Sue Scheff: Do You Know Your Doctors Are Prescribing You and Your Teens? DrugWatch.com
by Sue Scheff on Jun 27, 2010
Prescription medications and teens and children has been a debate for years. The controversy over ADD/ADHD medication such as Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera, Concerta and others has been hashed out in medical reports and articles for many years.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, by mid-teens more than 40 percent of adolescents have acne or acne scarring which may require treatment by a dermatologist and use of prescription drugs such as Accutane to treat their condition, not realizing the drug’s serious side effects like liver failure, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and depression which can lead to suicide. One unfortunate example of this effect is Congressman Bart Stupak’s son, who tragically took his own life after being on Accutane to treat his acne.
According to DrugWatch, on June 29, 2009, Roche Pharmaceuticals pulled Accutane from the market due to numerous personal injury lawsuits and business costs. Isotretinoin, the generic form of Accutane, is still available in generic form under different brand names in the U.S. for the treatment of acne and other conditions.
What medications are your teenagers or children taking regularly? Do you do your due diligence in researching the medication prior giving them to your child to take?
For more information on many prescriptive drugs, visit www.drugwatch.com and find out more about what you or your children are taking.
There have been clinics in Jacksonville that are under investigation for illegal prescriptions. Click here for this story.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.
Related articles:
Operation Medicine Cabinet
Not My Kid
Parents: The Anti-Drug
Tags: Drug Use, DrugWatch, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff
Sue Scheff: Teen-Proof Your House – Talk to your teenagers!
by Sue Scheff on Jun 13, 2010
It’s summer, it’s school break and it is time to hang with your friends! Some households with both parents working or single parent homes, teens have more free unsupervised time. This isn’t a bad thing however if you suspect your teen is using drugs, their time alone can be trouble.
Did you know your home can be the culprit in drug use? Stop Medicine Abuse has created an awareness to help parents recognize the signs of OTC – over the counter drug abuse. Yes, cough medicine, anti-depressants, blood pressure medications and much more. You home can be a place to retrieve drugs. Have you heard of fishbowl parties?
It can be hard to tell if there is an issue when your teens’ moods change from day to day. While many signs of abuse are also common signs of just being a teenager, they can also be cause for concern and a good reason to talk to your teen about the real risks of cough medicine abuse.
- Hearing your child use certain slang terms for dextromethorphan abuse, such as Skittling, Tussing, Robo-Tripping, Triple Cs and Dex
- Empty cough medicine boxes or bottles in the trash or a child’s room, or boxes or bottles missing from the medicine cabinet
- Changes in friends, physical appearance, or sleeping or eating patterns
- Declining grades
- Loss of interest in hobbies or favorite activities
- Hostile and uncooperative attitude
- Unexplained disappearance of household money
- Visiting pro-drug web sites that provide information on how to abuse dextromethorphan and other substances
- Unusual chemical or medicinal smells on your child or in his or her room
Join the Stop Medicine Abuse Facebook Group and stay informed. Follow them on Twitter too!
The key to prevention is education. Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens!
Related articles:
Not My Kid: Parent Denial
Huffing: Dangers of Inhalants
Teen Drug Prevention
Parents the Anti-Drug
Should Parents Read Teens Journal
Tags: Drug Use, OTC, Over the Counter Drugs, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Stop Medicine Abuse, Sue Scheff, Teen Drug Use, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Addiction Affects the Entire Family
by Sue Scheff on Mar 24, 2010
If you have a family member or friend that has an addiction, you know first hand the stress and toll this takes on the entire family as well as close friends that care about them.
Addiction is an obsession in that the addict’s entire life becomes focused on getting more of the drug. In the same way, family members of the addict become obsessed with the addict: Will he come home tonight? Will he get violent? Will he go into work? Will he lose his job? Will we lose the house?
Family members tend to adapt their personas in an attempt to handle the dysfunction that the addict has created. The caretaker or enabler, for example, makes it possible for the addict to keep functioning in addiction. He may give the addict money, provide a home and food, bail the addict out of jail and in general provide a safety that the addict can depend on no matter how violent, irresponsible or hurtful the behavior.
The caretaker role is just one example. Others include the hero, who makes sure that everything appears to be fine to outsiders, the jester who tries to make light of the situation, the ghost who never comments or makes his needs known. Family members of addicts become so focused on the addict’s problems that they often lose themselves along the way. Source: ProjectKnow.com
As the reality world of television expands, the latest addition is “Addicted” on TLC. Tune in to Addicted, a one-hour docu-series produced by Asylum Entertainment, that follows the lives of individuals struggling with addiction as they work with interventionist Kristina Wandzilak. Each episode will take viewers on the unpredictable journey of recovery and the harrowing struggle to become sober.
Take a few minutes to watch the powerful video to understand how serious addiction is and how it affects the entire family. Read more.
Tags: Addicted, Addiction, Drug Abuse, Drug Use, Parenting, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Substance Abuse, Sue Scheff, Teen Drug Use, Teen Health, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Dr. Drew Talks about Cough Medicine Abuse
by Sue Scheff on Mar 09, 2010
Recently I was privileged to be part of an interesting and educational conversation with Dr. Drew and Jeff Wolfsberg.
Jeff Wolfsberg posted an excellent outline of our discussion. For parents that are raising teens today, it is imperative you understand the dangers of cough medicine abuse as well as other medicines in your home.
Tags: At Risk Teens, Cough Medicine Abuse, Dr. Drew, Drug Use, Parenting, Parenting Resources, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Substance Abuse, Sue Scheff, Teen Help, Troubled Teens
Sue Scheff: Fake Pot – Do you know what your teens are smoking?
by Sue Scheff on Mar 04, 2010
As parents scramble to keep up with the challenges of raising teens today, they are now thrown another curve ball. Most know that smoking pot, although not legal and seems to becoming more addictive among youths, is a trend that some parents brush under the rug with the justification that “it is only pot.”
Recently after speaking with a parent of an at risk teen, she said her therapist actually told her teen it was “okay” to smoke marijuana. Excuse me? This parent was horrified and this only empowered the teen. Obviously they are not returning to that therapist, but how many others feel this way?
Parenting is hard enough, and it is the parent that is the strongest tool in helping our teens to understand the dangers of drug abuse.
Now we have what is being called, K2 – or “Spice,” Genie” and “Zohai” – that is commonly sold in head shops as incense and referred to as the “fake-pot“. Produced in China and Korea, the mixture of herbs and spices is sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Users roll it up in joints or inhale it from pipes, just like the real thing. – AP
K2 costs between $20 and $50 for three grams, similar to the street price of marijuana, but with the key advantages of being legal and undetectable in drug tests. The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration has classified it a “drug or chemical of concern.”
Kansas and Missouri already have bills to ban the mystery substance. What is your state doing about this latest trend?
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.
Read more on Examiner.
Tags: Drug Use, Fake Marijuana, K2, Parenting, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Peer Pressure, Smoking Pot, Substance Abuse, Sue Scheff, Teen Health, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Parent Denial – Not My Kid
by Sue Scheff on Feb 08, 2010
After speaking with Dr. Drew last week in an insightful call on teens and cough syrup abuse, the conversation turned to the many parents that are in denial or constantly looking to blame others for their child’s behavior.
How many times have you blamed your child’s friend or a neighbor for negative behavior of your child? It is not your child, it is the friends he/she is hanging with. Your child would never do drugs, they are too smart for that. Are they? Yes, many are highly intelligent but that doesn’t mean they are immune to drug use.
The faster you remove yourself from the “it’s not my child” excuse, the sooner you can work on getting your child the help he/she may need.
According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, one in five teens reports having abused a prescription drug to get high.
Teens who learn a lot about the dangers of drugs from their parents are half as likely to abuse drugs. – StopMedicineAbuse
Some red flags parents should be aware of, and not ignore are:
- Change in friends/peer group
- Withdrawn, secretive
- Change in appearance, grooming
- Decline in grades, skipping school
- Dazed eyes, glassy eyes, bloodshot
- Odor or smell to their hair or clothes of alcohol, pot, or nicotine (using body sprays and perfumes more frequently)
- Lying about their whereabouts, defiance
- Loss of interest in their usual interests such as sports, dance etc.
Parents need to understand that ignoring these signs or blaming it on others is not going to help your child. You need to seek treatment so it doesn’t escalate to much worse. A parent in denial is not helping the child, it is actually harming them. There isn’t any shame in having a child that is struggling, there is only shame if you don’t reach out and get help.
Resources:
Time to Talk, Five Moms, Stop Medicine Abuse, Inhalant Abuse, Drug Free America, The Anti-Drug
Read more on Examiner and watch video.
Tags: At Risk Teens, Dr. Drew, Drug Use, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Substance Abuse, Teen Drug Abuse
Sue Scheff: Prescription Drug Use for Teens
by Sue Scheff on Jan 30, 2010
Many parents understand the drug use among teens, legal and not. Prescription drugs for mental health issues is common. Parents need to be aware of the side effects as well as if their child is appropriately diagnosed.
Source: Connect with Kids
Antipsychotic Drug Use
“So if you are going to give your child a medicine that is going to slow their ability to learn and then send them to school, that’s a serious thing. You really want your child treated with the least amount of this medicine that is required…for the shortest period.”
– Shannon Croft, M.D., Child Psychiatrist, Emory University School of Medicine
A soaring number of children are being prescribed a controversial class of drugs called antipsychotics. In fact, according to new research from Columbia and Rutgers Universities, the number of pre-school children taking these drugs has doubled in the past decade.
But are these drugs safe for kids of any age?
That’s a question 14-year-old Lauren and her mom has had to ask.
Growing up, Lauren would have violent outbursts. “You were always concerned about that phone call,” says her mom, Robin Weinrich. “She could grab a knife. She could use a simple thing [such] as a fork.”
Lauren would physically hurt her brother and sister. Afterwards, she was sorry.
“I’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh! Don’t tell anybody, please! I’m so sorry!’” says Lauren.
To stop the violence, Lauren’s doctor prescribed an antipsychotic. “All of a sudden you’ve elevated the type of medication she’s taking,” says Robin. “It’s not just a simple antidepressant or mood stabilizer, now it’s an antipsychotic.”
Ten years ago, antipsychotics were mostly used to treat schizophrenia.
Now, kids are taking them for the aggression that comes with autism, attention deficit, or, in Lauren’s case, bipolar disorder.
“When she gets frustrated or angry now it’s mostly yelling and screaming,” says Robin, “but there’s no physical reaction.”
Doctors say they’ve seen antipsychotics work in adults, and that’s one reason they’re being prescribed to kids.
But no long-term studies show the drugs to be safe or effective in kids.
And they can have dangerous side effects.
“There are some studies that have shown serious weight gain in children and adolescents that have been started on these medicines,” says Dr. Shannon Croft, a child psychiatrist at the Emory University School of Medicine, “and some have gone on to develop diabetes because of the weight gain.”
Other side effects include a trembling similar to Parkinson’s disease – and damage to a child’s ability to think.
“So if you are going to give your child a medicine that is going to slow their ability to learn and then send them to school, that’s a serious thing,” says Dr. Croft. “You really want your child treated with the least amount of this medicine that is required, for the shortest period.”
Lauren’s mom is worried about future side effects, but her daughter needs help today.
“If we did not make the right decisions for her medically,” says Robin, “she could be in a hospital, she could be in a psychiatric unit, she could be in jail for killing somebody.”
Tips for Parents
- Parents whose children are prescribed these drugs should proceed with extreme caution. Ask the doctor if there are alternatives. If you are not sure whether your child really needs one of these drugs, get a second opinion.
- Realize many doctors believe antipsychotics are too powerful for children who do not have a psychotic illness like schizophrenia. Some doctors and patients have found these drugs do calm outbursts in children with conditions like ADHD, bipolar, or autism – but the use of antipsychotics for such conditions is controversial.
- If your child does start taking an antipsychotic for a non-psychotic illness, watch them closely for side effects. Realize the risk of side effects will increase the longer your child takes the medicine. Make sure you know the time frame when your doctor plans to take your child off the drug. Put your child on the lowest dose possible, for the shortest time period.
- Join a support group – so you can see if the treatment your child is receiving is in line with what other kids are getting. However, realize that what works for one patient does not necessarily work for another. Just because another child has a good or bad experience with a particular drug, does not mean your child will react the same way. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, or NAMI, has good support groups.
- Children on antipsychotics should also be in therapy. These drugs are not a cure. They treat symptoms and not underlying problems. If children learn to control their behavior through therapy, they can be taken off this medicine as soon as possible.
References
- Columbia University
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Rutgers University
Tags: Connect with Kids, Drug Use, Parenting Resources, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Prescription Drugs, Teen Drug Use, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month Coming in September
by Sue Scheff on Jun 17, 2009
Get ready for September for National Recovery Month – RecoveryMonth.gov is not only limited to the month of September. You can participate any time of year.
Recovery Month is pleased to announce the release of the 2009 Recovery Month toolkit designed to help you plan and publicize your activities during Recovery Month in September and throughout the year. The toolkit includes three sections:
- “Media Outreach” section offers tips for planning and promoting your Recovery Month activities.
- “Targeted Outreach” section offers details about substance use disorders, tailored for specific audiences.
- “Resources” section can help you prepare for your Recovery Month events, as well as consider potential partnerships with other organizations to share resources and broaden the reach of your activities.
The 2009 toolkit can be downloaded on our Web site and ordered by calling 1-800-662-HELP or sending an email to SHIN@samhsa.hhs.gov.
The Recovery Month Web site aims to promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment, laud the contributions of treatment providers, and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug disorders in all its forms is possible
Tags: Drug Addiction, Drug Use, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Peer Pressure, SAMSHA, Struggling Teens, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Teen Drug Use, Teen Health, Teen Help, Troubled Teens
Sue Scheff: Talking To Your Teens About Drug Use
by Sue Scheff on Feb 02, 2009
O-kay – Michael Phelp’s, a role model for our kids – has screwed up. I am not condoning what he did – but can’t help to think that this is yet another opportunity for parents to open up a discussion about drugs with their kids.
Newsday.com has an article encouraging coaches to speak with young athletes about this. I think it can hold true to parents of all children that look up to celebrities and athletes. For more information visit D.A.R.E.
Source: NewsDay.com
Coaches: Michael Phelps scandal an opportunity to talk to young athletes
Michael Phelps’ apology for using a marijuana pipe presents an opportunity to talk to young athletes about drug use, poor judgment and how to learn from a mistake, Long Island swim coaches said.
Long Island coaches said they would use the incident as a teachable moment, driving home the point that drugs undermine athletic performance and that Phelps will suffer the consequences of his actions, losing esteem, and perhaps endorsements.
“It’s upsetting on so many different levels,” said Bill Kropp, head coach for varsity boys swimming at Sachem East High School, where the swim team swelled this year with students inspired by Phelps.
“As a coach, you bring up role models, and obviously he is the poster boy of excellence,” Kropp said. “It’s something that he has to live with, and we have to live with as coaches and parents.”Phelps posted an apology on his Facebook page, where more than 500 fans had written comments about the incident yesterday evening. Though the messages were overwhelmingly supportive, some fans were disappointed.
“We should all learn from this,” said Peter Hugo, Nassau County’s boys swimming coordinator. “Even Michael Phelps makes mistakes. We have to learn to forgive and forget as long as it doesn’t happen a second time.”
Read entire article here: http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-liswim026021597feb02,0,5521275.story
“That should bring the parent closer to their child, enhancing that teachable moment,” he said. “Saying listen, it’s something he regrets. You have to learn from your mistakes.”
Tags: Drug Use, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Peer Pressure, Sue Scheff, Teen Drug Prevention, Teen Drug Use, Teen substance abuse
Sue Scheff: Drug Free America
by Sue Scheff on Dec 05, 2008
Parenting today has become more challenging than ever. Social Networking is expanding a new area of concern for parents – and today more than ever, parents need to be informed and keep updated about substance abuse, teen drug use, huffing, drinking, inhalant use and other harmful habits. Peer pressure, the need to fit in – combined with kids suffering with low self esteem can lead to negative behavior.Stay informed – visit http://www.drugfree.org/ to keep yourself educated.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a nonprofit organization that unites parents, renowned scientists and communications professionals to help families raise healthy children. Best known for its research-based national public education programs, the Partnership motivates and equips parents to prevent their children from using drugs and alcohol, and to find help and treatment for family and friends in trouble. The centerpiece of this effort is an online resource center at drugfree.org, featuring interactive tools that translate the latest science and research on teen behavior, addiction and treatment into easy to understand tips and tools. Research conducted by AP and MTV recently showed that kids see their parents as heroes— at drugfree.org, parents can connect with each other, tap into expert advice for children of all ages, and find the support they want and need in their role as hero to their kids. The Partnership depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and other contributors. The Partnership thanks SAG/AFTRA, the advertising industry and our media partners for their ongoing generosity.
Tags: Drug Free America, Drug Use, Parenting, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Struggling Teens, Sue Scheff, Teen Drug Use, Teen Issues, Teen substance abuse
