After a fatal overdose in 2007 on the campus of San Diego State University, police and the DEA launched an investigation into the drug activity on that campus. What they ended up discovering shocked them all. Dozens of students, some in graduate school, were dealing drugs. Then a second fatal overdose happened in February. The police arrest around 100 people, 75 of them were students, for dealing drugs and they may face charges for the two overdose deaths.One of the students arrested was a month shy of getting his Master’s in Homeland Security.

The DEA confiscated 4 pounds of cocaine, 50 pounds of marijuana, 350 ecstasy pills, 1 shotgun, 3 semi-automatic pistols and $60,000. The drugs are estimated to have a street value of $100,000. The agents made 130 drug purchases before the raid.

What I want to know is, are drugs this readily available at all colleges or are students like these unusual to find?

For teens who aren’t smoking, drinking, or doing drugs, going to school can be one of the hardest things in the world. It’s because that’s when you see it: real teens, not movie stars or celebrities, doing terrible, illegal things to their bodies. It’s not just the “outcasts” or the “bad kids” anymore. It could be the straight-A student or even your best-friend for the past three years. Does it ever feel like you’re the only one not getting high?

On the flip side, if you are a teen engaging in substance abuse, have you ever wondered what life would have been like if you hadn’t given in?

If so, take a look at this article in the Hawaii Reporter written by eighth-grade student, Janae Rasmussen. She asks the same questions that many young adults ask and talks about why she believes teens her age turn to drugs. Sometimes just reading about other teens who have decided not to do drugs makes it easier to say no because that’s when you realize you’re really not alone.

One of the best ways to say NO is by practicing for different situations where drugs and alcohol might be offered to you. For example, you’re staying the night at your aunt and uncle’s house and your older cousin offers you marijuana–practice saying NO. People that abuse drugs face so many unnecessary hardships.

* Just say NO. Don’t argue. Don’t discuss. Say NO and show that you mean it. This will be easier to do after practice.

* Give reason. Example: "My coach says not to because it will slow me down."

* Suggest other things to do. Example: "Let’s go to the movies instead."

* Say what the problem is. Example: "It’s illegal and it’s bad for you."

* Say what the consequences are. Example: "You will become addicted. You will get caught. You will feel physically bad from it."

* Avoid the situation. If you know that drug users hang out at a certain location, find another one to hang out in.

* Hang around non-users. You will end up having more fun and being more comfortable.

* LEAVE. Call for a ride or just walk away. But leave the door open in case your friends change their minds and don’t want to use.

The length of time that drugs stay in a person’s system will depend on several factors. Those factors depend on a person’s physiological makeup. Height, weight, amount of body fat, age, current state of health, exercise habit, degree of stress, frequency of use, quantity and the length of time of drug use all change how long drugs will stay in a person’s system.

But most all drugs will show up for 3 months. With the government reporting that over 9 million people use marijuana on a regular basis, testing for drugs, illegal and legal, help parents to know if their child is using drugs. Parents and schools use drug testing as a preventative measure to ensure that teens know they will be caught if they use drugs. There is no safe way to use drugs. Trying once leads to experimenting which leads to abuse which leads to addiction.

Parents often think there is little they can do to ensure their kids do not start using drugs. But, the #1 reason why kids do not use drugs is because they do not want to upset the parents. In addition, kids that learn about drug risks from their parents are 50% less likely to start using. In other words, kids who have parents that talk to them about drugs are less likely to try them.

Another way parents can help keep their kids off of drugs is by staying involved in their lives. This is especially important when they enter middle school and high school. They will be more likely to think about what the parent said if they know Mom and Dad care about all aspects of their lives–not just the big ones. Beginning the dialogue  about drugs when the kids are young helps keep them off drugs as well. This is because the message and importance has been drilled into their heads over the years. And monitoring what the kids are doing, where they are, who they are with, and check with other parents to make sure will help keep them clean.

Youth brings about visions of adventure and excitement. When you’re young, it’s commonly thought of as your time to have fun. Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol are often used as a way for young people to get excited and have an adventure, no matter how unsafe or unhealthy.

Quite often, young people are attracted to drugs because they look more exciting than the alternatives. Cities across the nation are realizing that drugs can be combated by providing something clean and cool for young adults. Teenagers want places to hang out that reek of awesomeness, like the adult clubs they see superstars going into. Places like Play Too! in Illinois give teens a place to have fun without drugs. Some teen clubs face being closed, like the club Frozen75 in Las Vegas. In the CBS news article teens and parents agree that if drug-free alternatives do not exist at all, young people will make their own fun - and its not often sober and clean.

Take some time to check out the places where youth are welcome to hang out without drugs or alcohol in your community. Are they attractive and fun without the drama of drugs and alcohol? If so, spread the word and help support them.

Street drugs are names that because they are often sold on the street and are used recreationally. They include stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens–many can be put into two of those categories.  Street drugs include but are not limited to marijuana, cocaine, crack, Oxycodone, methamphetimine, ecstasy, steroids,heroin, morphine, Valiun, Xanax,LSD and mushrooms.

Many of these drugs can be classified in other categories. For instance, ecstasy is also considered a "club drug" while it is a stimulant and a hallucinogen. Street drugs are available are number of ways and as people use them experimentally, they often find that they have developed an addiction. When that happens or when the drugs are being abuse, long term drug rehab is the only thing that will help.

There are many different signs that people display when they are using drugs. Not all people display the same symptoms and many that are on drugs never display some. However, the following signs are very common and should not be ignored:

*Person becomes angry, paranoid, disrespectful, confused or moody

*Depressed

*Secretive/begins to lie about activities

*Begins to steal/starts "losing" valuable possessions

*Withdraws from usual activities

*Develops poor hygiene

*Stops sleeping or sleeps too much

*Loss of appetite

*Too much or too little energy

*Drops old friends and favorite activities

*Starts skipping school

*Loss of interest in school work/starts getting low grades

*Begins to sleep in class

*Poor concentration and memory

There are numerous affects that using legal or illegal drugs have on the body. Those include, but are not limited to, mood changes, distorted vision, confusion, delusions, and blackouts. The affects get worse ranging from becoming dependent, having a weakened short-term memory, weakened problem-solving ability, and an increased feelings of paranoia and anxiety leading to severe pain attacks. However, the most severe affect that drugs can have on the body is death. While these examples are only a small percentage of what drugs do to a body, any regular abuse of drugs is a clear signal that the person doing the abusing needs help and has most likely become physically and emotionally dependent.

I had thought to write an entry about energy drinks from the perspective of ‘do you know what you are putting into your body? And what you are addicted to?’ Was I surprised to stumble upon these new energy drinks…‘Blow’ a white powder that is packaged in a vial and comes with its own mirror is a powered energy drink, just add water. ‘Cocaine’ a canned energy drink was taken off the market by the FDA last year and as of this month is back on the market. These products are packaged and marketed to appeal to our youth…. . Seems that business is so eager to make money on the backs of our youth that they have little regard for the messages that they are sending to them. ‘Candy cigarettes’ have been abolished but ‘Cocaine’ in a can is okay? Seems odd to me….. Oh by the way, energy drinks contain large concentrations of caffeine, are loaded with sugar, man-made chemicals, vitamins and amino acids. Too much caffeine and sugar isn’t good for you even if the product claims to be ‘all natural’. The marketing hype is that caffeine is a stimulant that it’s cool to be addicted to – personally I don’t think its cool to be addicted ……

The Food and Drug Administration is threatening to take legal action against the energy drink mix “Blow,” if they don’t clean up their image….

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