A study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh has found that substance abuse disorders in teenagers are strong predictors that the teens will die at a younger age, possibly before the age of twenty-five.

"Previous studies have shown that many teens who engage in alcohol and drug use and other high-risk behavior believed they would die within two years. 'Unfortunately, this insight on the part of some teens apparently does not eliminate these problem behaviors,' said Dr. Clark."

Researchers followed 870 teens for eight years, to track behavior and mortality. Twenty-one of those teenagers, about 2 percent, died when or before they were twenty-five. Males accounted for 14 of these deaths, which translates to a 10-percent mortality rate for males with substance abuse disorders. Source: Medical News Today

Learn more about the long term effects of binge drinking and alcohol abuse at http://www.drugrehabtreatment.com/effects-of-binge-drinking.html.

Labels: death, early_drinkers, predictors

Three times as many Floridians died this year from prescription drug abuse than from the use illicit drugs, according to a report from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. Florida is one of the few states that keep such records.

The new information supports the findings of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, which estimates an 80 percent increase in the number of people abusing prescription drugs in the United States over the past six years. This increase means that an estimated seven million people are illegally using prescription medications, primarily painkillers and opiates like oxycodone and hydrocone.

The Florida report found that 989 individuals died from using cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines, while 2,328 deaths resulted from the use of painkillers. An additional 743 deaths were attributed to the misuse of benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax.

Florida legislators are considering joining the 38 states that already have laws to monitor prescription drug sales.

Labels: abuse, death, prescription_drugs

The governor of the state of Oregon has named April "Alcohol Awareness Month." The designation comes, in part, in response to statistics from the Oregon Department of Human Services Addictions and Mental Health Division, which states that alcohol is the leading cause of death among the state's young people.

"As noted in the proclamation, alcohol contributes to adolescent motor vehicle crashes, traumatic injuries, poor school performance, and health and safety problems. Research shows that the younger individuals are when they start to drink, the more likely they are to become alcoholic."

DHS' Addictions and Mental Health Division prevention manager Rick Cady says April is just a "starting point" for raising awareness and getting people involved in finding solutions. Source: AA-UK.org.

NorthStar Center offers a rehab and recovery program for young adults who have completed full rehab and need a safe, sober environment to help them get back on track. Visit www.northstarcenter.com to learn more about their teen and young adult substance abuse recovery program.

Labels: alcohol, awareness, death

Warning to emergency room doctors: Cocaine reactions look like heart attacks. If you treat a cocaine patient like a heart attack victim, you could kill him.

The American Medical Association reports that cocaine reactions cause the same symptoms as heart attacks: chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, palpitations, dizziness, nausea, and heavy sweating. However, if a doctor uses clot-busting drugs or beta-blockers, which are typically used to treat heart attacks, he could cause a lethal reaction in a cocaine user.

"Not knowing what you are dealing with and giving the wrong therapies could mean death rather a benefit," said Dr. James Reiffel, professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

Almost 200,000 people, many of them under 25 years old, go to ERs every year because of cocaine reactions. The number of cocaine-related ER visits rose 47 percent between 1995 and 2002.

Labels: cocaine, death, hospitals

Results of a study released by the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition found that pre-teens are more likely to try inhalants than marijuana. This trend continued into the early teen years.

"In the past year, 3.4 percent of 12-year-olds report using an inhalant, while only 1.1 percent tried marijuana, and 2.7 percent took prescription painkillers. That trend continued with 13-year-olds, with 4.8 percent using inhalants, 4 percent trying marijuana, and 3.9 percent taking prescription painkillers."

Inhalants can cause severe neurological damage and sudden death. Nevertheless, more than 45 percent of 12- and 13-year-olds who tried drugs last year used inhalants. Read more at NLM.NIH.gov.

Labels: death, inhalents, risky_behaviors

Pre-teens and teens often decorate their rooms with posters and pin-ups of the latest pop and rock stars. The clothing and life styles of these stars are cause to doubt whether they're the best role models for young people, and now there's one more reason - they are more likely to die young.

"A study of more than 1,000 mainly British and North American artists, spanning the era from Elvis Presley to rapper Eminem, found they were two or three times more likely to suffer a premature death than the general population."

Rock stars are at greatest risk of death in the first five years after they become famous, and their mortality rates don't decline to match that of the general population until about 25 years after their initial success.

Excel Academy troubled teen boarding schools offers a recovery component in addition to their college prep academics. Learn how their accredited school helps troubled teens.

Labels: death, influences, role_models

Hundreds are gathered at Chicago's Navy Pier on Monday, June 18th for a "Vigil for Lost Promise"; an event focused on honoring the potential of individuals who lost their lives to drugs.

"The highlight of Monday night's vigil ceremony [was] a special candlelight honor walk within the ballroom, featuring family members lighting candles and walking up to a special 'Wall of Remembrance' where they will post photographs of their loved ones."

The event began at 6:30pm in the Grand Ballroom and featured several guest speakers. Read more at NBC5.com.

Labels: death, families, surviors

A recent study conducted by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has found that cocaine and amphetamine users are at an increased risk for strokes.

"Stimulants such as cocaine raise blood pressure and trigger spasms in blood vessels, causing vessel narrowing, according to the study. Amphetamine abuse is linked to a higher risk of death in hemorrhagic strokes..."

Cocaine and methamphetamine are the second- and fifth-most abused drugs in the nation, and methamphetamine use has been increasing recently in southwestern and Midwestern states. Read more online.

Labels: cocaine, death, stimulants

Shawn Bridges, a former truck driver whose body was ravaged by years of methamphetamine use, passed away this week. But not before his long and painful journey was chronicled and made into a 29-minute documentary. His hope was that his story would keep others away from the highly addictive drug.

"He was extremely satisfied, wanting to do more in getting the word out and showing kids what meth harm does."

Shawn was bedridden most of his final year, fed through a feeding tube. During his last few months, his family says he often slurred his words, and sometimes wasn't able to speak at all. Chris Rossetti, who filmed the original documentary, plans to produce a sequel that will chronicle Shawn's final year, in hopes that this final message will keep kids from making the same mistake that eventually cost Shawn his life. Read more online.

Labels: death, long_term_drug_use, meth