HOPE - How Far Do Your Kids Need to Go to Get High?

Unfortunately, not very far. Surprisingly to most of us, they don't even need to leave the house. Parents beware... your family medicine cabinet is the newest drug dealer in town.

Getting high using prescription medications and OTC (over the counter) medications has become an epidemic amongst our youth. As much as we would all like to believe that it is not happening here, in our own small town, the harsh reality is that it IS happening and in staggering proportions. As suburban parents we believe there is some sort of bubble protecting us and there just isn't. Parents need to understand the harsh truths of what their children are exposed to everyday.

Prescription drug abuse is a very serious problem and parents need to become aware and educate themselves as well as their children about the reality of this epidemic. We all need to know that experimentation of these substances can and will rapidly lead to addiction and even death.

The most commonly abused prescription drug amongst our teens are Pain Killers, such as Vicodin,Percosets, Rocisets, and Oxycontin. These drugs are classified as opiates. For those of you who do not know, the effects of opiates are very similar to the effects of heroin. The rapid addiction and painful withdrawals are synomomous with this most deadly drug. There is a definite pattern of addiction that develops quickly when using these drugs. A serious addiction can develop by swallowing just one of these painkillers. As the addiction progresses, so does the teens tolerance. Before they know it, they begin crushing and snorting the pills to achieve the same effect as the time before. As tolerance for the drug increases, so does the amount needed. Street costs of these pills vary but can go for as much as $40.00 per pill. When the cost of feeding the addiction becomes too much, the addict is forced to use a cheaper substitute. All of a sudden the teen finds himself doing heroin. A bag of heroin can be bought for as little as $5-$10 dollars. Most kids would never dream that getting a hold of that first pain pill could lead to a lifelong heroin addiction. It can and it will.

Parents, scrutinize your medicine cabinets. Hide prescription medications. Throw away old prescription that are no longer needed and take an inventory of what is in that cabinet. While you are there, take notice of what OTC cold medications are there. Are you aware that teens are using cold medications such as Coridicin D and Robitussin to get high? The key ingredient in cold and cough medicines is DXM, or dextromethorphan, and since there are over 100 medicines that use DXM, it is readily available in most people's medicine cabinets. DXM, taken in high doses will cause hallucinations and out of body experiences. Dextromethorphan appeals to teens because it "is easily and legally available in most pharmacies and large grocery stores. Our kids are taking these medications in lethal doses They are relatively inexpensive and in many cases, just one package can cause hallucinations. Thus the term Robo-tripping. To really understand just how dangerous and wide spread this problem is go on the internet and google the term" Robotripping." Not only will you be able to view "You tube " videos made by teens of themselves tripping on DXM, but there is limitless information advising our teens on how to achieve the best high when using these medications.

A young Nutley boy who wishes to remain anonymous recently confided that he remembers a night that he swallowed close to 50 Coricidin pills.(Triple C's, or Skittles as known on the streets) He remembers not being able to talk or walk, and thinking to himself that he was going to die. "My friends just kept pouring milk down my throat hoping to make me vomit. They stayed with me all night long and were prepared to call my parents if I fell into a coma or something". This teen was truly fortunate that he survived this experience but not all stories end this way. Cases of overdoses of DXM have been reported to result in cerebral hemorrhages, brain damage, stroke, or even death.

Awareness is the first step to prevention. Educate yourself and stay informed about what is going on with your kids. Even a parent who is convinced that her child would not ever get involved with drugs ,should never say never. It only takes one moment. A moment of weakness, curiousity, peer pressure, or just plain boredom. It is up to you, the parent to protect your child. Arm yourself in this battle. Arm yourself with knowledge and awareness and learn how to prevent your child from being just another statistic.