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.

Slang is a prevalent part of drug culture: It’s a form of self expression, method for discreet communication and way for drug users to project their mastery in the subject area. Street terms for drugs are often more relevant than medical terminology; words that don’t tend to roll off the tongue as smoothly, like diacetylmorphine and desoxyephedrine, aren’t popular among groups actually using the substances. Interpreting the way in which drug users converse may provide a better understanding of their lifestyles. The following is a condensed list of popular drugs and their corresponding slang terms, many of which come from the Indiana Prevention Resource Center:

Marijuana: Bammy, funk

Smoke marijuana: Blow a stick, blast a roach

Heroin: Dope, smack, skag
Inject heroin: Dip and dab       

Smoke heroin: Chase the tiger

Heroin and cocaine mixture: Speedball, Belushi

Cocaine: Candycaine, weasel dust

Addicted to cocaine: Flaky

Inhale cocaine: Blow blue

Crack cocaine: Cat’s pee, crackers

Crack: Apple jacks

Smoke crack: Blast

Methamphetamine: Crystal, crank, tweek

Injecting methamphetamine: Bangin’ it in

That was the sentiment expressed by David Sheff, a father whose son suffered from the self-destructive effects of substance abuse. David Sheff came to Arizona last week with his son, Nic as part of their book tour for Beautiful Boy and Tweak, written by father and son, respectively. Hearing a first-hand account of their experiences – their journey through addiction and into recovery – was both cathartic and eye-opening.

Perhaps one of the most interesting topics that David Sheff brought up was how parents can be in denial of their child’s drug addiction. It was stirring to hear the description of Nic in his teenage years – he was doing well in school, had friends, participated in sports, and was recognized as a young talent in journalism. His son certainly did not look like a drug addict, but sadly, he was.

It’s unfortunate that in our society, have a stereotypical image of what addicts are like. We don’t realize, or maybe we are just wary to accept the fact, that the teens getting high are the sons and daughters of people from all walks of life. Addiction is a disease that can harm anyone, it doesn’t discriminate.

It was easy to see just how true that is after being introduced to Nic Sheff. He candidly expressed how he started smoking pot to numb his sensitivity and emotions. As he further explained, his tolerance for pot became very high and he sought out stronger drugs. When he goes on to describe the raw severity of the self-destruction that came as a consequence of his addiction, it becomes easy to see how lucky he was to survive. Through it all he describes the loneliness, confusion, and fear he experienced. In these moments, Nic shares with us how “normal” you can be and still suffer from addiction.

Despite all the difficulties that both the son and father have faced, and the challenges that are still ahead, it was heartwarming to see how far they have come to share their story with us.

That was the sentiment expressed by David Sheff, a father whose son suffered from the self-destructive effects of substance abuse. David Sheff came to Arizona last week with his son, Nic as part of their book tour for Beautiful Boy and Tweak, written by father and son, respectively. Hearing a first-hand account of their experiences – their journey through addiction and into recovery – was both cathartic and eye-opening.

Perhaps one of the most interesting topics that David Sheff brought up was how parents can be in denial of their child’s drug addiction. It was stirring to hear the description of Nic in his teenage years – he was doing well in school, had friends, participated in sports, and was recognized as a young talent in journalism. His son certainly did not look like a drug addict, but sadly, he was.

It’s unfortunate that in our society, have a stereotypical image of what addicts are like. We don’t realize, or maybe we are just wary to accept the fact, that the teens getting high are the sons and daughters of people from all walks of life. Addiction is a disease that can harm anyone, it doesn’t discriminate.

It was easy to see just how true that is after being introduced to Nic Sheff. He candidly expressed how he started smoking pot to numb his sensitivity and emotions. As he further explained, his tolerance for pot became very high and he sought out stronger drugs. When he goes on to describe the raw severity of the self-destruction that came as a consequence of his addiction, it becomes easy to see how lucky he was to survive. Through it all he describes the loneliness, confusion, and fear he experienced. In these moments, Nic shares with us how “normal” you can be and still suffer from addiction.

Despite all the difficulties that both the son and father have faced, and the challenges that are still ahead, it was heartwarming to see how far they have come to share their story with us.

This past weekend, from September 12^th to September 14^th, the residents of Gatehouse Academy were part of a special “Gathering of Young People in Recovery”. The event was a huge success, but you don’t have to take my word for it, here’s what some of the attendees had to say:

• Niki H.: “It was great to see the residents come alive with service, SOBRIETY & FUN through the conference. I was very impressed with their amount of involvement & excitement. It was a great experience.”
• Katie: “Sober people can actually be fun people & they’re still nuts!”
• Whitney M.: “This weekend was an amazing opportunity for me to see what real fun in sobriety looks like. I got to dance which was so fun, hear some really great speakers including my sponsor, and engage in some really worthwhile service work. I cannot wait to do this again next year.”
• Marc V.: “That’s what I’m talking about!! ”
• Joe M.: “I never thought I would be sober packing my face full of marshmallows, ON STAGE IN FRONT OF A CROWD, and enjoying it! ” In reference to a “chubby bunny” competition, where everyone tries to say “chubby bunny” with as many marshmallow in one’s mouth as possible.
• Lizzy T.: “It was the best time I have had in my life in a very long time, a few years actually, and this time I was sober. I finally felt like my old self again, and going to the event gave me a lot of hope for my future of fun in sobriety outside of Gatehouse Academy. I can’t wait till next year!!!"
• Zach H.: “It was sweet! I thought it was really cool. It gave me hope seeing other people my age having fun in sobriety. We had great speakers and fun activities. Dancing sober was really sweet. ”
• Dan I.: “Awesomely, fantabulous, exciting & inspirational.”

“The experience of gathering with young people in recovery was really amazing and it was the first time a lot of the residents here at Gatehouse Academy have ever been to an event like it. There was a lot of laughter, dancing, and new friends and family made. Going out and experiencing a taste of the “real” world in sobriety is very different than the lives we were living when we were using.

The guest speakers that shared about their experience, strength and hope were very inspiration and filled a lot of the residents with hope for their lives. The service work was something a lot of the residents had never had experience with, but they went in with excitement and being open to learning new things.

It was a very intimate weekend spending time with other alcoholics and getting to hear their story, a lot of the residents felt more connected with the people once they opened up to each other. There were Marathon Meetings all around the clock all on different topics and it gave the residents a chance to select a meeting that they are interested in learning about. Through listening to all the feedback about the weekend up in Flagstaff it was very apparent that this trip was eventful, exciting, new and intimate.

We can’t wait until next year!”

For me, drugs and alcohol were a big part of the pressures of high school, because drug abuse was a real problem for the youth in my community. When I say that people get this idea that I lived in a rough inner-city neighborhood, but that wasn’t the case. My family lived in a suburban area and I went to high school at a very typical, middle-class public school. As a teen, I can remember how often I would smell pot on other student’s clothes, mostly because they were smoking joints in the bathrooms or at bus stops. The saddest drug-related tragedy was when one young girl, who was a freshman at the time, was found dead at a popular community hang out. Her death was revealed to be caused in part by friends who were involved with drugs.

Those events happened many years ago, and I feel a wrenching sadness whenever I pass by my old school and see that things haven’t changed for the next generation. It’s terrible that teens have to deal with other kids coming to class stoned or drunk on a daily basis. Even if some teens aren’t interested in doing drugs or drinking alcohol, it’s all around them – and it takes a serious, concerted effort to stay out of it. Even worse is the fact that many parents don’t really prepare their teens for the stress of substance abuse. There’s no doubt in my mind that the support of my family and friends is what got me through those difficult times.

So, if you know someone who is heading out to school this fall, don’t hesitate to let them know you believe in them. Give them the reassurance to come to you if they need help or for advice. It’s not silly – every teenager needs reassurance, because they are so uncertain about what’s going on in their lives. Even if you’re not their parent, you’ll help empower them to make the right decision when the time comes.

1up.com had some interesting news to report about parents and their attitudes toward video games and underage drinking. In two polls conducted by What They Play (a gaming guide for parents), the results showed parents are more disturbed by their child playing a mature video game than they are about their child drinking alcohol.

Let’s take a moment to really visualize the scenario the poll presents. A teenager is at a sleepover and in one case he’ll drink alcohol and in the other case he’ll just play a mature video game that might features some form of alcohol consumption. Which scenario would concern you more?

Of course, neither situation is good. In an ideal scenario, as a parent, you would hope that you have talked with your child about drugs and alcohol enough that they would give you a call and leave that sleepover right away. Being put in that kind of a situation as a young adult is harsh, and unfortunately it is one of the tougher decisions that more and more teens have to make.

Another interesting result from the poll is that smoking marijuana was the behavior parents were most worried about. Although drugs have had a lot of media attention, drinking can be just as, if not more dangerous to the development of a young body and mind. Keeping teens clean from drugs, alcohol, and games that encourage drinking or doing drugs should be of equally high concern to parents.

To help curb those worries, parents can take a proactive approach. Try playing the games your child loves. Out of the hundreds of games made each year, help your child find the “cool” ones that aren’t filled with objectionable content. Let your teen host a sleepover, and let them plan the night’s food, drinks and activities. There are lots of ways to keep young adults entertained, but the key to keeping it clean is parent involvement.

There is no easy way to put a stop to substance abuse and young adult alcoholism. One method is enforcing underage drinking laws. Perhaps one of the most crucial prevention techniques is reducing access young people have to alcoholic beverages. Identification and carding programs nationwide have strict guidelines and consequences, ensuring that those selling alcohol are doing their part to prevent teens from getting drunk.

In New York, local news reports that during a concert series held in North Tonawanda, people underage could purchase alcohol despite a stringent identification and wristband policy in place. Officials revoked the sponsor’s alcohol permit. Revoking their permit means alcoholic beverages cannot be sold at the concert venue, but it doesn’t stop people from bringing it into the event. With three more concerts in the series, stores in the local area should take greater care and do their part to keep alcohol out of minors’ hands. If they don’t, hopefully law enforcement will be on hand to insist on compliance with the laws. Keeping young people sober and reducing the number who need alcohol rehab is not something to be taken lightly.