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 →

I really appreciate the fact that Dr. Phil is keeping up on the latest teen trends. I rely heavily upon his programs that feature issues our teens are dealing with. Last week he talked about a new “legal” drug that teens are using. It was the first time I had heard of it. It is called “Spice” and parents need to be aware of it. It also goes by the name “K2.” What Spice does for teens is similar to the effects of marijuana; the only difference is that you can legally buy Spice. It is sold as incense and … Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →

While I am not entirely surprised, I was still disappointed to see a recent video of Miley Cyrus “tripping out” on salvia, a legal marijuana-like plant. It seems that yet another child star has fallen from grace. Should anyone really be surprised? I hate to sound pessimistic but every time a new teen idol rises, I wonder when the downfall will hit. I am waiting for the likes of Justin Bieber and others to do the same. I would like to have a more positive outlook but it seems that fame and fortune is just too much for these young … Continue reading →