Top 5 commonly used drugs by teenagers

Teen Drug Abuse

The problem of teen drug use is not new, but new trends have changed the landscape in America, Europe and elsewhere. The rise in prescription drug use, synthetic “designer” drugs, and new “marketing” tactics by drug makers and pushers, have all contributed to new forms of abuse, new addictions and – most tragically – new casualties. Monitoring The Future (MTF) is an annual survey of high-school kids from the 8^th to the 12^th grade. Under a grant from NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse), the 2012 survey involved 45,000 students in 395 public and private schools nationwide. They found that while alcohol abuse amongst teens has been declining over the past decade, the abuse of illicit drugs, as well as prescription drug abuse, has been on the rise. Following are the most commonly abused drugs amongst teenagers:               

Alcohol

Despite the overall decline, alcohol still tops the list at over 40% of the students surveyed. The most common practice in underage drinking is “binge drinking” where a teenager consumes 4 or 5 drinks back to back – although that number is often considerably more. Alcohol is relatively easy for kids to obtain, either at their own home, a friend’s house, at a liquor store courtesy of a generous stranger or fake ID, or by other means. Each year, hospitals nationwide receive about 200,000 visits brought about by underage drinking. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports approximately 5,000 deaths per year of individuals under the age of 21, due to alcohol-related car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning (toxic level in blood), and other injuries (falls, burns, drowning).  

Marijuana and Synthetic Cannabinoids

§  Marijuana

                Marijuana is on the rise for what appear to be many reasons. When the subject of Marijuana (pot, weed, grass, Mary Jane) is mentioned on a TV talk show, it is commonly met with an odd eruption of applause. Between popularization, decriminalization, legalization, and medical (or quasi-medical) use, kids are rightfully confused on the matter. Another complication with marijuana is teens (and adults) driving while high. Police have no roadside test to see if a person is impaired due to smoking marijuana, unlike alcohol where they can administer a breath test – all of which is of particular concern where the drug has been legalized. Click here for more information on the effects of marijuana, including a comparison of marijuana and alcohol.

§  Synthetic Cannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids (aka synthetic marijuana) are a fairly recent batch of drugs that mimic the euphoric effects of cannabis. They are plant materials laced with man-made chemicals. “Spice” and “K2” are common names, as well as innocuous titles like “herbal incense” or “plant food.” They look like tea or potpourri, and have grown into favor amongst teenagers largely due to their “legal” status in many states. Synthetic cannabis hasn’t been around long enough for any long-term studies, but the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has already reported effects such as dilated pupils, agitation, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, tremors, seizure, hallucinations, as well as the possibility of kidney failure.  

Stimulants

§  Adderall

Adderall is a psychostimulant, which means it is a stimulant that also acts upon brain chemistry. It has become one of the most commonly abused drugs amongst teenagers. Adderall is an addictive drug, and side effects include headache, insomnia, nausea, fever, heightened blood pressure, seizure, cardiovascular disorders, paranoia, hostility, hallucinations, depression, as well as suicidal ideation (thoughts) and actions.

§  Ritalin

Ritalin is another addictive psychostimulant that has been around for decades. Once known chiefly as a drug prescribed for “hyperactivity,” it has been abused to such a degree that it has earned a variety of street names such as kiddie coke, diet coke, poor man’s cocaine, vitamin R, rids, R-ball, skittles and smarties. Kids may start abusing Ritalin in order to focus or concentrate on school work. They will swallow the pills and crush, snort, smoke, or inject the drug into their veins. Ritalin is documented as causing pupil dilation, high blood pressure, nausea, hallucinations, panic attack and seizure. Long-term abuse can cause: irreversible damage to blood vessels and heart; liver, kidney and lung damage; destruction of nose tissue when snorted; respiratory damage when smoked; infection or abscesses (wounds) when injected; severe depression and psychosis. Ritalin also kills.

Tranquilizers

The survey documented teen abuse of a wide range of tranquilizers. Also known as depressants, tranquilizers include Xanax, Klonopin, Halcion, Valium, and Ambien. Young people who start taking them are often attempting to relax or keep anxiety in check. They can be very addictive and require professional help due to severe withdrawal symptoms. Effects include blurred vision, fever, flu-like symptoms, mental disturbances, insomnia, delirium, seizures, loss of memory, and coma. They have also been linked directly to fatalities.

Painkillers and Cold Medicine

§  Vicodin

Vicodin is a painkiller and high on the list of drugs abused by high-schoolers. A young person may be prescribed a painkiller such as Vicodin for a sports injury and wind up unwittingly addicted. It can produce a calm, euphoric state like heroin or methadone. The active ingredient of Vicodin is hydrocodone, a Schedule 2 narcotic – a list that includes morphine and cocaine. The drug has a long list of side effects including shortness of breath, trouble urinating, constipation, dizziness, twitching of muscles, stomach cramps, depression, seizure, coma, and death.

§  OxyContin

Another painkiller is OxyContin, brand name for a drug whose active ingredient is oxycodone, also on the Schedule 2 list. Like Vicodin, it is an opioid, meaning an opium-like compound acting upon the nervous system to relieve pain. OxyContin is highly addictive both physically and psychologically. Side-effects include muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, as well as respiratory failure (respiratory depression) resulting in death. Like any drug, increased use of painkillers builds up tolerance. In fact, many heroin users today started on prescription pills, and the addictions have been found to feed off each other.

§  Cold Medicine

Abuse of over-the-counter medication is another practice amongst youth. Cough syrup containing codeine is technically prescription only, yet is easy to obtain. “Purple Drank” (popularized in rap music – particularly Southern rap) refers to a mixture of cough syrup, promethazine (allergy medication), soda, ice and candy. A wide range of medicines can be purchased off-the-shelf that contain a drug called dextromethorphan (DXM) – examples: Robitussin, NyQuil, Coricidin. Kids consume the medicine in doses often 30-50 times the normal amount for the euphoric and dissociative effect. Slang names include dex, candy, poor man’s PCP, cherries, CCC, triple C and Candy Coated Chaos. A few of the effects of codeine cough syrup (alone or combined with promethazine) and DXM abuse: hot and cold flashes, anxiety, slurred speech, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Excessive abuse can lead to liver damage, heat stroke, brain damage, coma, and in extreme cases can be fatal due to suppression of the respiratory system.

Education and Rehabilitation

                Drug education and rehabilitation comprise the primary two-pronged strategy against teen drug abuse. Holistic rehabilitation, such as that offered at A Forever Recovery, provides a comprehensive program to address the constantly changing world of drug abuse and addiction.