According to a new report from the Office of Applied Studies that provided state by state analysis found that there are a wide range of types of drug and alcohol use, but that of course, every state has its varying issues.

The report was developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( SAMHSA ) based on the 2006 and 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health ( NSDUH ).

Here are the report’s most notable findings:

• Vermont had the nation’s highest incidence rate of marijuana use among people aged 12 and older ( 2.5 percent ) while Utah had the lowest ( 1.6 ) percent.

• The District of Columbia had the nation’s highest rate of past year cocaine use among those aged 12 and older ( 5.1 percent ) while Mississippi had the lowest ( 1.6 percent ).

• Utah had the nation’s lowest rate of current underage drinking ( 17.3 percent ) while North Dakota had the highest ( 40 percent ).

• Tennessee had the nation’s highest rate of people aged 18 and older experiencing a major depressive episode in the past year ( 9.8 percent ) while Hawaii had the lowest ( 5.0 percent )

According to the press release for the study, here is another interesting finding:

“Among those aged 12 and older, Iowa had less than half the current illicit drug use rate of Rhode Island ( 5.2 percent vs. 12.5 percent ) – yet Iowa’s population aged 12 and older also had one of the nation’s highest levels of people experiencing alcohol dependence or abuse in the past year ( 9.2 percent).”

The report is an important indication that it really does not matter where you live because every state experiences its own set of problems and needs addiction treatment centers.

This report just goes to show how much of an impact addiction is having on our country as a whole and there may be more need for dual diagnosis treatment than we think.

It is about time there was a little positive news about teenage drug and substance abuse.  According to an article on EmaxHealth and the 2008 Iowa Youth Survey, fewer teenagers are reporting alcohol and marijuana use.

The survey was taken in October 2008 and 81 percent of those surveyed said they had not consumed any alcohol in the past 30 days. And 87 percent reported no binge drinking in the past 30 days. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks in a short time span.

Also, 94 percent reported not using marijuana in the past 30 days when the survey was taken.

The real question is what does this really say about teens in Iowa and across the United States? Is alcohol and marijuana use really down? Surveys like these have to be taken with a grain of salt. Because the survey considers such a small amount of time, 30 days, in the life of a teenager when it comes to alcohol and marijuana use.

So what if they didn’t consume it within the last 30 days, what about the rest of the year? Perhaps the survey should be changed to include how many times a year a teenager drinks or uses marijuana.

Despite the decline in the substance abuse, there is another thing that the survey revealed. More teenagers are experiencing being threatened via the internet or over text message.

These surveys are a great way to talk about substance abuse with your family and the children in their family.  Surveys help get a little bit of a dissection of what is going on in a certain area. It is always beneficial to consider the type of children that were surveyed, their socio-economic standing and many other factors.

Talking about these statistics and taking them into consideration is wise. The more information the better!

More than ever, young Americans are misusing over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. Once seen as just harmless drugs to get rid of the sniffles, young Americans are now using them to get high.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about 3.1 million Americans age 12-25 used over-the-counter cough or cold medicines to get high. This is according to their 2007 National Survey on Drug Use And Health report.

More specifically, according to the study, “30.5 percent misused a NyQuil® product, 18.1 percent misused a Coricidin® product, and 17.8 percent misused a Robitussin® product in the past year.”

The chemical contained in product of this kind is called dextromethorphan (DXM),  and it is contained in nearly 140 over-the-counter drugs.  The cough suppressant is safe if taken in recommended doses, but can create a ‘high’ feeling if misused.

If DXM is taken in large amounts an “out-of-body” experience can occur.  This is much like the same experiences that can be had with the more illicit drug phencyclidine (PCP).

Just as with any street drug, overdosing on DXM can happen.  There can be life threatening reactions to the drug including: blurred vision, loss of physical coordination, intense abdominal pain, vomiting, uncontrolled violent muscle spasms, irregular heartbeat, delirium, and death. Because of this trend, there have been more reports of poisoning by DXM.

Today, most products containing DXM are now behind the pharmacy counter, but still available without a prescription.  Now most pharmacies require the person buying the substance to show identification.

The accessibility of this kind of ‘high’ is what is most frightening for parents. DXM is relatively easy to get and may already be in the young adult’s home for access. Keeping tabs on your medicine cabinet is never a bad idea when there are young adults and children in the home. It could to drug use that requires addiction treatment centers or as a gateway to other drugs resulting in the need for dual diagnosis treatment later.

read the full report here.

Although there has been a slight decline in illicit drug use according to the 2007 Substance Abuse and Mental Health services Administration study,  there is a troubling new trend among teens. More are abusing prescription medications because it is readily available in their medicine cabinet.

This kind of teen drug use is second in popularity only to marijuana.  Preventing this type of drug abuse is something that parents are missing the boat on, according to the study. Parents need to take control before their child need dual diagnosis treatment.

According to the 2006 SAMHA National Survey on Drug Use and Health more than 2.1 million teens abused prescription drugs.  Another alarming finding is that prescription drugs are the number one choice of teens 12- 13 years old.

The most common type of drug that teens are abusing is pain relievers like Vicodin and Oxycontin.

The scary part about abusing prescription drugs are that they can have fatal reactions when a teen decides to try other drugs or drink. According to the study, nearly half of teens who abused prescription pain killers also report using two or more other drugs,most commonly alcohol or marijuana. Addiction treatment centers may be needed to stop.

More alarming is that children and teens do not think that prescription drugs carry the same amount of danger because they are easily accessible to them in their own home, or from a friend.  The study states the 32 percent of teens do not think that prescription drugs, like painkillers are safer because they have fewer side effects than street drugs.

Because prescription drugs are so easy for children and teens to obtain, they are more likely to try them.  More than half of the teens in the study reported that they abuse prescription drugs and painkillers because they are not illegal. Also, they feel they are less shameful and that parents don’t care as much if they get caught using them.

If you have prescription painkillers in your home, make sure you know how many are in the bottle and never let your child or teen take them without a prescription of their own. The only cure for this type of drug abuse is parental supervision.

Many parents are concerned that they cannot provide the right kind of support to prevent their teen from using drugs. Even though the teenage years are the time when counsel and guidance is most necessary, some adults start to lose confidence in their ability to influence their child’s choices about drugs and alcohol around the same time.

According to data from a study that tracked parent attitudes, half of all participants with kids in 6th-8th grade feel they lack the tools and information to prevent drug and alcohol use. In contrast, only 35 percent of parents of elementary school children feel they need more help. 37 percent of parents with kids in middle school feel they have little influence over their decision to try drugs.

Unfortunately, these reluctant parents are missing the opportunity to lead their child in the right path, as uncomfortable as the infamous “drug conversation” may be. The Partnership for a Drug Free America found that kids who learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50 percent less likely to use. This reinforces that parents are the most powerful influencers in their kids’ lives and can dramatically effect whether they choose to use drugs and alcohol.

The findings of the study demonstrate how many parents feel increasingly overwhelmed as kids become teenagers. “These vulnerable years are when teens and tweens are exposed to drugs and alcohol, and parents can’t let the normal turbulence and frustrations of raising teens interfere with their determination to keep their kids from risking their health,” Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of the Partnership. Science has helped us understand that the brain doesn’t fully develop until age 25, and while teens are attracted to experimentation and risk, they are simply not prepared to make good decisions about drugs, new social situations, sex and other tough issues that affect their futures.  Parents have to step in and help their kids, no matter how challenging the conversation.”

Addicted teens aren’t getting the help they need and the reason may be due to a lack of services designed specifically for adolescents, reports a recent article on Forbes.com. According to a study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse and Treatment, “Only about 10 percent of the 1.4 million American teens with substance abuse problems receive treatment.” The report also reveals that only about a third of the drug rehab programs in the U.S. have treatment programs for teens. The lack of treatment programs, “means we lose our chance at early intervention, and that families may be unable to find services for their children in their communities,” says the author of the report, Hannah K. Knudsen, Ph.D.

Knudsen also analyzed the services provided by over 100 teen-oriented treatment programs and rated them according to nine areas of quality, including the variety of services provided and family involvement in the treatment process. The results from the study showed that intensive, full-service residential treatment options generally scored better than other programs.Looking at these factors, Gatehouse Academy would likely score well, not just because Gatehouse is a long-term residential rehab facility, but also because it does provide a wide-range of treatment options — including a unique program for co-occurring mental and emotional disorders.

“For parents who are looking for high-quality programs that offer the most comprehensive array of services, a good proxy indicator is whether that organization has an inpatient or residential level of care,” Knudsen said.

Residential treatment really does make a difference in the recovery process for teens and young adults. It’s important for a treatment center to offer the services tailored to the needs of the age group in order to create an environment that will prompt and encourage a successful transition into a sober and drug-free life.

The United Nations International Narcotics Control Board reportedly announced that overall teen drug abuse in the U.S. has decreased by 24 percent since 2001. Unfortunately, the U.N. also reported that more people are abusing prescription drugs than before. Highlights of the news include:

- “After cannabis, prescription drugs are the most commonly abused substances.”

- “Among young adults, aged 18-25 years, abuse fell in all drug categories except pain relievers.”

Despite the good news of an overall decline, drug addiction is still a major problem in the United States. Even with the decline, there are still an estimated 19.9 million people aged 12 and up who suffer from drug addiction. An INCB representative also stated: “. . . the problem of substance abuse among United States teenagers continues to be widespread, as nearly half of United States students aged 17-18 (47 percent) have tried an illicit drug by the time they have finished secondary school.” That means just before going off to college, half of all students have used drugs.

Drug trade doesn’t just affect our nation’s children – it impacts our society as a whole. In 2002, the cost of health care and lost productivity due to illegal drug usage was estimated at $181 Billion. Just today, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory warning recommending American travelers to stay away from drug related. Reportedly, about 6,000 people were killed in Mexico from drug violence.

Even though it is great news that drug abuse is starting to decline, it’s only because of the efforts made by parents, friends, communities and law enforcement that progress is being made. Our country cannot afford to stop taking addiction seriously.

High sensation seekers are defined as having an acute sensitivity to their environmental surroundings and personal interactions. This personality trait is characterized by the need for stimulation, and is related to a preference for novel, intense and complex experiences. They tend to be extroverted, accept change more openly and view others as an audience rather than a source of nurturing or affection.The proclivity for stimulation of high sensation seekers can lead to risk taking behaviors, which fulfill their need for stimuli. Common activities include adventure sports, listening to high intensity rock music, partaking in risky sexual behavior, or even extreme exotic travel.

Studies show that there is a strong association between sensation seekers and drug and alcohol use: The search for novel experiences sets off the same brain reward system as drug use, providing a biological explanation for substance abuse among people who constantly seek out new and exciting experiences. The inhibitory response of these personality types is also diminished, adding to their tendency to take risks.

Although it may seem obvious, it’s interesting to note how our chemical make-up can determine our need for physiological stimulus. Everyone’s primal reward system is largely predicted by genetics; drugs may satisfy the pleasure portion of one person’s brain, but do little to stimulate someone who is less inclined to pursue experiences outside of their comfort zone. 

Knowledge of the association between high sensitivity and drug use is considered valuable because specialists believe that they can take intervention measures in young adults’ lives who demonstrate high sensation seeking behaviors prior to their exposure to substances, preventing their urge to use. Many ad campaigns are targeted towards risk takers, and encourage adolescents to find healthier ways to get their thrills. Dramatic depictions of the damaging effects of drug use has shown to have greater impacts on high sensation seekers than less sensitive individuals. These media campaigns have proven to be effective tools in drug prevention.

It’s well-known that alcohol stays in the body for some time after consumption, but how long does it stay in the body? And why is it that different people seem to sober up faster than others?

The simple answer to these questions is that alcohol affects each individual differently. Alcohol leaves the body as it is absorbed and completes the metabolic process. The effects of alcohol are felt the most when the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is at its peak. As your BAC goes down, alcohol is leaving your system. Alcohol is absorbed into the body slower if taken with food. This helps keep the BAC at a lower level. Intoxication occurs when the BAC reaches unhealthy levels and can even be deadly. The blood alcohol content is also dependant upon how much water is in a person’s body. A person who has less fat and more water in their body will have more room for the alcohol to be distributed throughout their system.

It’s often cited that it takes about one hour for the alcohol in one standard drink to leave your system.  However, the actual amount of time it takes depends on a number of variables.  People who drink more have built up a tolerance for processing alcohol. A person who drinks heavily and often may have a liver that can process twice or three times as many drinks per hour. It’s also important to note that stressing the liver can lead to liver disease or cirrhosis.

For teens and young adults who engage in binge drinking, risking liver damage at a young age can cause complications for the rest of their lives. Not only is a young body at risk for liver disease, but brain damage is a primary concern for alcohol consumption, as well. Research is showing that the brain is still developing in the early twenties and alcohol causes long-term damage to young minds.

The Office of the National Drug Control Policy recently reported that there are more medical marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks, Taco Bells, middle schools or police stations in San Francisco. This information has garnered national attention, with Jay Leno and network news stations broadcasting the shocking report. The drug control office hopes to shed light on the abuses within the medical marijuana system, and the growing number of undocumented and illegal pot clubs profiting.

The Compassionate Use Act passed in 1996 allows seriously ill Californians to obtain and use medical marijuana as a method of treatment. Patients must be recommended by a doctor, and health conditions that warrant marijuana treatment include: cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine, or any other illness for which the relaxation-inducing drug provides relief. This law has invited a backlash of controversy in California. The thousands of clinics in San Francisco have attracted hoards of drug addicts, stirring fear in city dwellers and requiring stricter regulation. In San Diego, teens have been caught lying to doctors about health conditions to obtain ID cards that permit medical marijuana use.

Bolstering the platform of medical marijuana opponents, in April 2006 the FDA dispelled the notion that marijuana can be considered a medicine, announcing that smoking marijuana is harmful to one’s health. An evaluation constructed by several Department of Health and Human Services Agencies concluded that “no sound scientific studies supported medical use of marijuana for treatment in the United States, and no animal or human data supported the safety or efficacy of marijuana for general medical use.”

As for advocates of its medical use, there are health organizations within the U.S. that support clinical research for cannabis as a therapeutic drug for seriously sick patients. Such respected institutions include American Public Health Association, American Cancer Society and American Medical Association.

With legalized marijuana available to the public comes increased potential for abuse, both in the form of individual addiction and illegal distribution. Until the federal government backs evidence that supports the medical benefits of marijuana (which doesn’t seem feasible any time soon), the risks appear to outweigh the rewards.