Parents have a new, unique, and controversial weapon to help them monitor - and possibly prevent - drug use among their kids: an at-home drug test that analyzes a strand of the child's hair.

"Stores like Discount Drug Mart sell the drug testing kit for $59.99 and they've already been successful selling urine test kits... [Paul] Coleman [CEO of Maryhaven, a private nonprofit comprehensive healthcare facility that treats people with alcohol and drug dependencies] said there can be a delicate balance of trust within a household - bond that can be broken if not approached correctly."

At-home drug tests should be a last resort, and should be used only if the family is already working with a licensed counselor. And ultimately, Coleman says, no test can take the place of open communication and parent who trusts his instincts. Source: NBC4i (Columbus, OH)

Labels: privacy, drug_testing

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USA Swimming has suspended Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps for three months after he acknowledged the authenticity of a photograph which showed him smoking marijuana. On that same day, Kellogg Co., said it would not renew its sponsorship agreement with Phelps.

"The U.S. Olympic Committee has sent a letter to Phelps, 'offering our assistance to make certain this doesn't happen again,' committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said in an email. The publicity over the photograph has led Phelps to consider whether to compete at the 2012 Games in London..."

Phelps has since apologized for his behavior and any disappointment it may have caused his fans. Source: Bloomberg News

Labels: consequences, cost_of_addiction

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According to a new study released by the RAND Corporation, the economic cost of methamphetamine (meth) use in the United States in 2005 topped $23.4 billion. This cost includes the financial tolls of addiction, premature death, drug treatment, lost productivity, and the cost of removing children from their parents' homes due to meth use. The study also counted costs related to the dangerous process of producing meth, including fires, explosions, pay for emergency personnel, hazardous waste cleanup, and treatment of injuries. The RAND study is the first to undertake a full assessment of the national costs of methamphetamine use in this country. Researchers called the burden of meth on American society "substantial." (Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Labels: addiction, treatment, meth

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A North Carolina teenager is in jail after his mother called police when she discovered a marijuana plant in his room.

"The woman then allowed police to search her home where they recovered the plant, a soda bottle converted for the use of smoking marijuana, rolling papers, marijuana seeds, and two partially smoked marijuana cigarettes, the [arrest] warrant states."

The son has been charged with simple possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Source: Gaston (NC) Gazette

Labels: parents, criminal_charges

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InTheRooms.com is a new online community designed specifically for people who are in recovery, seeking recovery, or have a family member or friend in recovery.

"In The Rooms is much more than just another social networking site," said Ken Pomerance, the site's co-founder. "It really is a community of supportive members who are in recovery and who understand the trials and tribulations that come with battling the disease of addiction, including alcohol, drugs, gambling, eating disorders and much more."

Launched in October 2008, the site has almost 12,000 members who have logged a total of more than 50,000 years of recovery time. Source: PR Inside

Labels: support, recovery

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Talking to children about the dangers of drug use is sometimes hard for parents who experimented with drugs during their own teenage years. These parents often don't know exactly what to say, or how honest they should be.

"Avoid giving your child more information than she or he asked for. No need to talk about keg stands and smoking pot 132 times. [However]...don't risk losing your credibility after the kids discover the real story from a chatty uncle at a family party."

Before talking to your teenager, think about the reasons why you regret using drugs when you were younger. Share those regrets during your talk, and give your child a chance to respond and ask questions. Source: Daily Mail (United Kingdom)

Labels: parents, communication

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A new study by the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health indicated that the advertisement of alcohol in primarily African-American areas of New York City may be exacerbating problem drinking behaviors among young residents.

Earlier studies have shown that predominantly African-American neighborhoods have a disproportionate number of outdoor alcohol advertisements, such as billboards; however, before this study, the impact of this pattern was unclear.

The study, published online by the American Journal of Public Health, monitored 139 African-American participants, ages 21 to 49, who resided in Central Harlem. Approximately 31 percent were reported to be problem drinkers. The study showed that problem drinking behaviors were linked to both alcohol advertising and a family history of alcoholism.

Principal investigator of the study and assistant professor of Sociomedical Sciences, Naa Oyo Kwate, commented on one interesting finding:

"We found that, on average, exposure to each alcohol ad in a woman's residential block was associated with a 13 percent increase in the odds of being a problem drinker."

(Sources: www.sciencedaily.com)

Labels: alcoholism, advertising

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Two researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine are working to develop a vaccine against cocaine addiction. For the first time, people who become addicted to cocaine may be able to take a medication that will stop their desire for the drug. The vaccine is being developed by the husband and wife team of Dr. Tom Kosten, a psychiatry professor, and his wife Therese, a psychologist and neuroscientist. The vaccine is currently in clinical trials.

The vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to attack when cocaine is taken. Normally, cocaine molecules would be too small to trigger a reaction by the immune system; however, researchers at Baylor have created the vaccine by attaching inactivated cocaine molecules to inactivated cholera proteins. As a result, the body experiences an immune response to the cholera, and subsequently to plain cocaine as well. Antibodies attach to the drug and keep it from getting to the user's brain. If the drug cannot reach the user's brain, the user will not experience a high.

David Eagleman, another Baylor neuroscientist, commented on the project's unique approach:

"It's a very clever idea. ... Scientists have spent the last few decades figuring out reward pathways in the brain and how drugs like cocaine hijack the system. It turns out those pathways are difficult to rewire once they've seen the drug. But the vaccine just circumvents all that."

(Sources: www.msnbc.msn.com)

Labels: cocaine, medications, vaccine

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The 2008 Monitoring the Future report, which tracks drug use among teenagers and pre-teens, found that prescription drugs and marijuana are still common substances of abuse among young Americans. The study also reported a drop in the number of eighth graders who perceive marijuana as a dangerous drug.

As a result of this and other findings, the website Café Prevention has announced a series of new drug abuse prevention materials that are aimed at young people:

"Café Prevention is pleased to announce the arrival of new hard-hitting, creative and very affordable prevention materials designed specifically to address prescription, over-the-counter, and marijuana use by youth. These drug prevention materials provide factual and user-friendly information to help one's city, county, school, youth organization or congregation tackle these issues."

Café Prevention's updated materials can be used as part of an overall community-based program that is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use.

Labels: pot, prescription_drugs

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A new government survey found that the number of white teens who entered drug treatment for crack and cocaine abuse increased by 76 percent between 2001 and 2006. Black teen admissions for these substances did not change.

Teenagers' use of illegal drugs declined during the same period, while their abuse of prescription drugs increased.

The data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also indicated that more teenagers believe that using crack and cocaine is not a dangerous practice.

"The decrease in perceived risk suggests that adolescents are becoming less wary of trying cocaine," read the 2009 National Drug Threat Assessment report, "which may sustain demand for the drug in the near future."

Labels: cocaine, crack, treatment

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A 40-year study of 3,500 people found that those who misbehaved as teenagers were at greater risk for mental or personal problems as adults than were peers who didn't have behavior issues. Even mild behavior problems increased the risk.

Teachers assessed teenagers in 1,960 for conduct problems, including lying, truancy, daydreaming, restlessness, and disobedience. About 1,000 teens in the study had some conduct problems, though not necessarily severe ones. As adults, however, this group was more likely to divorce, abuse alcohol, quit high school, and experience other types of adversity.

Dr. Martin Iguchi, one of the lead researchers, said he believes the correlation may be due to undiagnosed mental illness, noting that people are at greatest risk for psychiatric problems between ages 14 and 26.

This study from the University of Alberta School of Public Health appeared in the British Medical Journal.

Labels: behaviors, adults, mental_health

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