Parents Can Stop Drug Abuse

A recent survey showed that while many parents were concerned about the level of education their children might receive, only half were aware of a drug problem in their child’s school.

Interestingly enough, the number one reason for stress among children surveyed was not who was going to the prom, or what grade they would get on the next test.

It was stress related to drugs, in school, in friends, in peer pressure to use or try drugs.

“Many parents turn a blind eye to the fact that every day their children are under pressure to use drugs,” comments Mary Rieser, Executive Director for Narconon Drug Rehab Georgia. “One drug that in particular is being abused is Ritalin. Crushed and snorted, this drug has the same effect as cocaine, and is just as addictive.

“Talk to your child about drug abuse, especially prescription drugs such as Ritalin or Adderall. Studies show that at some point or other, no matter what the school they go to, they will be offered an illegal drug by the time they graduate. Learn the facts, and tell your children.

“Just because you raised them well does not mean that they will say no to drugs. With your help they can.

“Ritalin has been prescribed to hundreds of thousands of children, many who were mis-diagnosed. Their friends then buy or ask them for the pills, making Ritalin one of the most abused drugs in school yards.

All stimulants work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a brain chemical (or neurotransmitter) associated with pleasure, movement, and attention. The therapeutic effect of stimulants is achieved by slow and steady increases of dopamine, which are similar to the natural production by the brain. The doses prescribed by physicians start low and increase gradually until a therapeutic effect is reached. However, when taken in doses and routes other than those prescribed, stimulants can increase brain dopamine in a rapid and highly amplified manner as do most other drugs of abuse, disrupting normal communication between brain cells, producing euphoria, and increasing the risk of addiction.

One of the most controversial issues in child psychiatry is whether the use of stimulant medications to treat ADHD increases the risk of substance abuse in adulthood.

Why and How is Ritalin Abused?
 
Ritalin, a stimulant, has been abused for both “performance enhancement” and recreational purposes (i.e., to get high). For the former, they suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss, increase wakefulness, and increase focus and attention. Their euphoric effects usually occur when stimulants are crushed and snorted or injected. Some abusers dissolve the tablets in water and inject the mixture; however, complications can arise from this because insoluble fillers in the tablets can block small blood vessels.

What Adverse Effects Does Prescription Stimulant Abuse Have on Health?

Stimulants can increase blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and decrease sleep and appetite, which can lead to malnutrition and its consequences. At high doses, they can lead to serious cardiovascular complications, including stroke. Repeated use of stimulants can lead to feelings of hostility and paranoia.

Addiction to stimulants is also a very real consideration for anyone taking them without medical supervision, and is more likely to occur when the stimulant induces a rapid rise in brain dopamine, as is the case when they are taken in doses and routes other than those prescribed. If used chronically, withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, depression, and disturbed sleep patterns can emerge when the drugs are discontinued.

How Widespread is Prescription Stimulant Abuse?

Each year, the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey assesses the extent of drug use among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders nationwide. For amphetamines and methylphenidate (Ritalin), the survey measures only past-year use, which refers to use at least once during the year preceding an individual’s response to the survey.

Use outside of medical supervision was first measured in the study in 2001; it has been falling since then, with total declines of between 25 percent and 42 percent at each grade level. MTF data for 2007 indicate past-year non-medical use of Ritalin by 2.1 percent of 8th graders, 2.8 percent of 10th graders, and 3.8 percent of 12th graders.

*Source: NIDA.gov

For more information on drug addiction rehab, prescription drug abuse, or drug education, call Narconon of Georgia at 1-877-413-3073.

Copyright © 2008. Narconon of Georgia Inc.(www.drugsno.com) Call 1-877-413-3073. All rights reserved. Narconon and the Narconon Logo are trademarks and service marks owned by the Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.