In the next 30 days, more than 10 million Americans under the age of 21 will drink alcohol. According to a 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 55 percent of kids will have tried alcohol by the time they are 20. These numbers are astounding not just because underage drinking is illegal, but also because of the many hazards of underage drinking.

According to one study, 31 percent of college students meet the criteria for alcohol abuse. Another 6 percent can be diagnosed with alcohol dependence. These same students may fail their classes, drive while drunk, injure themselves or others, vandalize property, be the victim of assault or sexual abuse, or die because of alcohol. Some of the statistics are unbelievable:

• 25 percent of college students report difficulty with classes, tests, and papers as a result of alcohol
• 11 percent of college students report vandalizing property while under the influence of alcohol
• Nearly 100,000 college students are victims of sexual assault or date rape every year because of alcohol
• Over 3 million people between the ages of 18 and 24 will drive while under the influence of alcohol

Part of the problem is that teenagers tend to binge drink. They get together at a party with getting drunk as the main goal. They participate in drinking games and challenges as the result of peer pressure. The definition of binge drinking is more than four drinks for women and five drinks for men in a two hour period.

There can be long term effects of drinking, especially binge drinking, at an early age. The teenage brain is still developing and alcohol can have an affect on that development. Teenagers that do not drink have a better memory than those that do drink. Women are especially prone to the effects of drinking on the developing mind. This may be related to the fact that women develop earlier than men. Teens of the same age can drink the same amount but women’s brains are at a different level of development.

Memory isn’t the only thing affected by binge drinking. Drinking alcohol causes the body to increase production of immune cells. These cells then attach to vessel walls. In the long term, this doubles the chance of having a heart attack. Binge drinking can also cause a spike in triglyceride levels in the body. This can cause pancreatitis.

Underage drinking is illegal yet kids are still getting access to alcohol. 65 percent of underage drinkers get alcohol from friends or family members. 7 percent get alcohol from a store that does not confirm age through identification. Only 3 percent are getting alcohol by using a fake ID. Many kids attend parties without knowledge of how the alcohol was acquired.

D.A.R.E. is a police officer led series of lessons that helps kids in kindergarten through twelfth grade live drug and violence free. The program started in 1983 in Los Angeles. It is now found in 75% of United States schools and 43 countries. D.A.R.E is so popular that the non-profit D.A.R.E. America was formed. D.A.R.E. America helps establish new D.A.R.E. programs, trains officers in the program, provides educational materials, helps in the development of curriculum, and promotes the program nationwide. Since 1988 there has been a National D.A.R.E. Day; in 2012 it was celebrated on April 5.

In addition to being police officers, those who teach D.A.R.E. go through training in child development, classroom management, and teaching techniques. Additional training is required in order to teach D.A.R.E. in a high school. All of this training is necessary because D.A.R.E. provides more than simple information about drugs, violence, and gangs. It also provides students with the skills they need to resist peer pressure.

Perhaps the most important part of the D.A.R.E. program is the relationship that is built between the students and the police officers. Without this program, students may see officers as harsh law enforcers. Through the program, students begin to see officers as helpful and knowledgeable people.

There is conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of the D.A.R.E. program. The D.A.R.E. website presents many studies in which the program is considered valuable. In a survey conducted in Illinois, 97% of teachers liked the program, 92.8% of parents thought the program was effective, and 86% of principals believe that kids who go through the program will be less likely to use drugs. A Texas survey of ninth graders showed that only 11.3% of D.A.R.E. participants used drugs heavily. This is compared with 18.6% of non-D.A.R.E. participants. A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse showed that starting the program early is important. Fifth graders that started a school-based prevention program in first grade were less likely to use alcohol or other drugs.

Other studies insist that D.A.R.E. is actually counterproductive. These studies show that doing nothing would be better than using the D.A.R.E. program. They point to data from the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Academy of Sciences. A Houston, Texas study showed a 29% increase in the use of drugs among D.A.R.E. participants. The U.S. Department of Education prohibits schools from using its funding towards a D.A.R.E. program because of the ineffectiveness. The Department of Education has also identified three programs that they believe are effective: Life Skills Training Program, Project ALERT, and Strengthening Families Program. These programs work for particular populations and are very expensive.

The idea of entering a residential rehabilitation center probably sounds scary. You may be picturing a sterile, white-walled (or perhaps padded walls) environment. You may think only strict, no-nonsense medical staff are available for your care. These ideas are fueled by the images of poorly run mental institutions from the past. While the main focus of a residential center is the detoxification and rehabilitation process, these facilities offer opportunities for fun, camaraderie, and education in a safe and comfortable environment.

What to expect at a residential rehabilitation center:
• A variety of counseling sessions
o One-on-one sessions with a licensed practitioner
o Group sessions
o Family sessions
o On-site or local 12-step program meetings
• Recreational Activities
o Many facilities offer an on-site or local gym with fitness classes
o There may be “field trips” to nearby outside recreational facilities like rock climbing walls or the ski slopes

• Educational opportunities
o Many facilities partner with local high schools and colleges. There may be opportunities to attend classes in-person or on-line depending on the school.

• Random drug testing

• Family visits

• Medical treatment
o This includes the administration of drugs to ease the pain of withdrawal symptoms
o If other medical issues arise, an on-site medical staff or local hospital will be available for treatment

• Personalized therapy sessions
o Artists may find relief in art therapy
o Musicians and dancers may find relief in music therapy

• Experiential clinical groups
o Patients may have opportunities to participate in new medical testing or therapeutic practices for their condition

• Around the clock staff support
o While most scheduled sessions will occur during normal hours, residents can expect trained staff to be on-site at all hours

• Volunteer opportunities
o These may be coordinated due to personal desire or because of court ordered community service hours
o Volunteering offers the opportunity to take part in the community

• Three meals a day
o Meals may be in a cafeteria setting or private in-room dining depending on the center or the needs of the particular resident
• Life skills training
o Residents may need to learn or re-learn how to care for themselves. This includes grocery shopping, maintaining a budget, having a good work ethic, and interview techniques.

• A treatment plan that fits the current needs of the specific resident
o There is no one size fits all program. Every person has different therapeutic, educational, and personal needs related to their addiction and rehabilitation process.

Pregnancy and drugs do not mix. The mother might not have long-lasting negative effects from using drugs while pregnant; unfortunately, that is rarely the case for the unborn child. Illicit drugs are the biggest concern for an unborn child but women should also talk to their doctor about possible issues with legal substances including over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, and caffeine. Anything eaten, smoked, snorted, or injected by a pregnant woman is also absorbed by the baby.

A 2005 survey by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration showed that more than 1 in 25 pregnant women had abused drugs during their pregnancy. Almost ten percent of pregnant women reported drinking alcohol during the survey month. In both cases, younger women have a higher tendency of using drugs or drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Cocaine
Babies born to mothers who used cocaine during pregnancy usually have cognitive deficits, trouble processing information, and difficulty paying attention to tasks. These issues usually appear later in childhood and cause serious problems with school, work, and life skills. These children tend to have smaller heads which is an indication of a lower IQ. Exposure to cocaine increases the chance of birth defects. These children may also have a stroke, heart attack, or seizure while in the womb which may result in death.

Marijuana
Statistically, if a woman is going to use an illegal drug while pregnant, it will be marijuana. Behavior problems are prevalent in children born to mothers who smoked marijuana during pregnancy. These children also have developmental delays and problems with memory and attention. Marijuana babies have a higher possibility of prematurity and/or low birth weight and many of the babies show signs of withdrawal when they are born.

Heroin
Unborn children can become dependent on this highly addictive drug while in the womb. These babies have a higher chance of being born prematurely, having a low birth weight, difficulty breathing, and death. Once born, these babies show signs of withdrawal including fever, trembling, diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures. Many doctors recommend that heroin addicted mothers seek treatment rather than abruptly stopping their heroin use while pregnant as this change may actually increase the chance of infant mortality.

Alcohol
Women should talk to their doctors before consuming alcohol while pregnant. Some doctors may allow a pregnant woman to drink small amounts of alcohol while pregnant but studies have shown that there is no specific safe amount. A baby born to a woman who drinks one glass of wine while pregnant may have the same issues as a baby born to a woman who drinks a case of beer every week. Children who have issues because of alcohol during pregnancy are said to have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. These issues can include abnormal facial features, growth deficiency, central nervous system problems, learning disabilities, or other physical problems.

There are many ways to find a drug rehab center. We have outlined some of the various ways you can do so. Please don’t hesitate to contact us either at California Recovery to get some assistance in obtaining the help that you may need.

Talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor about your problems with addiction. Give them as much information as you can. They can recommend a facility based on their assessment of the level of treatment you need.

Call different facilities. Ask them what a typical treatment session or day is like. Ask what methods of treatment they provide. Will they allow medication for symptoms of withdrawal? Are they an outpatient or residential facility? Do they offer one-on-one counseling sessions? Do they offer group counseling sessions? Does the facility specialize in treatment of a certain drug or population? It is important to find a facility where you feel comfortable. Ask enough questions to get a feel for the facility. If possible, visit the facility in person. Locate facilities near you by looking in the phone book or by using the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration Facility Locator (findtreatment.samhsa.gov/).

Ask about payment options. Does the center offer payment plans? Does the center accept your insurance? If money is not available for treatment, ask for a list of centers that have reduced or special rates.

Call your insurance company. Ask if there are facilities, or types of facilities, that are covered under your plan. Get information about co-payments and deductibles. Find out how many days or sessions are covered under your plan.

Consider how far away the facility is from your home. If you are going to an outpatient facility, it will be important for the facility to be convenient. Patients that have to go out of their way to get assistance may quit the program early. If you are going to a residential facility, consider whether or not you want to be close enough for family to visit.

Research the different types of facilities. People who go to an outpatient facility will visit the facility a certain number of days each week for treatment. These patients continue to live at home. Outpatient facilities are good for people who cannot afford to go to a residential facility or have family or work obligations that prevent them from staying away from home for a length of time. However, people in outpatient facilities continue to face life stressors and the possibility of continued access to drugs. Patients at a residential facility live at the facility for a few weeks to a few months. Residential facilities offer the opportunity to focus solely on the drug addiction without the pressures of normal life.

Discuss your options with family and friends. Someone else can help you weed through all of the information you have gathered. Family and friends have also been observing your behavior as a drug addict and may be able to offer sound advice. It is also important to gather support from those close to you as you enter a drug rehabilitation program.

Benzodiazepines, commonly known as Valium or Xanax, are the most frequently prescribed drug in the United States. These tranquilizers are usually prescribed for the following conditions: anxiety, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, seizure control, muscle relaxation, and the induction of amnesia before an uncomfortable procedure. Because they are prescribed so often, it is easier for people without a prescription to access and abuse the medication.

Perhaps part of the problem is the abundance of social knowledge of Valium as a sleep aide combined with the lack of common knowledge about the difference between over-the-counter and prescribed medications. There are over-the-counter sleeping pills; however, they contain a different active ingredient from Valium. They all contain a type of antihistamine called diphenhydramine. Since some pills are available to anyone, there is a belief that all tranquilizers are alike. Even over-the-counter sleeping aides should be taken for only a short period of time in order to prevent addiction.

Symptoms of a one-time overdose of tranquilizers may include drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, slurred speech, lack of coordination, difficulty breathing, and more seriously a coma. On a positive note, the abuse of benzodiazepines alone rarely causes death. Unfortunately, many people who do overdose on tranquilizers do so with the combination of alcohol or other drugs. Death is a true possibility in these cases. Death may actually be the intent in those cases.

Interestingly, when tranquilizers are abused overtime, the symptoms can imitate the original purpose of the drug. Anxiety, insomnia, and weakness are three of the symptoms of benzodiazepine abuse. The use of Valium or Xanax for long periods of time can lead to physical and/or psychological dependence. When used correctly, for short periods of time, dependence on the drug is rare.

What you can do to help someone that is abusing tranquilizers and treatment options:

• In acute cases:
• Seek medical attention.
• Bring the medication (or empty bottle) with you so that doctors are able to see the type (and potentially amount) of drug in the system.
• Depending on the amount of drug taken and length of time since ingested, doctors may choose to do one of the following: 1) a dose of activated charcoal which will help to prevent absorption of the medication, 2) a gastric lavage which pumps water into the stomach to flush out the tranquilizer as well as other drugs, 3) administer an antidote to reverse the effects of the drug.
• In chronic cases:
• Seek medical attention.
• Chronic cases can be difficult because people will hide or lie about their use of tranquilizers.
• Under outpatient medical care, the amount of benzodiazepine is slowly reduced over time in order to lessen the effects of withdrawal.
• The patient will also require support of friends and family.

Americans know that consumption of alcohol is the root cause of many accidents in the United States. Interestingly, many people do not think about how alcohol affects the rest of the world. Intoxicated pedestrians are a big problem in Russia. They are involved in a third of all traffic accidents. Likewise, in Colombia, a third of all driver fatalities are related to alcohol.

Health warning labels are mandated by the government in many countries. The label on alcohol sold in the United States is well known: “GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.” The following are examples of labels in other countries:
• Argentina – “Drink in moderation” and “Sale prohibited to persons under 18 years of age.”
• Germany – “Sale prohibited to persons under 18 years of age.” (Only mandated for sweet alcoholic drinks.)
• South Africa – “Alcohol reduces driving ability, don’t drink and drive,” “Don’t drink and walk on the road, you may be killed,” “Alcohol increases your risk to personal injuries,” “Alcohol is a major cause of violence and crime,” “Alcohol abuse is dangerous to your health,” “Alcohol is addictive,” and “Drinking during pregnancy can be harmful to your unborn baby.”
• Thailand – “Liquor drinking may cause cirrhosis and sexual impotency,” “Drunk driving may cause disability or death,” “Liquor drinking may cause less consciousness and death,” “Liquor drinking is dangerous to health and causes less consciousness,” and “Liquor drinking is harmful to you and destroys your family.”

The International Center for Alcohol Policies collects information on drinking habits and laws for countries around the world. However, it can be difficult to compare drinking habits across countries because of different drink standards. One possible way is to consider the number of grams of absolute ethanol in a typical drink. The United States and Portugal have the highest average number of grams of absolute ethanol per drink: 14. Denmark, Italy, and South Africa have an average of 12 grams per drink. The United Kingdom has only 8 grams per drink.

Another factor in comparing drinking standards is the legal drinking age in different countries. Fiji, Indonesia, Palau, and Sri Lanka all join the United States in setting the legal age at 21. Many countries in the world allow young people to purchase and consume alcohol when they are 18. Some, including Belgium, Denmark, Georgia, and Italy allow 16-year-olds to purchase alcohol.

Even with all this variety, no one country seems to have all of the answers in preventing alcohol abuse and related accidents. While many countries have similar issues, all have their own unique customs and societal norms that affect the drinking standards in that country.

Heroin, dope, Dr. Feelgood, horse, blacktar, skag, or brown sugar. People sniff it, they snort it, they smoke it, and they inject it directly into their veins. No matter what name is used or how it is introduced into the body, it is still highly addictive and illegal. It is created from the seed pod from Asian opium poppy plants and is either a white or brown powder or a black sticky substance (also known as tar). While many drugs are used by teenagers or those in their early twenties, the average age for someone who is being treated for heroin abuse is 35.

People risk the legal ramifications of possessing heroin for the rush it can provide within seconds (when injected) or minutes (when snorted or smoked) as the drug is converted into morphine as it enters the brain. However, as more and more heroin is introduced into the body, the person’s tolerance for the drug increases and they find that they need higher amounts in order to experience the same sensation. Individuals also tend to become physically dependent on this substance and suffer symptoms of withdrawal when they stop using it. Intense symptoms of withdrawal, including vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, and sweating, often occur within hours for people who have used heroin for a long period of time. Heroin tends to be taken in tandem with other drugs. So, people addicted to heroin have many dependencies to fight.

Withdrawal isn’t the only physical downside to using heroin. Addicts may also develop bacterial infections of the blood vessels and heart valves. Their liver or kidneys may become diseased. People who take heroin tend to have extremely poor health habits and may contract pneumonia, tuberculosis, or other lung problems. People oftentimes share needles when heroin is injected directly into a vein. Serious health issues such as HIV/AIDS are a real danger. When an individual overdoes on heroin, they may die because they stop breathing.

Treatment for heroin abuse is multi-faceted. The first step is a complete detoxification. However, this step will not solve the problem. Medications may be used in treatment. Methadone and buprenorphine target the same part of the brain as heroin and, therefore, help with withdrawal and cravings. Counseling and behavioral therapy, either outpatient or residential, are important parts of heroin addiction treatment. Addicts are taught to recognize the underlying reasons for their drug abuse problem. They are taught other ways of coping with the stressors in their lives. Motivational tools may also be used to introduce rewards for not using drugs. While voluntary treatment is best, studies have shown that involuntary treatment (such as treatment required by a court of law) is just as effective.

Almost 9% of Americans ages twelve and older used illegal drugs in 2010; almost a full percentage higher than 2008 statistics. This is according to a survey of 67,500 people released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The biggest player in this increase in drug use is marijuana with 17.4 million Americans using it in 2010 (3 million more than in 2007). In fact, a higher number of high school seniors used marijuana than smoked cigarettes in 2010. According to the study, Alaskans are the biggest users of marijuana (11.5%) while residents of Utah used it least (3.6%). Along with this increase is the growing notion that there is no risk to using marijuana. People abuse prescription drugs because they believe “legal drugs” – those that can be purchased over-the-counter or available by prescription – are safe. Developments in the fight for legalized medical marijuana have shifted public perception about the safety of all marijuana. Ecstasy is being used more as well. Again, the perceived risk has decreased.

The use of hallucinogens and inhalants and the abuse of prescription drugs remained steady from previous years. There was a decrease in the use of methamphetamine – 2010 statistics are almost half of 2006 statistics. There were almost a million fewer users of cocaine in 2010 as compared to 2006.

There was also a decrease in the abuse of alcohol and tobacco by children ages 12 to 17. Tobacco use by this age group is actually at its lowest point since the first year of the survey. Peter Delany, PhD, Director of SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, believes we should study the alcohol and tobacco campaigns for hints on how to tackle other illicit drug use.

While most of the data points to illicit drug use by teenagers and those in their twenties, there is a surprising upward swing in those over 50 abusing drugs. In 2002, only 2.7% of individuals ages 50-59 used illicit drugs. That percentage increased to 5.8% in 2010. According to Bruce Goldman, director of Substance Abuse Services at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, New York, “They grew up with drugs and may be facing retirement, health issues, or other losses and returning to drugs — usually pharmaceuticals.” Retirees have become the new face of illegal drug use.

Drug use is not new. People have been smoking marijuana, eating mushrooms, and using opium for thousands of years. Early American colonies grew hemp. Some colonies were actually required to grow it. Even George Washington grew hemp at his estate. So, what changed? Why are these drugs, specifically marijuana (or cannabis), now illegal in the United States?

In the 1850s, cannabis was seen by many as fashionable in the United States. Men and women of all social classes could be seen in hashish-houses or smoking hemp cigarettes. However, medicinal cannabis may be a victim of wrong timing. Cannabis also started being used for medicinal purposes in the 1850s. This is the same time period that laws were being introduced to regulate the sale of pharmaceuticals. Some medical experts put cannabis under the “poison” category, an idea that was supported by many. Each state had different poison laws, yet, almost all included (or tried to include) marijuana on the list.

Despite the poison laws, cannabis was still easy to acquire in the early 1900s. The 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act was an attempt to limit the sale of cannabis. Essentially, it stated that non-prescription cannabis sold anywhere in the United States had to be properly labeled (as poison).

Racial tensions fueled the fire. Mexicans smoked marijuana and more and more of them started moving to the United States. Jobs were scarce during the Great Depression and farms were faulted for using cheaper Mexican labor. Some people still believe the strengthening of laws regarding marijuana use is related to racism.

The formation of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) in 1930 brought further scrutiny. The FBN wanted to outlaw all recreational drugs because they caused people to commit crimes or act irrationally. The newspaper industry joined the fight against hemp as well. Once it was discovered that hemp could be used as a cheaper substitute for paper pulp, newspapers published reports of cannabis causing violent acts. Some newspaper owners also had money in the timber business. Hemp could cause them to lose a lot of money.

The possession of marijuana officially became illegal in 1937 under the Marijuana Tax Act. It could still be used for medicinal purposes but with a hefty tax. The American Medical Association opposed this act because they believed doctors should be able to prescribe medicinal marijuana without an extra tax, but the act was not repealed until a 1969 Supreme Court decision. Congress instead passed the Controlled Substances Act. Under this act, marijuana became illegal in all circumstances, including medicinal use. 1973 saw the creation of the Drug Enforcement Administration in response to the ongoing availability of illicit drugs.

Throughout all of this history there have been attempts to legalize marijuana. There have been numerous court cases regarding the enforcement and penalties surrounding the cultivation, possession, and sale of cannabis. Some states have started to allow medicinal marijuana use again. This is a history that is not yet complete.