The Latest Drug and Alcohol Dangers
Kids are going to experiment with drugs and alcohol. That's a fact. The best we can do as parents is to understand what is out there that they may be exposed to. The more knowledge we have, the better we are prepared to face the challenges of keeping our kids out of trouble with drugs and alcohol. Please leave additional information in the comments so that together we can create an exhaustive list here.
Strawberry Meth - The wonderful folks who brought good, cheap Methamphetamine to your town are now resorting to a tactic previously employed only by cereal and soda pop makers. Meth is hitting streets and playgrounds in flavors like strawberry and cola. This new candy-like drug is not confined to high school and middle school aged crowds.
Pharm Parties - You may have heard the recent buzz about the term ‘Pharm Parties', which refers to a party where kids pilfer through Mom and Dad's medicine cabinet for any prescription medicines and then take them to a party to share with friends. Pharm is short for pharmaceuticals, not farm like the place where we used to sneak off with a keg of beer. While these parties were dangerous enough, today's teens have done us one better.
Huffing - Huffing, bagging, or sniffing is the inhalation of chemical vapors for a quick high. An estimated two million kids aged 12-17 are doing it. But first experiences can be as early as 6 - 8. It's one more horrible thing we've got to bring up before their friends do. While we've been getting serious about drugs and alcohol, kids have started doing pure poison. Inhalants are cheap and available in most households. Kids huff paint thinner, gasoline, markers, nail polish, correction fluid, and rubber cement. Just about anything in an aerosol can be mind altering if inhaled deeply.
Alcohol & Nebulizers - A nebulizer is a machine that converts a liquid form of medicine into a fine mist or vapor that is inhaled into the lungs, usually through a tube with a mouthpiece. Many households have them to treat young children with asthma, allergies, or other upper respiratory ailments. Now kids are putting alcohol into nebulizers and inhaling the vapors straight into their lungs, where the alcohol is absorbed much more quickly than through the stomach.
Cheese Heroin - Cheese Heroin is black tar heroin, which has been combined with the antihistamine diphenhydramine that is found in Tylenol PM. Makers of the drug crush over the counter cold medication. This powder is then snorted, not injected like pure heroin would be. This alternate delivery method makes it an easier way to introduce the drug to your children. It has been dubbed "starter heroin" by authorities because of its low cost and ease of use.
Vodka Soaked Tampons - Kids have found a new way to get high by inserting vodka soaked tampons into the vagina. And just so the boys won't be left out, it works rectally as well. If you search the Internet, you will find some dispute about whether this is a real occurrence or a rumor. Keep in mind that many vaginal medications are routinely administered via tampon, and that the unprotected membranes of the vagina and anus would allow alcohol to enter the bloodstream faster than the acid protected gastrointestinal tract.
