You probably started experiencing peer pressure way before you had the ability to understand what it meant. Even preschool kids can influence each other. As you got older, your parents probably said things like, “If all your friends jump off a bridge, are you going to do that too?”  The thing is, our brains are hardwired to want to impress the people around us. A study conducted by the University of Southern California actually showed that people are more likely to take chances in front of friends. Scary, right?  So how do you beat that impulse and think for yourself?

Take a breather
Feeling influenced by your friends in a spur of the moment way? Literally remove yourself from the situation, at least long enough to think. Do you really want to ride someone else’s momentum, possibly into a dangerous situation or illegal activity?  When you’re using your rational brain, the answer is probably no. Give yourself space to make the right choice.

Surround yourself with smart people
If your peers aren’t pressuring you to do stupid things, you don’t have to worry as much about peer pressure. Choose your friends and your social activities wisely. Don’t hang out with people who put you down or try to push you into situations that make you uncomfortable. Don’t go to gatherings where kids are doing things that aren’t in your comfort zone. That way, you’ll feel way less pressured to do things you don’t want to do just to fit in.

Talk it out
Girlshealth.gov recommends coming up with an excuse if you don't know what else to say. Maybe you have somewhere to be or a big project to complete so you don’t fail a class. Alternately, if you feel comfortable, just be honest. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that you’re not the only one who doesn’t want to cave in to peer pressure. After all, all of us want to be independent, unique and brave. If the people around you act like they only accept you if you do what they say and act how they act, it’s time to put on some mental armor and fight your way into a better situation. You’ll feel better knowing you made your own choices.

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As a parent, one of your most difficult tasks may be having to talk to your kids about drugs. To make matters worse, this is a conversation you’ll have to have more than once. In fact, you may need to have it again and again. As children develop, they have different levels of comprehension and different levels of social awareness. What you tell a preschooler about drugs is very different than what you might tell a junior in high school. Learn to talk to your child about drugs at different ages.

Elementary School
Play it by ear when it comes to talking to your young child about drugs. Chances are, she’ll encounter some form of drugs on television, in advertisements or in person. Use that as an opportunity to bring up drugs like alcohol and cigarettes. Distinguish them from the types of drugs your child may take when she is ill or as a preventative measure. Don’t beat around the bush. Kidsheath.org recommends talking to kids about how drugs can make a person feel, the potential dangers of using them, and the possibilities of very dangerous effects like drug overdose.

Middle School
D.A.R.E recommends watching kids for mood changes and different behavior. You may chalk these things up to becoming a teenager, but it’s important to understand that even middle school kids can begin using drugs and alcohol. As a parent, you have the ability to recognize potentially harmful behavior. Now is the time to discuss drugs in earnest, not just once, but often. Ask your child openly if he has seen someone using drugs or heard someone talking about using drugs. If you see news involving teens and young adults using drugs, being arrested for using drugs, or being injured or killed as a result of using drugs, share the news with your middle schooler and use it as an opportunity for discussion.

High School
According to DrugFree.org, parents have more influence over children than friends, music, TV, the Internet and celebrities. This is your time to make a difference. During this period of your child’s life, he or she is more likely to be offered drugs. You teen probably has friends who use drugs regularly. Drugs are no longer a mystery. Now, more than ever, you need to talk to your child about the dangers of using. Your teen has the smarts to understand dangers. Give your teen solid facts, including information about drunk and drugged driving, overdose, and addiction. Help them focus on the aspects of their life that are positive and fulfilling. Make yourself available as a sounding board so that your teen can express fears and can open up to you.

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Think you understand addiction? There’s a good chance your knowledge about addiction comes from popular culture and myths that aren’t grounded in the reality of substance abuse and addiction. Check out these common myths and see how your understanding measures up.

Myth: Addicts use drugs to escape problems.
According to DrugAbuse.gov, addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease. People begin trying drugs and alcohol for many reasons, and becoming addicted has nothing to do with an individual’s personal situation. While it’s true that initial drug use or alcohol use might be a form of escape, anyone can become addicted.

Myth: People with high alcohol tolerance won’t become addicts.
Becoming addicted to alcohol doesn’t just happen to people who become drunk easily. Being able to drink large amounts of alcohol without appearing or acting drunk can actually be a sign of alcoholism. If you or a loved one shows signs of alcoholism, look into treatment resources.

Myth: People who relapse after drug and alcohol recovery are hopeless cases.
It can be discouraging when relapse occurs after successful treatment of substance abuse, but this isn’t the end of the road. Addiction is a treatable disease, and if relapse occurs, individuals have to begin treatment again. It’s not uncommon for people to have to go through treatment for addiction more than once.

Myth: Addiction is a bad choice.
Addiction is a disease, not a choice. It has physical symptoms, just like any other disease. People who choose to stop abusing drugs and alcohol experience withdrawal and may suffer painful, debilitating side effects. It takes support and treatment to overcome addiction, and it isn’t just a matter of having stronger willpower or making better choices in life.

Myth: After recovery, addicts are back to “normal.”
Most addicts require various forms of treatment and therapy throughout life. Addiction treatment isn’t a simple cure. Many addicts continue going to forms of group therapy and counseling on an ongoing basis. In addition, the effects of abuse of drug and alcohol can have permanent effects on the brain and body.

Myth: Legal drugs are helpful.
Over the counter and prescription drugs provided by doctors can be just as addictive as illegal street drugs. Prescription painkillers can be highly addictive and highly dangerous, frequently leading to death from overdose, accidents and drug interactions.

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Unlike designer clothes, designer drugs are easy to obtain and inexpensive. Referred to as designer drugs because they’re created in labs, not because they’re upscale, these synthetic drugs are not regulated and are often laced with dangerous chemicals. In recent years, designer drugs have become more of a problem thanks to drugs that aren’t regulated because they’re sold as bath salts or incense and are labeled as "not for human consumption." Older synthetic drugs such as Ecstasy and Methamphetamine have recently given way to drugs that can be purchased legally in convenience stores and gas stations in many states.

Unknown Ingredients
It’s impossible to know exactly what chemicals are in drugs like bath salts and synthetic marijuana products, sometimes  referred to as incense or spice. It’s also impossible to know the potency or how relatively safe a dose might be. According to drugabuse.gov, these unknown mixtures can cause dangerous side effects, such as seizures, memory loss, coma and even death.

False Marketing
How can drugs be legal?  These substances are sold legally as incense, cleaning products or bath products, allowing teens to easily skirt the law. A popular “incense” called Jazz recently contributed to a teen’s death in Safety Harbor, Florida. 19-year-old Logan Kushner drowned after smoking the incense and swimming. Jazz can cause side effects like hallucination and dizziness.

Bath salts, marketed under many names, is an amphetamine-like chemical that may have long term side effects similar to meth, making it a highly dangerous yet not always illegal substance. It has the potential to cause overdose, severe hallucinations, and even death. Over the past few years, emergency rooms have seen an upswing of patients suffering intense side effects from snorting these so-called “bath salts.”

Dangerous Combinations
Because these drugs are created in labs, they can be changed easily to avoid government bans on certain chemical formulations. This also makes it difficult for drug tests to accurately detect these drugs in the body. The combination is creating a dangerous situation ripe for substance abuse, overdose and accidental death due to intoxication from designer drugs. This presents additional danger in cases of overdose, because hospitals aren’t always aware of the specific toxicology in the synthetic drugs, making it difficult to diagnose and treat overdose appropriately.

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Not all drugs are difficult to obtain. Over-the-counter medications, or OTC drugs, can be found at local pharmacies and supermarkets. They're easy for teens to obtain and easy for teens to abuse.
                   
Impairment
According to Abovetheinfluence.com, The most commonly abused OTC drugs include those that contain the ingredient dextromethorphan, or DXM. This is often found in drugs to treat cold, cough and flu. Teens may believe that because cough medicine is available over-the-counter, it’s safe. But a large dose can cause serious effects like hallucination, vision problems and loss of coordination. Teens have been killed while impaired with high doses of DXM.

Drug Interaction
When combined with alcohol and other drugs, OTC drugs become even more dangerous. Side effects are enhanced, and can often lead to hospitalization for breathing problems, severe vomiting and heart problems.

Overdose
When taken in large doses, DXM can cause death or brain damage. According to DrugAbuse.gov, hypoxic brain damage has occurred due to the combination of DXM with decongestants often found in the medication. Talk to your teen about the potential of never recovering from severe brain damage due to abusing simple cough syrups.

Long Term Health Concerns
Even OTC drugs can cause dependence. Addiction leads to further unhealthy behaviors and impaired judgment. Kids with addictions to OTC medications may suffer long term health problems and may be more at risk for injury or death from accident or overdose.

Unhealthy Weight Loss
Diet pills, diuretics and laxatives can quickly become habit-forming, especially in teens with body image issues. The feeling that weight can be lost easily with the help of a simple pill can quickly enticing. This type of weight loss isn’t healthy, and in many teens with eating disorders, weight loss isn’t healthy or necessary. If you suspect your child has a problem with using OTC drugs to diet, intervene with the assistance of your child’s doctor.

Problems at Work and in School
Teens who abuse OTC drugs may begin to have problems in school, at work and with friends. Because the high associated with these drugs can cause severe impairment, it’s especially dangerous for kids who get behind the wheel or operate machinery of any kind.

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Is Your Friend Using Drugs?

In 2009, 8.7% of people over the age of 12 had used illegal drugs in the past month. Many of those people, and likely people you know, have excuses and reasons for doing drugs. Those excuses come in handy when drug users try to rationalize behavior. But it’s important to understand the underlying truth and the power of addiction.       

“I can quit any time I want.”
Drug users may rationalize that addiction doesn’t factor in to drug use. The truth is, even drugs that aren’t physically addictive may be psychologically addictive. Most drug users are aware of the health risks and dangers, but continue to engage in dangerous and illegal behaviors. Detoxing from drugs often requires the assistance of medical professionals and counselors, as well as the support network of family and friends.

“This drug isn’t addictive.”
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is estimated to produce addiction in approximately 9 percent, or roughly 1 in 11, of those who use it at least once. While not every marijuana smoker is addicted, it’s false to say that the drug isn’t addictive at all. On top of the potential chemical dependency, marijuana users can feel emotionally tied to the culture of smoking, making it difficult to quit.

“It isn’t dangerous.”
Drug abuse is dangerous. Depending on the drugs used, dangers can include contracting HIV, accidental overdose and death or injury from drugged driving. Inhaled drugs can cause lung disease while drugs like meth can cause gruesome side effects like open sores and rotting teeth. Drug users who claim that drugs aren’t dangerous are willfully ignoring the known dangers and related health problems.

“It isn’t hurting anyone else.”
Sadly, drug abuse affects entire families. Pregnant moms can cause severe health problems in unborn children by using drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. Addiction can have a rippling impact through families, causing emotional trauma for kids, parents and other loved ones. Drugged drivers have the potential to injure or even kill other drivers and pedestrians. Even accidental death from drug use can hurt people other than the drug user herself.

The LiveFree! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is a coalition of community advocates who strive to address drug and alcohol abuse in Pinellas County. Visit us online to see how you can get involved in this cause that is so near and dear to our community.

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You see your friend smoking, and she keeps asking you to try a cigarette, too. But before taking that first puff, there are a few things you should consider. Like the impact it will have on your health, the health of those around you and your future. Bottom line: smoking causes death. That should be enough to stop you in your tracks, but if you still need more reasons why you shouldn't smoke, here are just a few:

Your Future May Be at Stake
No, cigarettes may not kill you right away, but smoking can affect your future in many ways. If you are active or participate in sports, smoking can cause breathing problems that may prevent you from being successful. Smoking can also cause serious health problems that can interfere with your daily life and activities.

It's an Expensive Habit
Buying cigarettes is like paying for poor health. Smoking is an expensive habit, with each pack costing $5 or more. If you smoke one pack a day, it will cost your more than $1,800 a year! Just imagine everything else you could have spent that money on!

Your Family Will Thank You
Smoking doesn't just affect you. Before picking up that first cigarette, think about the fact that it could affect your family and others around you. Secondhand smoke can cause respiratory problems, heart disease, and lung cancer in those who don't smoke, including both children and adults.

You Might Get Sick Less
Studies show smokers take more sick time than nonsmokers in the workplace. On average, smokers take 7.67 more annual sick days than nonsmokers. It has not been proven that smokers actually got sick more, but  the difference between the sick time taken by smokers and nonsmokers is evident.

You'll Enjoy a Better Sense of Smell and Taste
Smoking causes a decreased sense of smell, and that diminishes a smoker's ability to taste. You will enjoy food and scents more if you don't smoke.

If you don't start smoking, you won't have to quit! Quitting smoking is much more difficult to do that not smoking in the first place. As a parent, it is important to set a good example and talk to your children about the dangers of smoking. Talking to kids can seem tough, but is important. Visit our website, where you can find many great resources  to use in preparing to talk to your kids about smoking.

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Ever told someone that you feel stressed out?  If so, you’re not alone. We experience stress every day, while driving, while in school, at work and more. Relationships can be stressful. Problems can be stressful. Life events like divorce and financial woes can be stressful. When stress starts to build up, it can lead to depression, heart disease, ulcers and other health problems, according to the National Library of Medicine. Instead of letting this news stress you out, use it as an incentive to find healthy ways to deal with stress.

Be Positive
Seems easier said than done, right?  The truth is, developing a positive attitude can help alleviate your stress. When you’re trapped in a negative cycle of thinking, you’re going to see every little challenge and trouble in life as a bigger deal that it might be. Adjust your thinking whenever you can, making a conscious decision to be calm, collected and reasonable. Focus on problem solving and the things you can change.

Rest
Lack of sleep can affect your mood and your health. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re probably feeling additional stress. Set a firm bedtime and stick to it. Keep your bedroom peaceful and avoid doing things before bed that could stimulate you. If you know that reading a certain website or watching a certain show gets you riled up, save that for the morning.

Work Out
You don’t need to become a gym rat right away. But you do need to get moving. Fresh air and light activity can help you deal with your stress. Sometimes just clearing your head can make problems seem much more manageable. Regular physical activity also makes your body feel better and makes it easier to sleep at night.

Avoid Unhealthy Coping Strategies
Womenshealth.gov recommends avoiding unhealthy stress relievers like drinking too much alcohol, using drugs, smoking, or overeating. These activities often lead to further stress, through complications of the activity or simply making you feel bad. Lean on your friends and family instead of turning to substances. Consider taking on a hobby or just doing something that feels good, like meditation, getting a massage, taking a long bath or watching some mindless television.

Talk to Your Doctor
Sometimes you can’t beat stress alone. Chronic stress that you feel unable to escape from may require help from a doctor or mental health counselor. If you need to talk to your health care provider, take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone in this, and that you’re brave for recognizing the need for help.

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Yesterday, the National Institute on Drug Abuse released the results of their 2011 Monitoring the Future Survey.  The survey showed some disturbing trends about marijuana use among youth. Marijuana use among teens rose in 2011 for the fourth straight year. Daily marijuana use is now at a 30-year peak level among high school seniors. 36.5 percent of 12^th graders reported past year use and 6.6 percent reported daily use. The upward trend in marijuana use corresponds with the downward trend in perception of risk related to marijuana use.

“The increases in youth drug use reflected in the Monitoring the Future Study are disappointing,” said Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Mixed messages about drug legalization, particularly marijuana, may be to blame.”

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana under the guise of medicine and Florida may see a similar measure on the 2012 ballot.

States that have legalized marijuana under the guise of medicine have done so without regard to science or federal law. The THC in marijuana has been isolated and is available in legitimate pharmacies by prescription as FDA approved medications called Marinol or Cesamet. Consumer protection relies on the rigorous research and approval processes set forth by the Food and Drug Administration to establish quantity of dose, frequency and duration of administration and interaction with other medicines.  Smoking has never been a safe, acceptable method of administering medicine. Simply put, crude marijuana does not meet the standards of modern medicine

“Marijuana use impairs educational achievement, has been associated with increased risk of psychosis and recent studies have shown that adolescent marijuana use may be responsible for disrupted brain development,” states Jackie Griffin, Executive Director of LiveFree! “The survey illustrates the need for prevention and education efforts that clearly define the true harms of marijuana use.”

According to the 2011 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 23.3% of 12^th graders in Florida reported past 30-day marijuana use, up from 19.7% in 2008. A recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that marijuana is listed as the primary substance of abuse for 31.1% of treatment admissions in Florida and of those, 52.6% were between the ages of 12-17.

If you would like to set up an interview about this issue with a member of the LiveFree! Coalition, please contact 813-503-5658.

The LiveFree! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition consists of members of the community coming together to address alcohol and other drug use in Pinellas County among young adults and middle and high school students by creating more systematic, environmental strategies and promoting the use of evidence-based prevention programs. LiveFree! encourages community advocacy, involving youth, law enforcement, parents and businesses in coalition activities, and promoting public awareness of substance abuse in Pinellas County. For more information on LiveFree! please visit http://www.pinellascoalition.com

Most drivers and passengers are aware of the risks of drunk driving. But are you aware of the risks of drugged driving?  From cold medicine to prescription medication to illegal substances, drugs can affect the way you drive and may significantly impair your ability to drive safely.

Consider the Facts

• According to the DEA, 3.6% of the U.S. population reported driving under the influence of illegal drugs in 2001.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that illegal drugs are used by approximately 10-22 percent of drivers involved in all motor vehicle crashes.
• According to the White House report on drugged driving, even drugs prescribed by a physician, can impair perception, judgment, motor skills, and memory

The Risks
Not every drug affects people the same way. One illegal drug might slow a driver down, causing delayed reaction times and additional risks as a result. Another might impair judgment, causing erratic or reckless driving. Another drug might cause changes in behavior that lead to aggressive driving. Some painkillers make drivers sleepy and sluggish, and thus dangerous behind the wheel. Because drivers may have both alcohol and drugs in their system, it isn’t always easy to pinpoint exactly what caused the impairment. It’s difficult to characterize the specific impairments of driving drugged because of the broad spectrum of effects of being on various drugs. Despite this, it’s important to focus on the fact that any drug that affects things like mood, judgment and motor skills has the ability to significantly impair driving.

The Bottom Line
Drugged drivers shouldn’t get behind the wheel. Passengers should not get in the car with someone who is on drugs. Teens may not understand that smoking a joint and driving is as serious as having several beers and driving. Unfortunately, this kind of casual attitude toward drugged driving can lead to motor vehicle accidents and death. Consider that according to the CDC, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among young people aged 16 to 19. Set an example by never getting behind the wheel when taking drugs that can cause impairment. Talk to your teen about drugged driving and the risks. Make sure that your teen understands that drugged driving and drunk driving are equally risky and illegal.

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