detect alcohol levels in the air can be made to react within five seconds after a driver gets into the vehicle. The touch-detection system currently takes 20 to 30 seconds to determine blood-alcohol content.

“But the next generation of solid-state electronics will bring it down a lot," she said. One detection method could collect data via infrared beam. The sensors have proven accurate, but consistent, repeatable accuracy needs to improve. Strassburger said the cost per vehicle hasn't been established, "but obviously it has to be relatively low." It "has to be in line with other safety systems," he said. "We want the public to understand the need and how they benefit." The technology is a direct offshoot of the quantum advances in sensory detection since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The ability of machines to scan people, packages and luggage for tiny trace elements that would expose a terrorist threat has expanded exponentially.

"Now your typical explosive trace detection system is based on rapidly evaluating minuscule molecular substances," said Richard Bloom, an anti-terrorism expert who chairs the Aviation Security and Emergency Management Committee of the Transportation Research Board. "If you can do that with explosives, you should be able to do that with any kind of detection, including alcohol and drugs." Telltale devices that determine when someone has been drinking have been developed in the past decade and are in widespread use. One celebrity, Lindsay Lohan, has worn a SCRAM bracelet, which measures blood-alcohol content every 30 minutes through a person's perspiration. For the same type of technology to be used in cars, researchers want a response within one-third of a second.

The task force developing the system is a partnership between the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety and NHTSA. The initial $10 million research grant, provided by NHTSA and carmakers, paid for the first two years of research. More money from Congress is being sought so the project can continue for the final three years, becoming something that functions consistently in a vehicle. "We're not at the finish line, but we can see the finish line," said Chuck Hurley, a longtime safety advocate who recently retired as chief executive of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. It "will take us about $12 million more per year. The public needs to get behind this."

The new technology could collide with the desire of many people who want to have a drink or two without fear that they won't be able to drive home. Automatic speed cameras have been around for several years. Although speeding leads to about 13,000 highway deaths a year, state legislatures have been reluctant to deploy the cameras in numbers significant enough to slow traffic.

Given that a poll found that 10 percent of Americans said they'd driven drunk in the past year - and 5.5 percent of them said it was more than once - will there be political resistance to a device that would have required one in 10 Americans to call a cab or walk home? "It establishes a situation where you are guilty until proven innocent every time you get into your car," said Sarah Longwell of the American Beverage Institute, which opposes universal use of the devices. "Most Americans would say: 'Absolutely not. I don't drive drunk, and you're not going to put that in my car.' "

Longwell said her group would back universal use if devices were set at the legal 0.08 drunken driving threshold, but she believes they will be set far lower. "Americans are 100 percent behind the fact that you shouldn't drive drunk," she said. "But they're not ready to give up the glass of wine with dinner, the beer at a ballgame or a champagne toast at a wedding." But Hurley said the aim is to stop drivers whose blood-alcohol content exceeds the limit. "If we were really neo-prohibitionists, you'd know it," he said.

Longwell, who has lobbied widely against mandatory interlock laws, said advocates of universal use fear public reaction, and should. "The car companies, no matter how much they are supporting this now, they're not going to do it if people are furious about it," she said.

Too Drunk? Your Car Won't Go Along For The RideWashington Post1/14/2011

1. Define: scourge, sensory device, integrate, trade group, interlock, criteria, solid-state electronics, infrared beam, quantum, exponential

2. What does it mean to say that this technology “presumes that all drivers are potential drunks?” Why might people object to having to prove that they are not drunk in order to drive their car?

3. “That’s a marketing problem for down the road.” How might companies attempt to solve that marketing problem? If they did not think the technology was marketable, would they be investing in it?

4. How might the technology end up being profitable even if consumers do not like it?

5. “The public needs to get behind this.” What is the public? How could it get behind the detection technology? If that happens, does it mean that individual drivers will want the technology in their own cars?

6. “Although speeding leads to about 13,000 highway deaths a year, state legislatures have been reluctant to deploy the cameras in numbers significant enough to slow traffic.” What do you think the author thinks about this state of affairs?

7. How might we measure the number of deaths caused by speeding, or determine whether a death was caused by speeding? What about for drunk driving?

8. “Will there be political resistance to a device that would have required one in 10 Americans to call a cab or walk home?” What is the difference between political resistance and consumer resistance? Do you think there is a lot of political resistance to drunk driving laws? What about other kinds of resistance?

9. Would there be political resistance to these devices if they were not made mandatory? Does the article cover the question of whether the detectors are likely to be mandatory? What are some indications that that might be the case?

Serious Concerns Over Alcoholic Beverages with Added Caffeine

Caffeinated alcoholic beverages, or CABs, are alcoholic beverages that contain caffeine as an additive and are packaged in combined form.

Alcoholic beverages to which caffeine has been added as a separate ingredient have raised health concerns at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as in other federal, state, and local agencies.

On Nov. 17, 2010, FDA announced that it had sent warning letters to four companies that make malt versions of these beverages, advising them that the caffeine included as a separate ingredient is an “unsafe food additive."

These warning letters were not directed at alcoholic beverages that only contain caffeine as a natural constituent of one or more of their ingredients, such as a coffee flavoring.

A Troubling Mix

According to data and expert opinion, caffeine can mask sensory cues that people may rely on to determine how intoxicated they are. This means that individuals drinking these beverages may consume more alcohol—and become more intoxicated—than they realize. At the same time, caffeine does not change blood alcohol content levels, and thus does not reduce the risk of harms associated with drinking alcohol.

Studies suggest that drinking caffeine and alcohol together may lead to hazardous and life-threatening behaviors. For example, serious concerns are raised about whether the combination of alcohol and caffeine is associated with an increased risk of alcohol-related consequences, including alcohol poisoning, sexual assault, and riding with a driver who is under the influence of alcohol.

Malt versions of premixed alcoholic beverages come in containers holding between 12 and 32 liquid ounces. Some may also contain stimulant ingredients in addition to caffeine. Their advertised alcohol-by-volume value is as high as 12 percent, compared to standard beer's usual value of 4 to 5 percent.

These alcoholic beverages are available in many states in convenience stores and other outlets. They often come in large, boldly colored cans comparable in size to "tall" cans of beer—or in containers resembling regular beer bottles.

FDA Warns Four Firms

FDA issued its November 2010 warning letters to four companies that make caffeinated alcoholic beverages: Charge Beverages Corp., New Century Brewing Co. LLC, Phusion Projects LLC (which does business as the Drink Four Brewing Co.), and United Brands.

The caffeinated malt beverages referenced in these warning letters are

Core High Gravity HG Green Core High Gravity HG Orange Four Loko Joose Lemon Lime Core Spiked Moonshot (This product is labeled as "premium beer with caffeine") Max

The manufacturers of these products have failed to show that the direct addition of caffeine to their malt beverages is “generally recognized as safe” by qualified experts. Rather, there is evidence that the combinations of caffeine and alcohol in these products pose a public health concern.

“Consumers should avoid these caffeinated alcoholic beverages, which do not meet the FDA’s standards for safety,” says Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D., FDA’s principal deputy commissioner.

The agency has given the firms 15 days to respond to the warning letters and then may proceed to court to stop their sale. In addition, other alcoholic beverages containing added caffeine may be subject to agency action in the future if scientific data indicate that the use of caffeine in those products does not meet safety standards.

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page5, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.


Serious Concerns Over Alcoholic Beverages with Added Caffeine

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A drunk-proof car?Engineers are developing a variety of blood-alcohol detection devices that could become standard features in vehicles in five to seven years. Detection of alcohol levels above the legal limit would prevent an engine from starting. Some of the detection methods:

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