HELP FOR TALKING TO YOUR CHILD

Remember the fried egg? ..."This is your brain on drugs." We were young then - maybe close to the age of our children now. The organization that put that campaign together is the "Partnership for a Drugfree America". It was around before there even was a world wide web. Today, they have a web site that helps parents every day.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org is a nonprofit organization that helps parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children. By bringing together renowned scientists, parent experts and communications professionals, we not only translate current research on teen behavior, addiction and treatment into easy to understand, actionable resources at drugfree.org, but we offer hope and help to the parents of the 11 million teens and young adults who need help with drugs and alcohol.

Their website allows parents to connect with each other, tap into expert advice and find support in their role as hero to their kids.

Suspect that your child is using alcohol or drugs? Check out this link and learn how to deal with it. Lots of great resources and ideas!

http://www.drugfree.org/intervene

PRINCETON REVIEW OF PARTY SCHOOL RANKINGS OUT

The Princeton Review just released its ranking of the nation's biggest party schools – billed as the list of colleges where students really know how to have a good time. KU did not make the top ten list. For some kids, those times are starting way before college. CDC research reports that 72 percent of high school students have used alcohol. How can parents recognize warning signs that their teen may have a drinking problem?
Read more...

http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/2010/505_sep1/thisweek/100901_drinking.shtml

TALKING TO YOUNG KIDS ABOUT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

The issue of drugs can be very confusing to young children. If drugs are so dangerous, then why is the family medicine cabinet full of them? And why do TV, movies, music and advertising often make drug and alcohol use look so cool?
We need to help our kids to distinguish fact from fiction. And it's not too soon to begin. National studies show that the average age when a child first tries alcohol is 11; for marijuana, it's 12. And many kids start becoming curious about these substances even sooner. So let's get started!

It is never too early. Talk early, talk often. If you talk to your kids at an early age about drugs and alcohol, you will not be ifluencing them to start taking drugs or drinking. On the contrary, they will be less apt to experiment if they know the facts. The issue of drugs can be very confusing to young children. If drugs are so dangerous, then why is the family medicine cabinet full of them? And why do TV, movies, music and advertising often make drug and alcohol use look so cool?
We need to help our kids to distinguish fact from fiction. And it's not too soon to begin. National studies show that the average age when a child first tries alcohol is 11; for marijuana, it's 12. And many kids start becoming curious about these substances even sooner. So let's get started!

http://www.talkingwithkids.org/alcohol.html

TALKING ABOUT POT

What is marijuana? What will happen if I smoke it? How does it effect my brain? Our kids want to know and what better source of information than parents. Here is a great brochure and conversation starter for your teen or preteen about marijuana. The more information our Lawrence youth have about drugs the better decisions they can make. MARIJUANA IS THE SECOND MOST ABUSED DRUG IN LAWRENCE after alcohol. Click on the link below and share it with your teen.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/PDF/TEENS_Marijuana_brochure.pdf

http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/Spanish/Marijteens-sp.html

Marijuana #2 Drug Choice Among Teens in Douglas County

There are many signs of marijuana use to be aware of. We have listed numerous below to help in determining if someone you care for may be using marijuana.
Signs of Marijuana addiction: Paraphernalia, eye drops, air freshener, Dilated (large) pupils Cigarette rolling papers Seeds that have been cleaned from marijuana Smell on clothing, in room, or in car Bloodshot eyes Sleepy appearance Reduced motivation Pipes, bongs, homemade smoking devices (you may see sticky residue from burned marijuana)Anxiety Difficulty thinking Distorted sensory perceptions Dry mouth Euphoria (temporary feelings of elation, energy and limitless power) Feeling sluggish Grandiosity (acting in a pompous or boastful manner) Impaired judgment Impaired short-term memory Inappropriate laughter Increased heart rate Increased appetite, craving sweets Reduced coordination Temporary feelings of reduced anxiety or stress Sadness/depressed mood Sensation that time is passing slowly Social withdrawal and isolation Discolored fingers Sleepiness
Marijuana is usually smoked using cigarette rolling papers, a purchased water bong, or a makeshift bong that can be made from a variety of items. Hash can be smoked or eaten, and is sometimes cooked into baked goods. Generally it can be difficult to recognize the signs of marijuana addiction if you don't see the individual after smoking when they are still experiencing the effects of the drug.
Slang terms for marijuana: Weed, ganga, bud, IZM, jive stick, Kentucky blue, Ju-Ju (marijuana cigarette), kiff, kilter, Lakbay diva, laughing grass, light stuff, binky (cigarette), macon, magic smoke, blanket (cigarette), Mary and Johnny, Mary Jane, Mary Jonas, Mary Warner, Mary Weaver, meg, meggie, mow the grass (to smoke), moving the lawn (smoking marijuana), bowl, broccoli, budda, oboy, OJ, butter flower, pine, cannabis, Queen Ann's lace, root, rope, sasfras, sen, shrimp, siddi, crying weed, spliffy (cigarette), splim, dinkie dow, duros, tin (pipe made out of tinfoil, container), toke (to smoke), wheat, gage, gash, wooz, yeh, yellow submarine, zol, Greta, griff, grogged (extremely stoned), gungun, herb

MARIJUANA USE WORSENS DEPRESSION

From the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Executive Office of the President.
Some teens feel the need to "self-medicate" to help them cope with difficulties in their lives, boredom or depression. Marajuana is easily accessable in Lawrence and is the drug of choice after alcohol. The temporary high turns to long term lows. Share this with the teens in your life.
http://www.theantidrug.com/pdfs/teen-marijuana-depression-report.pdf