As if the rise in teenage prescription drug abuse wasn’t bad enough, now many young people are mixing a variety of different medications together in attempt to achieve a more potent euphoric effect.  Unfortunately, as the death of actor Heath Ledger should have proven, mixing prescription medications is an incredibly dangerous activity that has caused the death of hundreds of young people each year.

One such case involved Phillip Ray Cottle, a 21-year old from Baytown, Texas who suffered from cystic fibrosis.   Phillip died several weeks ago after taking a mixture of Hyrdrocodone (the generic term for Vicodin) as the powerful painkiller OxyContin.   Phillip’s death was one of nine to hit young people in the small town in recent months.

The most popular, and subsequently dangerous mixtures include Vicodin, OxyContin, Xanax and Soma (the latter two being powerful muscle relaxant).

The most frightening thing about teenagers and presciption medication is that research surverys have found that young people are more likely to try Vicodin or Xanax as they would marijuana or alcohol.  This stems from a lack of basic information about prescription drugs and emphasizes the parents role in drug awareness.

It is absolutely essential that parents educate their children about the dangers of prescription drug use.   Many teenage children (and younger) are under the mistaken impression that just because something is prescribed by a doctor that is inherently safe.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Individuals who abuse and misuse a drug such as OxyContin are exposing themselves to a substance as addictive and potentially deadly as heroin.

If you, or someone you love has been abusing prescription drugs, find a drug rehab facility in your area that can help them get treatment before it is too late.

When TV host and ex-wife of Boomtown Rats lead singer Bob Geldof Paula Yates died of a heroin overdose in 2006, few were surprised.  Yates had struggled with heroin and drug addiction for much of her adult life.

Much sadder is the news that Yates and Geldof’s 19-year old daughter Peaches Geldof was recently found unconsious in her London apartment as a result of a drug overdose.

Peaches survived the incident, but the disturbing event must be a blow to her father- who does not want to see his daughter travel down the same path as his late ex-wife.

The celebrity status of the family has drawn attention to this saga, but families from all walks of life suffer through similar situations every day.

Whether they wish to admit it or not, kids model their behavior after their parents. Peaches Yates is like any child who grew up in home with a permissive attitude towards drugs - she doesn’t see anything wrong with substance abuse, and engages in the behavior in a reckless manner.

Parents who are doing drugs and have children in their home need to consider the ramifications of their actions, and take the following steps immediately:

• Cease and desist all drug use in the home
• Remove all drugs and drug paraphenalia from the home
• Get help!  Check into a drug rehab facility so that you can break the cycle of addiction before it trickles down to your children.

Crystal meth use is continuing to spread across the globe like a runaway forest fire.  With strong, addictive effects, Methamphetamine use is destroying the health and well being of young people around the world.  In response to the growing problem of meth use, several anti-drug agencies have employed graphic ad campaigns in an attempt to get people to realize just how harmful the drug can be.

The anti-meth advertising campaigns from the State of Montana emphasize the unique physical effects of crystal meth, and how it can turn a healthy individual into a shadow of their former self.  Like many recent efforts from other states and organizations, this work drives the point home in the most graphic manner possible.

Long term effects of crystal meth use

While many of these ads “break the rules” of traditional public service announcements, the seriousness of crystal meth’s long term health effects justify pushing the envelope from a creative point-of-view.  Consider these long-term effect of methamphetamine use:

• Brain damage that produces effects similar to those found in individuals with Parkinson’s Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
• Coma
• Stroke
• Distinct facial disfiguration include a gaunt, hollow appearance
• Dental problems including rotting and discoloration of the teeth and gums
• Significant weight loss
• Psychosis
• Anxiety
• Death

Teenagers and adolescents who have an alcohol or drug abuse problem are putting their long-term health at great risk.  From the age of 12 through 20 years old, a young person’s body is in transition.  Drugs and alcohol alters the system during this crucial period of change and can affect the body adversely in a number of ways, including:

1. The liver - Young people don’t develop cirrhosis of the liver per se, but the damage they do to their liver during periods of heavy drinking can greatly raise the risk of liver damage as adults.
2. The immune system - Research has shown that cocaine, heroin, marijuana and crystal meth use all affect the development of the immune system, making it difficult for the individual fight off infection as they get older.
3. Bone development - Studies have found that boys who drink excessively during their early teen years experience stunted growth more often that those who do not consume alcohol.
4. The limbic system - Drugs and alcohol alter the limbic system - the part of the area that controls the release of pleasure and reward.  Changes to the limbic system during adolescence will stay with that individual (and potentially get worse) throughout the rest of their lives.
5. The endocrine system - Alcohol abuse as a teenager has a direct effect on that person’s ability to reproduce later in life.  That is because of the adverse reaction of the endocrine system - which controls development of the testes and ovaries - to alcohol.

If you know a young person struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, contact an addiction treatment center that understands the special needs of teenagers and their families.