Drug Trends in central PA workshop 9-28-2011

DRUG CULTURE AMONG CHILDREN
AND YOUTH: A ravaged generation
Michael Burns – D&A Counselor
PATH Adolescent Male Halfway House
Middleburg, PA

DRUG CULTURE: A ravaged generation
• Drug Culture
– American Culture Drives Teen Substance Use
– In Central PA
– Drugs in Central PA
• Why Substance Abuse?
– Needed healing
– How easy is it get?
• How do we fight back?
As parents, siblings, neighbors and leaders,
we must work together and remain vigilant
in our efforts to generate greater
awareness about the dangers of substance
misuse and the suffering, violence and
death that far too often results when our
children use alcohol and other drugs. We
must encourage our teens to make the
right choices, resist peer pressure and
recognize that substance use by teens can
have life-altering and tragic consequences.
-- Lucille Roybal-Allard
Congresswoman (CA-34)

AMERICAN CULTURE DRIVES TEEN SUBSTANCE USE
• Strong parental disapproval of substance use can help offset
cultural messages promoting substance use, but too many
parents by their own attitudes or behaviors further increase
the chances that their teens will use:
• 59% Nearly half (46.1 percent) of children under age 18 (34.4
million) live in a household where someone age 18 or older
engages in risky substance use; 45.4 percent (33.9 million) live
with a parent who is a risky substance user.
• Less than half (42.6 percent) of parents list refraining from
smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, using marijuana,
misusing prescription drugs or using other illicit drugs as one
of their top three concerns for their teens, and 20.8 percent
characterize marijuana as a harmless drug.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – June 2011
http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf

• In 2005, 28.1 percent of 9th graders and 19.9 percent
of 12th graders reported having been victims of
bullying at school in the past six months. Teens who
are bullied are likelier than those who have not been
bullied to engage in substance use, whether the
bullying is physical or mental such as rumors, teasing or
threats, and whether the bullying occurs through face-
to-face interactions or online. One study found that
teens who experience online harassment or online
sexual solicitation are twice as likely as other teens to
report multiple types of substance use.
AMERICAN CULTURE DRIVES TEEN SUBSTANCE USE

DRUG CULTURE
• We must understand that substance abuse
culture is
– An all accepting immediate friendship
• It does not care if you have friends or not, if your parents
are married or not, how tall or how much you weight. It
does not care your religious, ethnic or financial
background.
– It is all-inclusive
– …I lived in Denmark…
Understanding the consequences of teen
substance use is a big deal. It affects the child,
the parent, the school and our tax bill. We need
to face these consequences squarely and do all
we can to prevent them.
--Darrell Thompson
Former NFL Running Back, Green Bay Packers
Executive Director, Bolder Options

• Of the 13.2 million high school students in the United States,
1.6 million meet clinical criteria for an alcohol or other drug
use disorder involving nicotine, alcohol or other drugs, yet
only 99,913 (6.4 percent of those with an alcohol or other
drug use disorder) have received treatment† in the past year
• In 2009, 32.0 percent of all substance related reports in
emergency department visits made by patients ages 12 to 17
were alcohol related and 18.7 percent were marijuana related.
• More than one in six (17.8 percent) children under age 18
(13.3 million) live in a household where someone age 18 or
older has a substance use disorder;† 16.9 percent (12.6
million) live with a parent who has the disorder.
DRUG CULTURE

DRUG CULTURE IN CENTRAL PA
• The use of certain substances varies
depending on
– what law enforcement is cracking down on in each
area
– what is available in each area based on demand,
supply, price, the local economy, etc.
It is important to remind young people, their
parents and others that marijuana is not a
beginning drug Marijuana can be addictive; it
interferes with critical brain functions, like
learning and memory.
--Nora D. Volkow, MD
Director National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

DRUG CULTURE IN CENTRAL PA
• No longer are the drugs of choice just
– Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Alcohol
• Today we deal with these and
– Meth, Synthetics/ Designer (Bath Salts, K-2/
Spice), DXM, Prescription meds
The major worry of teen substance use is not
the addiction; it is overdose, accidents,
contraction of diseases, etc. It is harder to
anticipate these kinds of risks.
--A. Thomas McLellan, PhD
Director Center for Substance Abuse Solutions
University of Pennsylvania

Designer drugs are pharmaceuticals, created or
reformulated (if the drug already exists) to avoid
current laws (such as the Control Substance Act) by
modifying the molecular structures of drugs to varying
degrees.
History of Synthetic hallucinogens (modifications of LSD
and PCP) in the 1960’s, MDMA (ecstasy and
methcathinone in the 1980’s.
Synthetic cannabinoids
• are marketed under dozens of product names including
Zombie World, Bad to the Bone, Black Mamba, Blaze, Fire
and Ice, Dark Night, Earthquak, Berry Blend, The Moon and
G-Force. Dispensed in small packets (1-5 grams each),
nearly all contain the moniker “herbal incense,” along with
the disclaimer “not for human consumption.”
http://www.ndcrc.org/content/spice-k2-and-problem-synthetic-cannabinoids
DRUGS IN CENTRAL PA

• In Pennsylvania (on June 23, 2011), SB 1006 was passed by the House, Senate
and approved by the Governor. This bill SB 1006 bans 6 synthetic cathinones
including MDPV and Mephedrone (this PA bill bans the same 6 synthetic
cathinones that NJ banned on April, 28, 2011). This Act became law on
08/22/11.
• This bill is also proposing to ban Salvia divinorum & Salvinorin A, and 8
synthetic cannabinoids and their analogues.
• An amendment added to the PA SB 1006 also includes language barring all
chemicals that are similar to the substances that are currently found in bath
salts, synthetic cannabinoids and 2C (hallucinogens such as 2C-E, 2C-I, 2C-P, 2C-
H and their analogues, congeners, homologues, isomers, salts and salts of
analogues, congeners, homologues and isomers), and prohibits those chemical
compounds from being used to create the same effect as the current bath
salts, sytnthetic cannabinoids and 2C chemical structures.
• This addition to the law will make Pennsylvania’s the strongest such law in the
nation.
Glen Duncan
http://www.slideshare.net/Guedde/mdpv-bath-salts-emerging-drug-trends
DRUGS IN CENTRAL PA

3, 4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone - MDPV (Bath Salts)
• What is MDPV (bath salts) The term ‘bath salts’ refer to commercially available
products that have as part of their composition a legal stimulant (synthetic
cathinone) called 3, 4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV.
• Currently illegal in New Jersey, however legal nationally (though 3 synthetic
cathinones are in the process of being temporarily banned nationally, MDPV,
Mephedrone and Methylone). They are sold mostly on the internet, but can also
be found in select shops locally. They're known by a variety of names, including
“Red Dove,” “Blue Silk,” “Zoom,” “Bloom,” “Cloud Nine,” “Ocean Snow,” “Lunar
Wave,” “Vanilla Sky,” “Ivory Wave,” “White Lightning,” “Scarface” “Purple Wave,”
“Blizzard,” “Star Dust,” “Lovey, Dovey,” “Snow Leopard,” “Aura,” and “Hurricane
Charlie.” While they have become popular under the guise of selling as ‘ bath
salts ’, they are sometimes sold as other products such as insect repellant , or
plant food with names like “Bonsai Grow” among others.
• Much like the marketing of Synthetic Cannabinoids (Spice/K2) as incense, MDPV
has been market as “bath salts” and just like Spice/K2 MDPV is specifically
labeled “not for human consumption.”
http://www.slideshare.net/Guedde/mdpv-bath-salts-emerging-drug-trends
DRUGS IN CENTRAL PA

“Robitussin high” (Robo Tripping)
• is derived from abusing Robitussin, a common cough and cold product,
and when taken in recreational doses, which far exceed recommended
doses, the user may experience a “high.” This Robitussin high is caused by
the excessive dose of dextromethorphan, a common ingredient found in
many cough medications, including Robitussin. When such medications
are abused they become a dissociative drug.* Teens often buy Robitussin
because it is a recognized cough and cold brand. Also, many of the slang
terms surrounding DXM abuse are spin-offs from the Robitussin brand,
such as “Robo Tripping.”
Statistics on Teen Abuse of Rx and Over-the-Counter Medicine:
• The Partnership’s 18th annual study of teen drug trends confirms that
Generation Rx has arrived as an alarming number of today’s teenagers are
more likely to have abused Rx and OTC medications than a variety of
illegal drugs like Ecstasy, cocaine, crack and meth. Nearly one in five
teens (19 percent or 4.5 million) report abusing prescription medications
to get high; and one in 10 (10 percent or 2.4 million) report abusing
cough medicine to get high.”
http://www.dxmstories.com/robitussin_high.html
DRUGS IN CENTRAL PA

WHY SUBSTANCE ABUSE?
• We can try to address the behavior only.
or we can get to the root of the addiction/behavior
PATH of Life Relationship based Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy Model (CBT)
• What needs to be done?
– Find out the cause of addiction.
• Find It, Feel It, Face It, Forgive It, Forge Ahead!
I believe that my drug use was a result of the
culture of American youth. I did these things
because they are the norm.
--Eric
A person in recovery

HOW EASY IS IT TO GET DRUGS?
Meth, Synthetics/ Designer (Bath Salts, K-2/
Spice), DXM, Prescription meds
VERY EASYAs much as I’d like my kids to never do
anything that’s addictive I do know it's a
part of growing up and if you shun
everything, then I believe a child will
rebel.
--Parent Participant
CASA Focus Group with
Parents of High School Students
I think many parents need educating
themselves. I have heard of so many parents
permitting underage drinking in their homes.
They use the excuse, 'Well, I would rather them
do it in my house than somewhere else.’ This
creates an atmosphere of acceptance which I
believe contributes to the abuse.
--CASA Focus Group with

HOW DO WE COMBAT THIS RAVAGING?
• Treat the root to the use/ addiction/ behavior
• Do not just treat the addiction/ behavior
Trigger – Thought – Feeling – Action
A COMMUNITY NETWORK
– Parental Involvement
– Role Models and Positive Peer Influences
– Future Goals
– School, Community Engagement w/ Athletic
Involvement
– Religious Involvement

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
• CASA’s survey of high school students conducted for this study found
that 80.1 percent report that their parents’ concerns, opinions or
expectations either “very much” (50.9 percent) or “somewhat” (29.2
percent) influence whether or how much they smoke cigarettes, drink
alcohol or use other drugs. Perhaps surprising to parents is that the
majority (79.5 percent) of teens also say that they feel having a good
relationship with their parents is “somewhat” or “very” cool.
• A significant body of evidence shows that a positive family
environment and positive parenting practices related to affection,
support, monitoring, rules, discipline and reward are associated with
reduced risk of teen substance use.
It's got to be confronted. We are parents. And
parents need to quit trying to keep from
offending our children. We are their parents--
not their buddies.
--CASA Focus Group with

ROLE MODELS AND POSITIVE PEER
• Teens who have the guidance of positive adult role models and the
companionship of positive peer influences26 are at reduced risk of
substance abuse.
• Not every child has the benefit of a healthy family life. Yet there is some
evidence that adolescents who have non-parental positive adult role
models‡ are significantly less likely than other adolescents to use
tobacco and illicit drugs.
• One study found that, compared to teens who report no role model,
those who report a teacher as a role model are less likely to be current
smokers, drinkers or marijuana users.* Adolescents who see athletes as
the role models are more likely to be current smokers and drinkers, but
are less likely to use marijuana.
I believe that my drug use was a result of the
culture of American youth. I did these things
because they are the norm.
--Eric
A person in recovery

FUTURE GOALS
• Teens who want to succeed in school and who
have goals for the future are at reduced risk of
substance use.
• CASA’s survey of high school students found that
students who have never smoked, used alcohol
or used marijuana are more likely than their
peers who have engaged in one or more of these
behaviors to believe it is very important that they
get good grades and to feel that they are able to
achieve the goals they set for themselves.

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
ATHLETIC INVOLVEMENT
• Adolescents’ participation in extracurricular activities
generally is associated with reduced risk of substance
use. Student athletes, while at increased risk for using
smokeless tobacco, alcohol and anabolic steroids, are
less likely than non-athletes to smoke cigarettes or use
illicit drugs, including marijuana.
http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED521379.pdf Prevention is the foundation of our public
health system and of my work as Surgeon
General. One of the greatest challenges we
face is preventing teen substance use and
related risky behaviors.
--Vice Admiral Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA
U.S. Surgeon General

RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT
• Religious involvement or religiosity—devotion to religion--is associated
with reduced substance use risk among adolescents. Religious
institutions and organizations not only view teen substance use as
inappropriate and dangerous behavior, but also may create an
interpersonal network of support for adolescents that helps protect
them from pro-substance use influences.
• In CASA’s survey of high school students, two thirds reported that
religion is “somewhat” or “very” important to their family (65.4 percent)
and that they attend religious services at least once a month (66.0
percent). Approximately one in four (26.3 percent) attribute the decision
by some of their peers to refrain from drinking or using other drugs to
religion or spirituality.
• CASA’s 2010 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse
XV: Teens and Parents found that teens who attend religious services at
least four times a month are less likely to smoke, drink or use marijuana
than teens who attend religious services less frequently.

PREVENTION:
WE KNOW WHAT WORKS BUT FAIL TO ACT
• In the case of substance use and addiction, the key target group is teens
because the vast majority of cases of addiction are rooted in substance use
that began during the teen years, and because of the enormous range of
social and health consequences associated with teen use
• Helping the public understand that teen substance use is a health concern
and understand the consequences of adolescent substance use, factors that
increase the risk that teens will use, the link between early use and
addiction, ways to prevent adolescent substance use and how best to
respond if a problem is identified.
• Incorporating screening and early intervention into routine health care
practice and into health services offered through schools, child welfare
programs and juvenile justice systems.
• Providing targeted prevention and intervention services
– Youth Centers, Mentoring Programs, Faith based resources, Target resources,
Networking.

Drug Trends in central PA workshop 9-28-2011

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