Addiction News: April 18th, 2013

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 (Photo: Nam Y. Huh, AP)

High court wants warrants before testing drivers’ blood [USA Today]

68 percent of teen alcohol-related deaths actually due to factors other than  drunk driving, MADD reports [Fox News]

Wash. delays licenses for marijuana growers, processors; sales likely won’t start until 2014 [Washington Post]

Denver officials eye 4/20 marijuana celebrations with wariness, dread [Denver Post]

Marijuana Research Funding Cut as Support for Drug Grows [BusinessWeek]

If you or your loved one is in need of treatment for alcohol or drug addiction please give us a call at 800-951-6135.

Addiction News: April 3rd, 2013

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Mayor Bloomberg Delivers Keynote Address at National Rx Drug Abuse Summit [ Mike Bloomberg]

Too Stoned To Drive? Marijuana DUI Bill Passes Colorado House [ Huffington Post]

Why is less cocaine coming from Colombia? [The Economist]

Children as young as SEVEN are being admitted to hospital with alcohol addiction [ Daily Mail]

The Future of Nicotine Addiction: When Smokers Become Vapers [ Huffington Post]

Alcohol Awareness Month

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April is “Alcohol Awareness Month.” It is aimed at educating and raising awareness of underage drinking, alcohol abuse, treatment, and other related issues. It was founded and has been sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) since 1987. By educating the public, the NCADD is attempting to reduce the stigma that too often prevents individuals and families from seeking help. The theme for this year is “Help for Today. Hope for Tomorrow.”

Alcohol Awareness Month: How to Participate

You can participate in alcohol awareness month as an individual, as a group, or as a family.

1. Talk to your kids and teens: Getting the word across to your kids or teenagers is very important and it can be a great way to participate in alcohol awareness month. Peer pressure is one of the top reasons that kids start to drink. Research shows that talking to your kids early and often can cut down on alcohol abuse.

2. Avoid overconsumption at social drinking occasions: Set a daily limit and stick to it. Have fun with virgin cocktails or sparkling cider. Show others that it is possible to have fun without overindulging!

3. Get employees who sell alcohol to double check the age: If you work in a place that sells alcohol, a great way to observe alcohol awareness month is to talk to the people that sell about selling to minors. Bouncers, cashiers, and bartenders should double check and verify the actual birthdate along with the current photo on the ID.

4. Recognize if you are drinking too much: If you have trouble sticking to daily limits or have noticed an increase in your drinking, Alcohol Awareness Month can be a great time to take stock. If you find yourself drunk or hungover a lot or others have been telling you to ease up, it’s time to face reality. Use Alcohol Awareness Month to learn more about the long-term effects of alcohol and to seek help.

5. Participate in Alcohol – Free Weekend: This can be a great way to participate in Alcohol Awareness Month as a group, a family or an individual. An integral part of Alcohol Awareness Month is the Alcohol-Free Weekend, which takes place on the first weekend in April (April 5-7, 2013.) All Americans are invited to engage in three alcohol-free days. If you find this difficult, see number four above.

6. Urge your loved one to get help: Do you have a friend or loved one whose drinking is negatively affecting their relationships, their careers, or their health? This Alcohol Awareness Month, encourage them to seek help. Go with them to an AA group or contact a treatment program. Be supportive but not judgmental or enabling. Let them know that you care about them and you will be there if they want help, but you will not tolerate them continuing to harm themselves and others through their drinking habit. Look after yourself if you are living with an alcoholic. If you are a victim of alcohol-caused violence, seek immediate help and safety.

If your loved one is in need of alcohol detox or treatment for alcoholism please give us a call at 800-951-6135.

Sources:

http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/programs-a-services/alcohol-awareness-month/

http://www.wikihow.com/Observe-Alcohol-Awareness-Month

Underage Drinking Fact Sheet

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Underage Drinking Fact Sheet

Today, underage drinking is almost as common as legal drinking. Due to the popularity of underage drinking, it has become a serious issue among young people in the United States. In the United States an estimated 10 million kids under the age of 21 drank alcohol in the past month. Alcohol is the number one commonly used and abused substance among young people in the United States, even more than tobacco. Not only that, but alcohol is the main factor in 4,700 deaths per year among underage youth. Underage drinking is so common that 12 to 20 year olds consumed 11% of all the alcohol in the United States. Underage drinkers normally drink more drinks per drinking occasion than adult drinkers. In 2010 alone, there were around 189,000 ER visits by kids under the age of 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol.

The 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that among high school students, during the past 30 days:

• 39% drank some amount of alcohol.
• 22% binge drank.
• 8% drove after drinking alcohol.
• 24% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.
• In 2011 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 25% of youth aged 12 to 20 years drink alcohol and 16% reported binge drinking.7
• In 2011, the Monitoring the Future Survey reported that 33% of 8th graders and 70% of 12th graders had tried alcohol, and 13% of 8th graders and 40% of 12th graders drank during the past month.

Underage drinking is scary enough without adding in the binge factor. Underage binge drinking happens frequently and is very dangerous. The health problems, risk of death, and of addiction is much higher in “underagers” who binge drink than it is in young adults and children who don’t drink at all or who don’t engage in binge drinking.

Binge drinking means to consume a lot of alcohol really fast with the intention of getting drunk.

Here are some more statistics on underage binge drinking:

• 5% of 8^th graders reported binge drinking in the past 30 days.
• 16% of 10^th graders reported binge drinking in the past 30 days.
• 24% of 12^th graders reported binge drinking in the past 30 days.
• 40% of college students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days.

So where and how does underage drinking happen? Everyone is in agreement, that today’s kids and young adults get alcohol from their friends and family and most likely drink at parties.

Where?

• 71% of underage drinkers said they drink at parties with no parents
• 61% said they drink at a friend’s house where there are no parents
• 48% said they drink at a party in a remote location
• 43% said they underage drink at a party with the parents at home
• 34% of underage drinking happens at events
• 31% at home
• 27% at a bar or club
• 23% in their car
• 22% in the parking lot
• 40% of underage drinkers said other

How?

• 65% of youth or underage drinkers said they get alcohol from friends and family.
• 7% of underage drinkers said they get it from a store or bar that doesn’t check ID.
• 5% of underage drinkers said they get it from strangers
• 3% of underage drinkers own a fake ID
• 20% of underage drinkers answered something other than this or don’t know.

If your loved one is in need of alcohol detox or treatment for alcoholism please give us a call at 800-951-6135.

Source: http://www.centurycouncil.org/sites/default/files/images/UAD-13-Where-Do-Kids-DrinkPREP.gif

Where your kids are hiding their drugs

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Girl hides from father

When kids are using drugs they can be superbly resourceful and creative when it comes to their hiding spots. You always knew that your kids were entirely too smart for their own good and way more creative than they would ever show. You just never thought it would come in the form of where your kids are hiding their drugs.

Here are some of the top spots your kids hide drugs:

1. On and behind shelves

Depending on how thorough you are with your room checks your kids may just decide to hide their drugs behind picture frames or their old model cars sitting on their shelves. Pay attention while you are dusting and you may come across something more than dirt.

2. Inside cases

These cases include retainer cases if your kids have braces, makeup cases, guitar cases, DVD and CD cases, wallets and purses. Check your kid’s cases because it may be where they are hiding their drugs. Pay closer attention to the things your child carries with them at all times. Your kids are hiding their drugs where it’s convenient for them to get to their stash and also where they think you might not look.

3. In their car

That car that they think is their car but you paid for, put gas in, fix when it’s broken and pay that pricey car insurance every month. Yeah, that car.

If your teen is driving, definitely pay attention to where they’re hiding their drugs in their car. This can be a double edged sword because if you find drugs in their car, a police officer could find them too. If your child gets pulled over, which they most likely will at some point in their teenage life, they can get into some serious legal trouble. Make sure to check your kid’s car occasionally. If your kids are using drugs chances are they aren’t just using at home so they will carry their stash of drugs in their car to use with friends or at a party they are going to.

4. Inside Mr.Fluffy

That old stuffed animal your son or daughter has had since they were two years old could now be the home to where your kids are hiding their drugs. Inside of old stuffed animals that may have holes is a place many kids hide their drugs because they think no one will ever check there. The symbol of your kid’s innocence and drug use can go hand in hand. Many adolescents that have associated attachments with a childhood teddy bear see it as “safe” place to hide their drugs. Look for any signs that there may be a place for your kids to hide their drugs in their teddy.

3. In their clothes

Your kids could be hiding their drugs in pockets of clothes hanging in the back of their closet or may even go so far as to sew new little compartments for drugs within their clothes. Check both. When you do the laundry or put their clothes away run your hands through the seams and check in the pockets of the clothes hanging in the closet. This is a classic spot of where your kids are hiding their drugs. On a side note if you’re in the closet maybe check in a couple shoes and shoe boxese, too. Your kids may be hiding their drugs within their shoes or underneath the soles of their shoes.

These are all fairly common spots of where your kids are hiding their drugs. They are some other places too such as A/C, heating vents, drop down ceilings, attics, underneath video game counsoles, socks, stereo speakers, bras and underwear, slits in mattresses, pillow cases, or even an empty deodorant bottle. When kids start using their imagination they can get pretty creative with hiding their drugs. Don’t be disappointed in yourself if you don’t find them and you know they are using. Just be aware and pay attention. Where your kids are hiding their drugs may become a little more apparent to you if you just open your eyes a little bit to what your kids are doing in their spare time.

If you or someone you know needs treatment for their addiction call us at 800-951-6135 or visit us online at www.palmpartners.com