Dangerous Drug Trends Among Kids

It’s only natural for kids to experiment and test their boundaries. When they begin experimenting with drugs, though, it’s time to act – immediately. And innovative teens and pre-teens continue to find creative new ways to get high, so parents need to be on the alert. First it was cough syrup and gasoline, now it’s energy drinks, computer cleaner and prescription drugs scored from Mom and Dad’s medicine cabinet.

Energy drinks are legal and kids love them, but elementary school students are gulping down these highly caffeinated beverages at an alarming rate. It’s no wonder students are winding up in the nurse’s office with heart palpitations. Also growing in popularity are caffeinate gel strips that go by the brand name “Sheets.” You put one on your tongue and get a caffeine buzz equal to a cup of coffee. But kids are putting as many as five or six in their mouths at a time. This is particularly dangerous because three or four can result in a caffeine overdose, causing seizures, stroke or even death according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Huffing isn’t a new trend -- kids learned ages ago that they can get a free high by inhaling common household products from glue to shoe polish -- but experts have started to see an increase in teens huffing one product in particular: Dust-Off. Sold at office supply stores as a computer cleaner, when inhaled it can produce a high lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. It’s almost immediate effect is one of the big selling points. Unfortunately, it can also cause nausea, nosebleeds, impaired coordination and even death.

Pill parties can be even more dangerous. This continuing trend has teens scouring their parents’ or grandparents’ medicine cabinets, raiding them for drugs like Xanax, Percocet, Valium and OxyContin. The pills are all collected in a bowl, bag or simply thrown on a table for teens to partake of by the handful. And they do, usually washing down the powerful prescription drugs with alcohol. Also called “pharm parties” or "Skittles parties" (named for the bright colored pills). According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more people die each year from prescription painkiller overdoses than from heroin and cocaine overdoses combined. But don’t just flush your unused or unwanted pills – that sends them into the water supply. Instead, contact the CDC for safe ways to dispose of unneeded meds.

Drug Addiction Help at The Canyon

If you or someone you love needs help with drug addiction, call The Canyon at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.