Kentucky Partnership for Families and Children

Substance abuse has long been an issue of concern for youth and their parents, and especially those youth with social, emotional, and/or behavioral disabilities. It’s not a new problem but an ongoing problem that seems to grow worse with every generation. Substance abuse in adolescents typically manifests itself in the form of tobacco, alcohol and more commonly, inhalants. Recent reports detail many new ways of getting “high” many times with common household products, and all are exceptionally dangerous.

CAUSES
Each mental health disorder and substance abuse problem has its own underlying genetic and/or environmental cause. The condition of Co-Occurring Disorders, on the other hand, does not. A Co-Occurring Disorder often begins when an individual uses drugs to “self-medicate” their symptoms of mental health illness or side effects of their prescribed medications. These people feel that they can reduce their level of anxiety or depression, at least temporarily. Social factors may also play a major role in contributing to the condition. As a consequence of their mental illness, they may end up living in neighborhoods where drug use is common. Furthermore, since their mental illness may make them outcast to many groups, they may resort to joining groups whose social activity is based on drug use.

WHAT’S NEW: INHALANTS
Inhalants are becoming increasingly popular because they are inexpensive and sold legally for their original purpose. Some household items that are commonly used to get high are canned spray paint, dusting spray, and aerosol air fresheners. More dangerously, there has been a trend of youth using the “canned air” spray used to clean between the keys on a keyboard. This has become popular as a “safe high” because many youth think that it is only compressed air contained in the can, and that the release of the air is what creates the high. The reality is that there is also a solvent used for cleaning in the can which can have long term, damaging effects. Slang terms for inhalant use include “whippets”, “poppers”, and “snappers”.

THE CHOKING GAME
More terrifying is the new trend called “The Choking Game”. The Choking Game usually involves more than one youth, so as to prevent an accidental death, choking each other or themselves until they pass out. The high comes from cutting off air supply to the brain, then when the pressure is released, the rush of blood back to the brain. This game is played repeatedly, sometimes up to four hours at a time, according to one report.
When not using their own hands, youth use ropes, belts, or anything that can be used to create a strangulation device to go around one’s neck. If played alone while using one of these methods, the player passes out before he or she can remove the strangulation device, and therefore can choke to death. In many cases, these deaths have been mistaken for suicides.
Some warning signs to look for with the choking game are:
o Rope, plastic bag, tie, towels or belts tied strangely near your child
o Bloodshot eyes
o Headaches
o Marks on child’s neck
Some reports note that those who participate in the choking game know that drugs are dangerous, but don’t understand the seriousness of this game.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Many adolescents take prescription drugs for valid reasons, especially those adolescents with a diagnosed mental health challenge. The danger comes when prescription drugs are taken for the wrong reasons, which happens all too often.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), which is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the three most common prescription drugs abused are:
-Opioids-which are often prescribed to treat pain (i.e., OxyContin, Vicodin, Demerol, or codeine)
-Central Nervous System Depressants-for treating anxiety disorders and sleep disorders (i.e., Mebaral, Valium, or Xanax), and
-Stimulants-for treating narcolepsy and ADHD (i.e., Dexedrine or Ritalin)

One of the best ways to monitor for prescription drug abuse is to check how often your child’s medications need to be refilled. If it seems a little often, your child may be abusing, or even selling his or her prescriptions.

NICOTINE & ALCOHOL
Sometimes when a parent thinks about drug abuse, it’s easy to forget that alcohol and nicotine are just as addictive and just as damaging as other drugs. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that tobacco is still the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S., causing around 440,000 premature deaths per year and around $75 billion in direct health care costs.
Drinking alcohol starting at an early age can have long term affects as well. Alcohol can also have dangerous long term affects, such as a reduction in learning ability, impaired decision making, increase in unhealthy risk taking, and a possibility of alcoholism.

FOR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS
Here are some tips on how to talk to your kids about drugs:
▪Listen and keep communication lines open
▪Role play how to say “no”
▪Provide age appropriate information about drug use
▪Make sure your child knows using drugs is not okay with you
▪Be a good example
▪Build self-esteem
▪Repeat all of the above

Resources

National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Bethesda, MD 20892-9561
(301) 443-1124
information@nida.nih.gov, www.nida.nih.gov

Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free c/o The CDM Group, Inc.
7500 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 900
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 654-6740
leadership@alcoholfreechildren.org

Center for Disease Control (CDC)
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 5213
1-800-311-3435, www.cdc.gov

National Institute onAlcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
niaaaweb-r@exchange.nih.gov

KY Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
http://mhmr.ky.gov/mhsas
(502) 564-4448

Tips for Talking to Kids About Drugs
www.talkingwithkids.org/drugs

The Choking Game
http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/2005/235_jun29/choke.html

“Choking Game” Gaining in Popularity
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/137-12152005-584576.html

‘Choking Game’ A Deadly Trend
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/28/earlyshow/main712411.shtml