Un blog de nuestra lider Alexis Vargas: Abrazos, no Drogas

De acuerdo con la American Academy Child and Adolescent Psychiatrylas, las cinco drogras más utilizados por los adolescentes son la mariguana, medicamentos recetados, éxtasis, inhalantes, cocaína y heroína. Muchos adolescentes empiezan a consumir drogas a una edad muy joven, porque quieren quedar bien delante de sus amigos preocupados de que no podrán ser parte de un circulo de amigos o también puede ser la curiosidad.

Lo que los jóvenes no tienen en mente son las consecuencias de corto y largo plazo que tienen las drogas .La cocaína, restringe el flujo sanguíneo al cerebro, acelera el ritmo cardíaco y causa la coagulación sanguínea, lo que aumenta la posibilidad de sufrir un derrame cerebral o un ataque al corazón. La cocaína también limita la capacidad del cuerpo para combatir infecciones. No sólo eso, pero el usuario también está en mayor riesgo de tener hepatitis, enfermedades de transmisión sexual y VIH / SIDA. La heroína causa colapso de las venas, infección bacteriana de los vasos sanguíneos y las válvulas del corazón.

Algunos adolescentes piensan que la mariguana no es una gran cosa y no afecta el cuerpo. De hecho, genera problemas respiratorios, como tos y sibilancias. También aumenta la posibilidad de resfriados de pecho. El uso intensivo diario de la mariguana afecta las partes del cerebro que controlan la memoria, la atención y el aprendizaje. Por otra parte, aquellos que toman los inhalantes sufren de insuficiencia cardíaca. Los inhalantes también pueden causar asfixia, debilidad muscular, falta de coordinación y puede dañar gravemente los órganos vitales.

Finalmente, una de las razones por cual las drogas recetadas son abusados es ​​por que son fácil de obtener. El uso de drogas prescritas de forma no adecuada pueden llevar a cambios de humor, vómito, disminución de la capacidad de pensar y también puede disminuir la función respiratoria. Ahora que usted esta consciente de las consecuencias que las drogas traen tome la decisión correcta, y mantengase libre de drogas.

A blog from our leader Alexis Vargas : Hugs not Drugs

According to the American Academy Child and Adolescent Psychiatry the five drugs most used by teens are marijuana, prescription drugs, ecstasy, inhalants, cocaine and heroin. Many teenagers start using drugs at a very young age because they want to look good in front of their friends worried that they might not fit in or it may just be curiosity.What teens are not aware of are the short and long term consequences.

Cocaine, restricts blood flow to the brain, speeds up the heart rate and causes blood clotting, which increases the possibility of having a stroke or a heart attack. Cocaine also limits the body’s ability to fight infections. Not only that, but the user is also in greater risk of having hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/Aids. On the other hand heroin causes collapsed veins, bacterial infection of the blood vessels and heart valves, including kidney and liver disease.

Some teenagers think that marijuana is not a big deal and does not affect the body. In fact, it causes breathing problems, including coughing and wheezing. It also increases the possibility of chest colds. Heavy daily use of marijuana affects parts of the brain that control memory, attention and learning. Furthermore, those who take inhalants suffer from heart failure. Inhalants also cause suffocation, muscle weakness, lack of coordination and can seriously hurt vital organs.

Finally, one of the reasons why prescribed drugs are commonly abused by teens is because it is easy to obtain. Using prescribed drugs for the wrong reasons can lead to vomiting, mood changes, decreased ability to think and can also decrease respiratory function. Now that you are aware of the consequences that drugs bring make the right choice and stay drug free.

How An Addiction Can Take Over Your Life By Hannah Davis

There are many types of addiction out there just waiting to tempt us. It could be food for one person, cigarettes for another, video games for someone else, or even pornography. No matter what type of addiction you have, it is a problem. When many people hear “addiction,” they think “drug addiction”, which is what we will talk about today.

Addiction is defined by dictionary.com as “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma”. This means not only is what you are doing harming you mentally, physically, or both, you can’t stop.

At the point of addiction you have lost the ability to control your desires. Your body will go through withdrawal if you don’t get your fix. Have you ever tried to have a day with no coffee even though you normally have two or three cups? You may have gotten a headache or some other symptoms of withdrawal because your body is trying to adjust to the change. These symptoms differ with whatever drug you are addicted to and can be very painful.

In addition to being hooked, people who are addicted will need more and more of the substance they are addicted to as they build a tolerance. Once you have a tolerance it becomes necessary to take more in order to get the same effects.

Psychologically, a person on drugs may start to lie and steal in order to obtain their drugs. Their personality most likely will change as the drug takes over their life. Their drug use may be their misguided attempt to suppress their feelings or deal with problems that are occurring in their lives. No matter how bad things seem to be you should never resort to using drugs! Once you start it is all too easy to get addicted.

Trying to get over an addiction is a very hard thing to do. Quitting is most likely the hardest thing people will ever have to do. For instance, imagine your favorite food. What if you could never eat it again? It’s hard to let go of something that makes you feel good, right? Now imagine trying to stop taking something that is addicting, which you seem to need in order to survive.

There are many ways to quit drugs. Cold turkey is when you simply stop using the drug. While it sounds like a reasonable way, it isn’t always the best. The sudden stop can be very hard if you are dealing with a serious addiction. It may be easier and you may be more successful if the drug is slowly taken away. This can include cutting back on the number of drinks you are allowed to have in a night. If every week you take one away, you may be able to slowly adjust your body to the change.

Another great way is to talk to someone. Getting help and advice from your doctor is a good start. Most likely they will have dealt with others who have struggled just like you. They may have tips on how to quit and be able to explain what you may encounter on your journey to quitting, such as withdrawal symptoms and cravings you may experience. You can also talk to a psychologist who will help you discover why you started abusing drugs in the first place. This may help keep you from ever doing drugs again.

Try changing who you hang out with. If your friends are still smoking pot and you were addicted to smoking pot, don’t hang out with them! The temptation will be too much and may lead you to using again. Find new people and places to go that don’t involve those situations. By removing the temptation and starting over you will remove the chances of falling back into your addiction.

So what if you have finally overcome your addiction? Is it all over now? Sadly the answer is no. You will always have some temptation or thoughts that could lead you away from staying clean. If you do relapse you must try again to get your addiction back under control. Joining a support group may help keep you clean and be a friendly and open place to discuss your experiences and feelings as well as hear others.

If you want to see more tips for recovery check out Teens Health at http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/addictions.html# to see how you can get better or help a friend through this rough time.

Energy drinks + Booze = Underage Drinking?

I've never understood the appeal of energy drinks. Don't misunderstand, I consume as much caffeine as every other American, which is about 3 cups of coffee per day. My buzz comes from coffee with nonfat milk, and occasionally a latte. I am not really a mocha-caramel-blendy-sugar-free-frappe-venti kind of person. I have always thought that energy drinks taste something like watered-down cough syrup, so they have never replaced coffee as my pick-me-up of choice.

Apparently, I am in the minority. Energy drinks are incredibly popular, especially among teens and young adults. Over one-third 12-to 24-year-olds say they consume energy drinks on a regular basis, which generates more than $3 billion in annual sales in the United States. Energy drinks typically have twice the caffeine as a a caffeinated cola beverage, but still not as much as a cup of coffee. The problem is that energy drinks are cold, and therefore easier to guzzle than a hot cup of Starbucks, so people tend to drink greater quantities faster.

In addition to Red Bull, Amp, and Monster, alcoholic energy drinks such as Sparks, Tilt, Four Loko, and Joose have surged in popularity over the last few years. According to a study in the medical journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, those who consume energy drinks and alcohol together often feel less drunk due to the large quantity of caffeine.

So what does this have to do with underage drinking? New York Senator Charles Schumer is urging the Federal Trade Commission to look at how these products are being marketed to young people. "He said 24-ounce cans of Four Loko and Joose are designed to appear hip with flashy colors and funky designs with appeal to younger consumers. They come in flavors such as grape and orange and can cost as little as $2.50 a can." Schumer states that these colorful drink containers may confuse parents, police officers, and even store employees, making it easier for underage drinkers to secure access to alcohol.

Despite the fact that it is illegal to sell alcohol to minors, teens are still getting their hands on the dangerous mix of caffeine and alcohol. In March, four teens from White Plains, New York landed in the hospital with alcohol poisoning after downing the fruity flavored Four Loko. Considering the beverage reportedly tastes like soda and has twice as much alcohol as beer, it does not seem far fetched that a young person might consume too much.

So other than underage drinking and the risk of alcohol poisoning, what is the real danger? Recently, alcohol and energy drink consumption was studied at ten North Carolina colleges. According to Dr. Mary Claire O’Brien, associate professor at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., college students who consume alcohol and energy drinks are far more likely to be injured or require medical treatment while drinking as opposed to peers who only consumed alcohol. Researchers also discovered that those who mixed energy drinks with alcohol were more likely to be victims or perpetrators of sexual assault.

Have you ever tried one of these alcoholic energy drinks? Are they easy for underage drinkers to score? What can adults do to keep teens safe?

Thinking about drinking and driving this weekend?

I shouldn't have to tell you that driving under the influence is a phenomenally bad idea, but if there was ever a weekend to be sober on the road it is Fourth of July weekend.

Although people usually consider New Years Eve to be the deadliest day on the road, Fourth of July weekend accounts for 43 percent of all alcohol related deaths. In other words, Fourth of July weekend is the deadliest weekend of the year.

It may seem like this message is purely for the young adults (21 and up) who follow the Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition, but there are plenty of underage drinkers getting behind the wheel too! According to the CDC, 25% of drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Since motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth ages 15-20, that means over a quarter of these deaths are attributed to alcohol.

What else should you know if you are driving this weekend? Well, if you live in Sonoma County, you should be prepared for County-wide DUI checkpoints all weekend. The first is scheduled for Friday night in Santa Rosa. So, if you are driving under the influence this weekend know this:

If you are 21 or older and have a BAC of 0.08% or higher you will lose your license for 4 months.

If you are under the age of 21 and you have a BAC of 0.01% (that's barely anything at all) you will lose your license for 1 year!

The entire Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition wishes everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend. So, how are you going to stay safe this weekend? Comment on our Facebook page and let us know and you will be entered into our contest of the month! We can't wait to hear your tips!

Another addiction

"What does tanning have to do with mental health?"

I used to have a coworker who would lie in a tanning bed every single day on her lunch break. When we would arrive at our cubicles at 7:30am she would declare "I can't wait until I get to go tan!"

"You are so addicted!" I would tell her.

Now it appears maybe I was right all along. According to researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and State University at Albany, a study was recently done that may prove tanning beds have addictive properties similar to alcohol and drug addiction. Researchers used criteria similar to that used to assess addiction, such as waking up first thing in the morning and craving tanning or skipping social or work obligations to go to the tanning salon. Out of the 229 participants who stated they used tanning beds, 70 to 90 showed signs of being addicted.
We now know that spending time in a tanning bed is riskier than lying out poolside because the ultraviolet radiation is more concentrated. According to researchers, spending time in an indoor tanning bed increases your risk of skin cancer by a whopping 75 percent!

So why would anyone go to a tanning salon if it not only increases your risk of cancer, but is also very addictive? It seems like people would prefer to be pasty year-round. “Some scientists have hypothesized that a similar physiological mechanism underlies addiction to tanning and substance abuse." It looks like the more you tan, the harder it is to stop, just like abusing alcohol and drugs.

Following that philosophy, just like alcohol and drugs, it is easier to never start tanning than to have to quit. Click on the photo above to read the whole New York Times Article.