When my children were younger, I always made sure all medicines were locked up and in a spot they couldn’t be reached. Now that they are teens, it isn’t a concern…but apparently it should be. A new study just came out that says teens are starting to abuse over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. We’re not talking prescription medication (which of course, can also be a problem) but everyday medicines such as decongestants and cough syrup. Hey, it’s easy access. And it’s becoming more common because of the increased efforts to keep illicit drugs out of their hands. The study also indicates that … Continue reading →

I just read an article on NIH News that marijuana use is increasing amongst teens. While that is bad enough, it is especially disheartening to hear that it is on a greater increase with 8th graders. According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF), the percentage of 8th graders smoking pot is up to 16%, compared to 14.5% last year. In addition the survey indicated that in all grades the use of marijuana on a daily basis has also gone up. It doesn’t help when we see the likes of Miley Cyrus, who was recently puffing away on a … Continue reading →

How have your teenagers been spending their summer? Well, it could be they are doing things you don’t know about. That’s because according to U.S. health officials, the months of June and July are the highest in which teens start drinking, along with smoking cigarettes and marijuana. A report was just released this week by the “U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration” that during each day over the summer, first-timers are lighting up and drinking in staggering amounts. About 4,500 will try marijuana. Another 5,000 will light up a cigarette and more than 11,000 will have their first … Continue reading →

Ahhh…there is nothing like sprinkling some cinnamon on my homemade French toast. Are you a cinnamon fan? If so, you might want to lock it up from your teen. According to the nation’s poison centers, they received 139 calls between January and March of 2012, concerning potential cinnamon poisoning. Yes, you read that right…cinnamon poisoning. It sometimes amazes me how an adolescent can turn something so innocent (and delicious) into something so dangerous. Apparently there is a new game being played amongst teens called the “cinnamon challenge.” This game is being blamed on at least 122 of those calls made … Continue reading →

It used to be that it was easy to know the types of drugs that teens might try. But gone are the days of that. Now you hear about kids getting high on everyday products. Or you hear about a new substance that while it isn’t illegal, it can still produce the same effects such as may be found in marijuana. So for parents it can be difficult to keep up on the latest trends. In the past I have blogged about some of these things—including spice, digital drugs and salvia. But as much as I try to keep updated, … Continue reading →