May 2008 - Prescription Drug Abuse

WELCOME to MAY, 2008 - 'NEWS OF HOPE'

WELCOME to May, 2008 - 'NEWS OF HOPE'
MAY 2008 Newsletter Content
* Observations from the Road - Susie Vanderlip
* Current Drug Trends in America's Youth
* FREE Prevention and Parenting/Grandparenting Tools
* Girls Most Frequent Abuser of Prescription Drugs
* Tips for Preventing Prescription Medicine Abuse
* Tools Available to Help School Nurses Address Rx Abuse
* Group Therapy Works for Youngest Addicts/Teens

Pictured Above, from left:
Pic 1 - Susie meets with Marina High School cheerleaders in Huntington Beach, California before an evening PTSA-sponsored LEGACY OF HOPE program
Pic 2 - Susie and Glenda Mercado - hardworking President of the Marina High School PTSA who organized the evening's activities
Pic 3 - Students at Sowers Middle School, Huntington Beach, CA at lunch just before a LEGACY OF HOPE assembly
Pic 4 - The enthusiastic staff of Parents as Teachers in Wichita, Kansas where Susie had the privilege of addressing 100 pregnant or parenting teens.

Check out Past Newsletters on our website for other great topics

FREE Prevention and Parenting/Grandparenting Tools!
At all of my programs, I bring free pamphlets on various drug and lifestyle issues for teens and families. Many of these I obtain from NCADI - the National Clearinghous for Alcohol and Drug Information. You can order from 50 to 200 of EACH PAMPHLET for FREE from their website, and that INCLUDES SHIPPING!

Check the site out and start sharing prevention tips and tools with those in your world:
http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/top.aspx

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Read articles Susie has written for various GRAND Magazine and order your free subscription:
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Observations from the Road - by Susie Vanderlip

As summer approaches, we want to alert families once again to the trends in teen substance use and abuse. Summer can mean more unstructured, unsupervised time for teens leading to more boredom and more susceptibility to dangerous entertainments like prescription drugs obtained from the medicine cabinets of family and friends.

This new and disturbing abuse of pharmaceutical drugs by teens has revealed itself more and more as preteens and teens come up to talk with me after LEGACY OF HOPE® assemblies across the country. Middle school teens, in particular, have expressed concern over friends using "Zani's" (Zanax), Oxy (Oxycontin) and other pharmaceutical drugs. 7th and 8th graders are letting me know that these drugs are popular and in vogue.

As the teens tell me about their families and life circumstances, the abuse of pharmaceutical drugs often correlates with teens who are experiencing feelings of alienation, neglect, verbal abuse and/or are the victims of or are witnessing physical abuse in the home. From conversations with thousands of teens each year, it appears that teens that live with anger, fear, depression, loneliness, self-loathing, and/or hopelessness are more susceptible to alcohol use, pharmaceutical drugs, illicit drugs, sexual relations at a younger age, self-harm, and poor choices.

As a "messenger of hope" to these emotionally troubled teens, I am convinced that the emotional and social well-being of our youth is a critical factor in their choices and life outcomes.

In communities with a high level of low income families and/or a scarcity of jobs, parents are financially and emotionally stressed, fearful, and hopeless as well. Parental alcohol and substance abuse increases as well as the subsequent verbal and physical abuse in the home. As parents turn to destructive and inadequate methods of emotional coping, they become role models of poor coping skills as well as the source of their children's pain, PTSD, and emotional wounds.

This past month, I had the privilege of working Family and Children Services in Battle Creek, Michigan in collaboration with the United Way of Greater Battle Creek. LEGACY OF HOPE® was presented for the community and for local providers of various youth and family services. I also participated in a collaboration breakfast of local agencies where I was thrilled to experience a mutual recognition of how critical it is to reach both youth and parents with tools to increase emotional coping skills - what I call "Emotional Wisdom."

This group of creative providers included representatives from the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, high school nursing, Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, the United Way and more. They shared a mutual consensus that to address a particular issue such as teen pregnancy requires attention to related and influential issues including familial alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, gangs, economic problems, and more. I was rewarded to find that everyone agreed that the lack of "Emotional Wisdom" was severely lacking in families with these problems and was a root cause.

In months to come, you will hear me speak more about "Emotional Wisdom." It is a core message that both youth and adults respond to in LEGACY OF HOPE® . I am HOPEful that we are entering a time of greater awareness and new and creative ways to reach parents, other adults and youth about their own emotional awareness and coping skills.

We at LEGACY will remain devoted to carrying a message about the critical need to improve parental and teen communication, role modeling emotional responsibility, and guiding both teens and adults to good choices.

Your comments are welcome ---

Current Drug Trends in America's Youth
As we have all probably seen throughout our lives, what's in one day might not be in the next. Whether it be brand of clothing, hairstyle, fad diet, etc., trends are constantly changing. Drug trends are no different than any other trend out there, one generation might have preferred cocaine while they were in high school while marijuana might experience more popularity amongst another generation or class.

As you will see in the following research (reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse - NIDA) even within the past ten years drug use trends have changed pretty significantly.

The following statistics on current drug use trends was reported by NIDA (www.nida.nih.gov/InfoFacts/HSYouthtrends.html)

Positive Trends

. Any illicit drug - From 2006 to 2007, 8th-graders reporting lifetime use of any illicit drug declined from 20.9 percent to 19.0 percent and past year use declined from 14.8 percent to 13.2 percent. Since 2001, annual prevalence has fallen by 32 percent among 8th-graders, nearly 25 percent among 10th-graders, and 13 percent among 12th-graders. Since the peak year in 1996, past year prevalence has fallen by 44 percent among 8th-graders. The peak year for past year abuse among 10th- and 12th-graders was 1997; since then, past year prevalence has fallen by 27 percent among 10th-graders and by 15 percent among 12th-graders.
. Marijuana - Past year use of marijuana among 8th graders significantly declined from 11.7 percent in 2006 to 10.3 percent in 2007, and is down from its 1996 peak of 18.3 percent. Annual prevalence of marijuana use has fallen by 33 percent among 8th-graders, 25 percent among 10th-graders, and 14 percent among 12th-graders since 2001. Disapproval of trying marijuana "once or twice," smoking marijuana "occasionally," or smoking marijuana "regularly" (3) increased significantly among 8th-graders from 2006 to 2007, and remained stable for 10th- and 12th-graders for the same period.
. Methamphetamine - Lifetime and past year methamphetamine use decreased among 8th- and 12th-graders between 2006 and 2007; lifetime use among 8th-graders declined from 2.7 percent to 1.8 percent, and lifetime use among 12th-graders declined from 4.4 percent to 3.0 percent. Past year methamphetamine use was reported by 1.1 percent of 8th-graders in 2007 (a decline from 1.8 percent in 2006), 1.6 percent of 10th-graders, and 1.7 percent of 12th-graders (a decline from 2.5 percent in 2006).
. Sedatives/Barbiturates - There has been a decline in the lifetime use of sedatives from a peak of 10.5 percent in 2005 to 9.3 percent in 2007. Past year use of sedatives/barbituates declined from a peak of 7.2 percent in 2005 to 6.2 percent in 2007. (This question is asked only of 12th-graders.)
. Inhalants - After some increases in recent years, there were no significant changes from 2006 to 2007 in the proportion of students in the 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grades reporting lifetime, past year, or past month abuse of inhalants.
. Crack Cocaine - Past month abuse of crack among 10th-graders declined from 0.7 percent in 2006 to 0.5 percent in 2007. From 2001 to 2007, students in 8th and 10th grades showed declines of crack use of 29.6 percent and 58.0 percent, respectively. Past month abuse of cocaine (powder) among 12th-graders declined from 2.4 percent in 2006 to 1.7 percent in 2007. Disapproval of trying cocaine "once or twice" increased among 8th-graders from 86.5 percent in 2006 to 88.2 percent in 2007, and disapproval of trying crack "once or twice" increased from 87.2 percent to 88.6 percent. Disapproval did not change among 10th- or 12th-graders for the same period.

Negative Trends

. Prescription Drugs - Prescription drug use remains unacceptably high with virtually no drop in nonmedical use of most individual prescription drugs. This year, for the first time, researchers pulled together data for all prescription drugs as a measurable group (including amphetamines, sedatives/barbituates, tranquilizers, and opiates other than heroin such as Vicodin and OxyContin) and found that 15.4 percent of high school seniors reported nonmedical use of at least one prescription medication within the past year.(5)
. MDMA (Ecstasy) - The 2007 results represent the third year in a row showing a weakening of attitudes among the youngest students regarding MDMA. Among 8th-graders, the perceived harmfulness of taking MDMA "occasionally" decreased from 52.0 percent to 48.6 percent from 2006 to 2007. Among 10th-graders, the perceived harmfulness decreased from 71.3 percent to 68.2 percent. Perceived risk of MDMA use remained unchanged for 12th-graders from 2006 to 2007. Concurrently, between 2004 and 2007 past year use of MDMA increased in 10th-graders from 2.4 to 3.5 percent, and between 2005 and 2007 past year use of MDMA increased among 12th-graders going from 3.0 to 4.5 percent..
. Hallucinogens - Among 10th-graders, the perceived harmfulness of taking LSD "once or twice" decreased from 38.8 percent in 2006 to 35.4 percent in 2007. The perceived harm of taking LSD "regularly" decreased from 60.7 percent in 2006 to 56.8 percent in 2007. Disapproval of using LSD "once or twice" significantly decreased for 10th-graders from 71.2 percent in 2006 to 67.7 percent in 2007; disapproval of taking LSD "regularly" dropped from 74.9 percent in 2006 to 71.5 percent in 2007.
. Heroin/Opiates (painkillers) - Among 8th-graders, past month use of injecting heroin increased from 0.2 percent in 2006 to 0.3 percent in 2007. Past year heroin use without a needle increased among 12th-graders from 0.6 percent in 2006 to 1.0 percent in 2007. OxyContin use in the past year was reported by 1.8 percent of 8th-graders, 3.9 percent of 10th-graders, and 5.2 percent of 12th- graders. Vicodin use in the past year was reported by 2.7 percent of 8th-graders, 7.2 percent of 10th-graders, and 9.6 percent of 12th-graders, remaining stable at relatively high levels for each grade.

Information gathered from:
The National Institute on Drug Abuse
www.nida.nih.gov/InfoFacts/HSYouthtrends.html
LEGACY OF HOPE assemblies help teens communicate with parents and peers . . .

Girls Most Frequent Abuser of Prescription Drugs

Teen Girls, Young Women Now Outpace Male Counterparts for Prescription Drug Abuse, Dependence

In a press release from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, new data analysis results were released that found alarming trends in prescription drug abuse. While overall illicit drug use is declining, the abuse of prescription drugs, particularly narcotic pain killers, remains disturbingly high (www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/NEWS/press07/043007.html). However, the most surprising find in the report is that "data reveals that females are at particular risk for prescription drug abuse, with higher rates of abuse among teen girls, more emergency room visits among young women, and higher rates of treatment admissions for dependence on some prescription drugs among females" (www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/NEWS/press07/043007.html).

This disturbing new trend runs counter to traditional drug use patterns, where males have typically exceeded females. When it comes to street drugs, use by males significantly exceeds use by females. Past year use of marijuana for males 12 and older is 13.1 percent, versus 7.9 percent for females. Past year cocaine use among males 12 and older is 3.0 percent, versus 1.6 percent for females. The traditional gender differences are reversed, however, when it comes to teen prescription drug abuse. Nearly one in ten (9.2 percent) teen girls report using a prescription drug to get high at least once in the past year, compared to one in 13 (7.5 percent) teen boys (www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/NEWS/press07/043007.html).

Further data show that abuse of prescription drugs is disproportionately creating significant health consequences for females. For emergency room visits involving prescription drug abuse, females were involved in 55 percent of the cases. This compares to females being involved in just 35 percent of emergency room visits where street drugs were involved. And more women are being admitted to treatment for dependence on sedatives and tranquilizers than men: 56 percent of those being treated for dependence on sedatives (which can include antidepressants like Remeron or Numbutal) and 53 percent of those being treated for dependence on tranquilizers (like Valium, Xanax or Haldol) are women. Among 12-17 year-olds, girls had higher rates of dependence or abuse involving prescription drugs (1.8 percent for girls and 1.1 percent for boys) (www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/NEWS/press07/043007.html).

Information gathered from:
The Office of National Drug Control Policy
www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/NEWS/press07/043007.html

Tips for Preventing Prescription Medicine Abuse

We have seen a lot of success in working together to decrease overall illicit drug use. The country seems to have been successful in relaying the harmful effects of these drugs as well as why even experimenting once with one of these drugs is a bad decision to the youth of America. As NIDA reports, "overall illicit drug use has continued to decline since 1997" (http://www.nida.nih.gov/InfoFacts/HSYouthtrends.html).

However, while we have been focusing on efforts to decrease illicit drug use, another trend has developed.A trend more difficult to monitor as well as fight. As NIDA reports, "Non-medical prescription drug use continues to increase" (http://www.nida.nih.gov/InfoFacts/HSYouthtrends.html). The danger of this trend is that we pretty much all have prescription drugs of some sort in our homes at all times, making it nearly impossible for us to keep the temptation away from our teens.

The following information reported by "Parents - The Anti-Drug" (http://www.theantidrug.com/DRUG_INFO/prescription_what_can_you_do.asp) offers some advice to all of us on how to prevent our teens and young children from developing an addiction to prescription pills.

Safeguard all drugs at home. Monitor quantities and control access. Take note of how many pills are in a bottle or pill packet, and keep track of refills. If you find you have to refill medication more often than expected, there could be a real problem. If your teen has been prescribed a drug, be sure you control the medication, and monitor dosages and refills.

Set clear rules for teens about all drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the medical provider's advice and dosages. Make sure your teen uses prescription drugs only as directed by a medical provider and follows instructions for OTC products carefully. If you have any questions about how to take a drug, call your family physician or pharmacist.

Be a good role model by following these same rules with your own medicines. Examine your own behavior to ensure you set a good example. If you misuse your prescription drugs, such as share them with your kids, or abuse them, your teen will take notice. Avoid sharing your drugs and always follow your medical provider's instructions.

Properly conceal and dispose of old or unused medicines in the trash. Unused prescription drugs should be hidden and thrown away in the trash. So that teens or others don't take them out of the trash, you can mix them with an undesirable substance (like used coffee grounds or kitty litter) and put the mixture in an empty can or bag.

Ask friends and family to safeguard their prescription drugs as well. Make sure your friends and relatives, especially grandparents, know about the risks, too, and encourage them to regularly monitor their own medicine cabinets. If there are other households your teen has access to, talk to those families as well about the importance of safeguarding medications. If you don't know the parents of your child's friends, then make an effort to get to know them, and get on the same page about rules and expectations for use of all drugs, including alcohol and illicit drugs.

Talk to your teen about the dangers of abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs. These are powerful drugs that, when abused, can be just as dangerous as street drugs. Tell your teen the risks far outweigh any "benefits."

Information gathered from:
The National Institute on Drug Abuse
http://www.nida.nih.gov/InfoFacts/HSYouthtrends.html
Parents - The Anti-Drug
http://www.theantidrug.com/DRUG_INFO/prescription_what_can_you_do.asp

Let us help Create Awareness for YOUR Community

Tools Available to Help School Nurses Address Rx Abuse

From May 15, 2008 - CADCA Coalitions Online

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) has developed new resources to help school nurses respond to increase in teen prescription drug abuse among middle and high school students.

"Smart Moves, Smart Choices," features a news series and Web-based resources targeted to school nurses, teachers and parents. The program educates teens about the serious risks of abusing prescription medicines, such as those used legitimately to treat pain.

"As the onsite healthcare professionals in schools, school nurses are preparing themselves with the right tools to help with the prevention of prescription drug abuse," said Sandra Delack, RN, MEd, NCSN, NASN President-Elect. "This program will provide schools and parents with facts in a news-style format to motivate young people to make informed choices that lead to healthy behaviors."

A national survey of more than 1,300 school nurses revealed that nearly 60 percent of school nurses indicated prescription drug abuse is a growing or significant problem in their communities.(i) The nurses' observations are consistent with national research showing that nearly one-quarter of 12th graders report that they have abused prescription drugs by the time they graduate from high school. Every day, 2,500 youth age 12 to 17 abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time.

For more information on the program, visit www.macneil-lehrer.com/thenews/themedic. For more information about how to prevent prescription drug abuse, see CADCA's newest publication, Teen Prescription Drug Abuse: An Emerging Threat (Strategizer 52), which is available at www.cadca.org by clicking on "Publications."

NOTE: Susie has been a member of CADCA - Community Anti-Drug Coaltions of America for many years and encourages communities to avail themselves of this resource. CADCA provides extensive information and trainings on developing successful prevention coaltions. www.cadca.org

View the article and other excellent CADCA materials online

Learn more about EMOTIONAL WISDOM from Susie...
For more info on Emotional Wisdom", get
LESSONS FROM THE ROAD
Published in 2007, this inspiring motivational book includes chapters from 30 of the nation's top educational speakers.
Susie's chapter hits home - "EMOTIONAL WISDOM" begins an awareness of how emotions influcence our choices and those of our children.
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52 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR TEEN -
Guiding Teens to Good Choices and Success
"The first book I could really relate to!" says teen reader!
"I wish I'd read this when my kids were 8 and 9 to better prepare my children for adolescence," says an engaged mom.
Then gain greater insights and tips on how to relate to a teen's emotions and encourage healthy choices in your kids:
Susie's book:

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Group Therapy Works for Youngest Addicts, Experts Say

Group therapy seems to be the most effective way to reach 12- and 13-year-olds with addiction problems, according to treatment experts in Massachusetts, the Boston Herald reported March 9.

"We're finding that the most effective treatment is group treatment. It is a more recent development and more effective than the usual one-to-one counseling," said Jennifer Gearhart, director of outpatient programs at South Bay Mental Health in Brockton. Gearhart added that getting families involved in treatment is also important when treating young patients.

Thirty-four youths ages 12 and 13 were treated for addiction in Massachusetts facilities last year, according to the state Department of Public Health. But more than 1,000 youths under age 18 are admitted to treatment in Massachusetts each year.

"It is very worrying because the younger they start using, there is an increased likelihood that they will develop an addiction," said Monica Rozner, director of clinical services for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. "Also worrying is that at the age of 12 or 13, the brain is still developing and substance abuse could have significant impact on that."

A new state-funded treatment program, Motivating Youth Recovery, recently opened in Worcester. "The need for services (for young people) is only going to snowball. It is a really big problem," said program director Teri Newman.

Information gathered from:
Join Together
March 10, 2008
http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2008/group-therapy-works-for.html?log-event=sp2f-view-item&nid=36964325

You'll find a list of Rehab Options on the LEGACY website

BOOK A LEGACY OF HOPE PROGRAM FOR YOUR EVENT, COMMUNITY OR SCHOOL

NOW IS THE TIME TO BOOK A LEGACY OF HOPE PROGRAM FOR FALL or a 2008-2009 CONFERENCE

LEGACY OF HOPE raises the important issues, creates dramatic awareness, and guides youth/adults to healthy choices. Great for schools to identify teens who need support early/before crisis.

For middle schools, high schools, parents, teacher in-service, mental health professionals, law enforcement, and companies who employ teens thru young adults.

Email or call to let us know about your objectives and how we can help you make an impact.

CONTACT SUSIE NOW!

Wishing you well,
All of us at LEGACY
Susie Vanderlip, CSP, CPAE - Ken Vanderlip, PhD
Newsletter Dept - Lauren LeDuc
800-707-1977

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