What We Don’t Know CAN Hurt Us

April 19, 2012 in JCSHYC, Parents, Prescription Drugs

A new service is now available at the Jones County Sheriff’s Office. The Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition purchased a permanent collection box where controlled prescription drugs (painkillers, depressants, and stimulants) are allowed to be disposed of during regular business hours, M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The collection box is located at the Sheriff’s Office in the basement of the Court House, 500 W. Main in Anamosa. The participating pharmacies of the Iowa Take Away program are still collecting any non-controlled medications during business hours in Jones County as well. (Information about which pharmacies participate and which drugs are accepted can be found at www.iarx.org .) Prior to this new service, the best way to properly dispose of controlled prescriptions was to wait for Rx Drug Drives monitored by law enforcement each spring and fall. Anyone with unwanted controlled prescription drugs can now access this disposal service on a regular basis.

As parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and other concerned adults, we spend a lot of time helping teens circumvent the challenges that could ruin their lives. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges teens face is substance abuse. We talk to them about the hazards of underage alcohol use, binge drinking, drunk and drugged driving, and the risks of abusing marijuana and other dangerous drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. According to national statistics, we’re making an impact, with most illicit drug use going down over time.

What has not seen a decline is the nonmedical use of prescription medications. Prescription drug abuse has affected media personalities from Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland to more recently, Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger, and many more. There are thousands of people who are not celebrities who suffer and die, whose lives and names will forever remain unknown to the world, unreported in National headlines.

Out of the spotlight are the teens who are abusing these drugs to get high, fall asleep, wake up and deal with stress. Did you know that one in five teens or 4.5 million young people have abused Rx drugs, and every day, almost 2,500 teens abuse an Rx medication for the first time (National Council on Patient Information and Education)? The Office of National Drug Control
Policy says that the drugs most commonly abused by teens are painkillers; depressants, such as sleeping pills or anti-anxiety drugs; and stimulants, mainly prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Five percent of Jones County 11th grade students reported abusing prescription drugs at least one time in the past 30 days in the 2010 Iowa Youth Survey. Seven percent of these students reported abusing over-the-counter (OTC) medications as well. Rx and OTC are the next most abused substances in Jones County after alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, respectively.

Teens find Rx medication abuse as an acceptable and safer alternative to illicit drug use. Why—perhaps because we live in a world where there’s a pill for everything. In fact, when we go to the doctor, in seven out of 10 visits we leave with a prescription. It’s no wonder that teens are comfortable with misusing and abusing Rx medications. They also believe that because these drugs are legal, they are safer than marijuana, heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine.

Prescription drugs are easy to get. Fifty-six percent of people who use Rx medications non-medically say they obtain these drugs from friends and relatives (NSDUH 2010), meaning that these drugs are freely shared or taken from medicine cabinets or other accessible places.

So how do we protect the rights of those who need these medications to relieve pain while also preventing their abuse? We must sound the alarm to parents and adult caregivers that prescription drugs are a source of grave concern. Teens are abusing these drugs and some are even dying because of it. Parents and grandparents can protect their teens by locking up their meds, keeping track of medication quantities and properly disposing of medications when they are no longer needed.

Contact Jennifer Husmann at the Coalition office at 319-462-5030 or contactus@jonescountycoalition.org for more information about what types of medications are accepted at the Sheriff’s office and to become part of the teen Rx abuse solution. The Coalition will be having their next regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 9, 11:30 a.m. at their office, 203 E. Main, Anamosa.

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Cough Medicine Abuse

February 20, 2012 in JCSHYC, Parents, Prescription Drugs

JCSHY COALITION URGES COMMUNITY TO TAKE ACTION
AGAINST TEEN COUGH MEDICINE ABUSE
By Jennifer Husmann, Project Coordinator, Certified Prevention Specialist

The latest and among the most insidious drug abuse problems has arisen among teens and is creeping across America, affecting communities like ours everywhere. There are codenames for it: Skittles, Robo, Triple Cs, Dex, Tussin, and Vitamin D, to mention a few. And it is the practice of getting high by taking large doses of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medications. These are the same remedies that we commonly stock in our medicine cabinets, and are readily available in drugstores and supermarkets everywhere.
The “high” is caused by dextromethorphan, known familiarly as DXM, and is an active ingredient in more than 100 nonprescription cough syrups, tablets, and gel caps like Dimetapp DM, Robitussin, Sudafed and Vicks 44. A normal dose of cough medicine is 15–30 milligrams. Remarkably, some kids report having taken 25–50 times the recommended doses.
DXM, when used as directed, has a long history of being safe and effective. However, when taken in large doses, it can produce a hallucinogenic high, along with dangerous side effects, caused by the DXM itself or other active ingredients in the medicine. Among them are stomach pain and heart problems, as well as delusions, depression, high blood pressure, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, numbness, rashes, and seizures.
Certainly as a community, we want to ensure that OTC cough and cold medicines containing DXM remain accessible to those who need them.

However, the potential for abuse among youth demands our immediate attention. Toward that end, the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition, comprised of local organizations and concerned individuals, have joined together to look at what can be done to prevent OTC drug abuse, as well as Rx abuse. Stores can set policies to only sell these products to those age 18 and over, or keep these products behind the counter.

Authorities tell us that DXM overdoses typically occur in clusters, as word about the “high” spreads in a community’s middle and high schools. According to 2009 data collected by the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Monitoring the Future study, the intentional abuse of cough medicine among 8th grade students is 3.8% and among 10th and 12th grade students, 6%. The Jones County statistics are similar with four percent of 8th grade students and 7% of 11th grade students reporting abusing OTC drugs. (Iowa Youth Survey, 2010)
It is vital that adults, particularly parents be aware of the possible signs of abuse. A red flag should be raised if you see your child making frequent purchases of OTC cough preparations from the same or different stores, or from the Internet (for example, note the arrival of unexpected packages); hides cough medicine bottles or pills in his/her bedroom; is exhibiting odd behavior; has declining grades; a loss of interest in friends and activities; or is experiencing hallucinations and/or any of the side effects mentioned above.
Be vigilant about your medicine cabinets. Know what’s in there, keep track of your medicines, and discard OTC and prescription medications that you don’t need. If you suspect a problem, immediately contact a local substance abuse prevention/intervention professional, such as your pediatrician, family doctor, or the Area Substance Abuse Council. The JCSHY Coalition also can direct you toward help.
The time is to educate and act is now. Everything depends on it, for while our children make up only 25 percent of our national population, they represent 100 percent of our future. If you are interested in joining in our effort or want information, please contact Jennifer Husmann at the JCSHY Coalition at 319-462-5030 or contactus@jonescountycoalition.org . The next regular monthly coalition meeting is Wed., March 8, 11:30 a.m. at their office, 203 E. Main, Anamosa

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Recipe for Success by Bill Feldmann

January 24, 2012 in Alcohol, JCSHYC, Marijuana, Parents, Prescription Drugs, Tobacco

What are the ingredients of a successful community when it comes to raising our young people?  Some would say good schools, churches, sports teams, activities to get youth engaged, and parents involved in their young people’s lives.

The idea of being involved in the lives of our children has run astray over the years for some of our parents.  Sometimes we get so busy with our own work, jobs, spouses, etc. that we forget to check in with our kids.  We get them involved in sports, choir, band, jobs, and other activities and then let them run with it.  Most of the time that is a good thing.  How do we know if they are running on the straight and narrow?

What if the kids have parents that don’t have them in activities, and don’t know what is going on in their lives?  Sometimes we find out the hard way, with a phone call from a peace officer.  What you learn from that phone call or visit on the front porch can be life changing.  Is it going to cost them a ticket, a butt chewing, community service, or is a visit to the hospital or funeral home in order?

We all know that some people take longer to learn than others.  Some of our kids will follow your advice, some won’t.  Some will have less than perfect outcomes with their learning curve.  How can we change that?

We need to be involved in our kid’s lives, whether they are involved in activities at school, church or elsewhere.  We need to check in on them, and we need to check up on them.  As a parent we should know where our kids are, who they are with, and what they are doing, or planning to do.

 Sometimes others know more about our kids and what they are doing than we do.  Sometimes citizens anonymously contact our law enforcement agencies concerning underage drinking or other drug activities.  This is just one way our community is involved in monitoring activities in your kid’s lives.    Sometimes lessons learned are not pain free.  This is a way for us to be involved in changing behaviors and attitudes about alcohol and other drugs in Jones County.  Many larger communities use a program called Crime Stoppers to help solve crimes and gather information.

At the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition we are researching the use of a program to help the law enforcement community receive anonymous text and/or e-mail messages with tips about illegal activities in the county and our communities.  This tool would allow parents, kids, or any other individual to interact with our law enforcement community and remain anonymous, which can be the difference between being involved and letting it go. 

What do you think of this anonymous texting/e-mailing concept?  Would you use it?  What if it was your kid that was being reported on?  What are your thoughts on this?  Please let us know by contacting a member of the coalition or call the office at 319-462-5030.  Also feel free to come to the next coalition meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m. at the Coalition office, 203 E. Main Street, Anamosa. 

We can help raise our next generation in a healthy way by being involved with them and letting them know they are important to us.

Boosting Teens’ Brains

November 22, 2011 in JCSHYC, Marijuana, Parents

By Hannah Byrne, Jones Regional Alternative Program, JCSHY Coalition member

If you are fortunate enough to have a teenager in your life, you probably are familiar with the rollercoaster that is adolescence. Teens (and preteens) can be amazingly capable, compassionate, and responsible. I will often observe a teen’s behavior or conversations with friends and think “yes, they get it!” However, at other times teens can be incredibly frustrating, illogical, and leave you questioning your worth as a parent. Part of this contradiction has to do with the adolescent brain. It just isn’t an adult brain yet.

Recently I attended a conference the impact marijuana has on the adolescent brain. As an educator I often hear students downplaying the risks and exaggerating the benefits of marijuana use. I know their brains are still maturing, so what are the real facts?

Christian Thurstone, M.D, a specialist in adolescent psychology and addiction, lectured on the latest research findings on youth and marijuana use. There are disturbing, long-term consequences to our youth when they use marijuana. Below I’ve summarized some of the findings. You can visit the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy website for specifics at www.iowa.gov/odcp .

Adolescent exposure to marijuana use results in:
• Psychological and physical addiction.
• Permanent changes to brain structure affecting learning, memory, and attention and permanent affects to cognition.
• A higher likelihood that the user has risky sex or becomes a school dropout.
• An increase in anxiety and aggression, particularly during the withdrawal phase.
• The development of psychosis in those predisposed to mental illness. Those who smoked marijuana saw an onset of symptoms an average of three years earlier than those that did not smoke.

As the parent of young children, it baffles me that we keep our children in booster seats until they are 12, but somehow as a culture don’t worry too much about what they are smoking at age 14. If we are going to be consistent in our attitudes about our children’s safety, we need to reconsider our attitude towards youth exposure to marijuana.

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The Good News and the Bad News

August 22, 2011 in Alcohol, JCSHYC

As you may have heard Jones County was selected for a new grant opportunity, SPF SIG (Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant) because of our high adult binge drinking rate and ranking (2nd out of all 99 counties in Iowa ) and our high underage drinking rate and ranking (17th out of 99 counties in 2008). This grant was an unusual one because there was not an application process at the county level, but rather the top 23 Iowa counties were chosen based on statistics showing a high need to address these issues. Several different data points and sources were utilized including the rates of adult OWI convictions and adult alcohol offense convictions. The Jones County alcohol-related conviction rates were actually very low compared to the rest of the state’s counties (85th for OWIs and 88th for offenses). Overall, Jones County was ranked 13th out of all Iowa’s counties. The Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition has had an assessment committee and the new SPF SIG Coordinator, Patti Bammert, looking over all the data available, hosting a focus group, and interviewing law enforcement and a dozen other members of the community about these issues. The coalition is trying to understand why Jones County’s drinking rates are high and the alcohol related OWI and offense rates are not, and what can be done about all of it.

Another interesting point about this grant is comparing our county rates of adult binge drinking, not only to the state, but also to the nation. Iowa’s adult binge drinking rate is higher than the nation’s. On average only 15% of adults on a national level binge drink (defined as 5 or more standard alcoholic drinks on any one occasion (4 or more for women). Iowa’s average is 20% and Jones County’s average is 29%. (All 3 data points (national, state, and county) averaged over 3 years, 2007-2009.) The map below shows the 23 counties who were ranked as highest need for this funding. It is also very interesting to see so many of the counties being in the Northeast area near Jones County.

After digging into this SPF SIG data for the past two months, the coalition just received some brand new data about Jones County students’ substance abuse rates. There is good news– the Jones County Iowa Youth Survey from late 2010, shows significant decreases in underage drinking and almost all substance abuse, including particularly the three other substances the coalition has targeted– tobacco, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse. In 2008, the underage drinking rate reported by 11th grade students was 43%, and that number decreased to 29% in 2010. That is still nearly one out of three students drinking on a regular basis, but a definite decrease to celebrate and continue to do the prevention work of the community!

Reminder of Social Host Ordinance in Jones County

May 17, 2011 in Alcohol, JCSHYC, Parents

With high school graduation parties happening yet for the next month, the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth (JCSHY) Coalition would like to remind the public about the recently passed social host ordinance in Jones County. Under the ordinance, adults will be held responsible if they allow underage drinking on the property they control. A host in violation is any person who allows/hosts a party where alcoholic beverages are in the possession of or are being consumed by persons under the legal drinking age.

How does the social host ordinance work? When law enforcement responds to a party where there is underage drinking, they will issue a citation for violating the social host ordinance and stop the party. The host will be cited a civil penalty. A first violation would result in a $500 fine. A second (and subsequent) violation(s) would result in a $750 fine.

National research shows 57% of minors have drank at a friend’s home and 60-80% of high school juniors obtain alcohol from home or at home parties. The majority of youth report getting alcohol from their friends and family. (The Century Council, 2003) According to the 2008 Iowa Youth Survey, more than one in three 11th grade Jones County youth reported binge drinking, and 76% of 11th graders said it was easy to obtain alcohol in their community.

The JCSHY Coalition hopes the ordinance will reduce the number of underage drinking parties, thus reducing teen drinking, binge drinking, driving after drinking and the many negative consequences that can happen from these behaviors. The ordinance helps to establish healthy expectations for teens, adults, and our community, creating a healthier and safer community.

Teens can make a difference with this issue by choosing not to drink alcohol, taking a stand against underage drinking, and using their influence to encourage other youth not to drink. Many youth are getting involved in their school advocacy groups and the JCSHY Coalition. Adults can make a difference by talking to youth about not drinking, setting clear expectations, being good role-models, ensuring youth do not have access to alcohol in homes, and encouraging their friends and family to follow these tips as well. Be a part of the solution and get involved in the JCSHY Coalition any way possible. Call 462-5030, stop by the coalition office in Anamosa at 203 E. Main St., or visit www.jonescountycoalition.org for more information. The coalition normally meets on the second Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is June 8, 11:30 a.m. and is being held at the Monticello Pizza Ranch.

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Class E hard liquor lisences in gas stations

March 28, 2011 in Alcohol, JCSHYC, Parents

On March 23, a bill was approved in the Iowa Legislature that would allow convenience stores that are gas stations to sell hard liquor on their shelves near all of their other products. Current Iowa law does not allow a Class E (hard liquor) license to be issued to a premise in which gasoline is sold. The bill now goes to Governor Branstad for his consideration.

Currently there are between 50-75 convenience store/gas stations in Iowa that have built a separate, walled-off room with a separate cash register. Many of these convenience stores first started selling hard liquor after remodeling for an opportunity several years ago where gambling machines were allowed in convenience stores for a short time, but were required to be in a separate area. As of last week there were 1,890 gas station/convenience stores in Iowa with a Class B (beer and wine coolers) license.

About of a dozen of these convenience stores with Class B beer licenses are in Jones County, and none of them at this time have built the separate area to have a Class E hard liquor license. If this bill is signed into law by Governor Branstad, it will be very easy for all of them to add hard liquor products right next to the rest of their items for sale. We could very easily go from 0 to 12 more places to purchase hard liquor in Jones County. In Iowa we could easily go from well under 100 to nearly 2000 more places to purchase hard liquor.

In the underage drinking and adult binge drinking prevention field, it is widely known that if the number of outlets where alcohol is available increases so increases the problems such as drunk driving and other illegal activities. The opposite is true is well. That is one of the results of a study done by University of Iowa that showed limiting the number of bars in the downtown area is one way to help with underage drinking and binge drinking issues.
Sometimes bills have several parts to them. This Class E liquor license in gas stations bill also has a measure in it to not allow caffeine or other stimulants to high alcohol content beers. This corresponds well with the issuance the FDA gave out last fall stating that the caffeine in the manufacturers’ alcohol beverages is an ‘unsafe food additive’ making these products illegal under federal law. The products with caffeine added to alcohol were removed from most store shelves.

Many young people age 16-20 are the clerks in convenience stores particularly at night and on the weekends. Alcohol compliance check rates are not always favorable when clerks are selling beer. About a year and a half ago an alcohol compliance check done in a neighboring county by their Sheriff’s Office found that 1/3 of the convenience store clerks sold beer to the underage person. Hard liquor comes in even smaller containers which are easier to hide. Hard liquor is also known for its quick intoxicating effects.

On NPR last Thursday, it was noted that Governor Branstad was unsure if he would sign this bill. As with all bills, he could choose to line item veto parts of bills. If you would like to contact Brandstad’s office with your opinion about this bill, you can call 515-281-5211 or go to https://governor.iowa.gov/contact and enter your message.

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“Legal” and “Newer” Drugs of Abuse

March 21, 2011 in JCSHYC, Parents

Below is a little information for parents and others interested in knowing what these what newer ”legal” drugs of abuse are out there today.  K2 is not legal right now in Iowa or the US, but was legal very recently.   Legislation is underway in Iowa and in the US to classify it more permanently as illegal.  

  • K2/Spice is a product that has been sold in Iowa and other states as incense, but used as a smoking material. Following the June 2010, death of an Iowa teen who had used K2, suffered a panic attack and then shot himself, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy adopted emergency rules to classify five synthetic cannabinoids sprayed on K2 and similar products as Imitation Controlled Substances in Iowa. In order for it to be permanently illegal in Iowa, state legislative action is needed. Recently the DEA also put an emergency ban on K2 being sold legally in the United States, and it will be up to Federal legislators to list it as a Schedule I drug in the US.
  • Salvia Divinorum has also not yet been classified as a Controlled Substance in Iowa as it has in at least 16 other states. The plant material is typically either chewed or smoked. The effects first appear within 30 seconds to 10 minutes and last about 30 minutes. It is available at some local smoke and tobacco shops and via the Internet. The effects can be intense and debilitating hallucinations. Salvia Divinorum was first brought to the US about a decade ago from Mexico. It is not to be confused with Salvia the plant commonly found in typical flowering gardens. Salvia Divinorum is being smoked most commonly by young males of college age. Little is known yet about the long term effects on the brain. What is known about the drug is that it is recommended on the internet the user be “babysat” or watched closely as they hallucinate to make sure they do not jump out of a window or get in a car.
  • Bath salts/Fake ecstasy MDPV (mephedrone) is the latest “legal” drug to make the news. They are not really bath salts. They are being sold in tobacco outlets, some convenience stores and via the internet under names like Vanilla Sky, Tranquility, Ocean Burst, and more. These fake bath salts are described as white, tan or brown odorless, powdery substance. MDPV is a central nervous stimulant. Effects are similar to cocaine, ecstasy, or meth. It can be snorted, injected or eaten. The physical effects include a racing heartbeat, extremely elevated blood pressure, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and strange eye movements. Psychological effects include extreme agitation or anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, depression, change in personality, aggression or disturbed behavior, delusions, hostility, violence and suicidal thoughts.

Source:  Iowa Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy

An editorial about Marijuana in Iowa

March 14, 2011 in JCSHYC, Marijuana

The following editorial is by the Project Coordinator for the DFC Grant in rural Linn County, Erin Foster.  Their project has the same drugs of concern and goal areas as we do for the  Jones County DFC grant. 

For the past three years, I have been the “Alcohol Lady” in the Mount Vernon High School and a member of the Above the Influence Coalition in Mount Vernon. However, as of October 1, 2010, I probably should change my title from “Alcohol Lady” to “Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana, and Prescription Drugs Lady”. That’s right; I’m covering them ALL now. On October 1st, Mount Vernon Community School District became the fiscal agent of a new federal grant working to reduce the use of those four substances in seven communities making up rural Linn County and I am your new fearless leader in leading the charge as Project Coordinator.

As we looked at which new substance we’d like to lead our charge with in the prevention of substance abuse among youth in the Mount Vernon and Lisbon community, news of the legalization of Marijuana was saturating just about every source of media we turn to. It was pretty evident which substance we should begin with. The legalization of Marijuana is definitely a hot topic, especially when it involves legalization for medicinal use. I am not a doctor, nor do I ever claim to know anything about the medical field other than Z Pack can now apparently cure everything. I am, however, a substance abuse prevention professional and I have worked right in the trenches, otherwise known as high schools, since I have started in this field. So as I understand the many sides of why legalization of Marijuana could potentially have some positive effects, I have to take my stand against it fully knowing what it could do to the youth in our community if it becomes legalized.

Take Denver for instance. In 2000, according to Time Magazine, Colorado voters approved an amendment to the state constitution to legalize marijuana for patients suffering from “debilitating medical conditions”: cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, and Multiple Sclerosis, along with other symptoms like “severe nausea” and “chronic pain”. All of these conditions have many arguments about why people should be able to have some reprieve from pain, especially the harsher conditions listed. However in a study done earlier this year, Colorado health department records show that only 2% of registered patients had cancer, 1% had HIV/AIDS and over 94% had the catchall condition, chronic pain (The United States of Amerijuana, Time Magazine, 2010). After doing a bit more research on conditions for qualifying for chronic pain in Denver, I realized something interesting. I am 26 years old, work out at least 5 days a week, have had very few health issues to date, but due to a fall down a flight of steps when I was 16, I qualify for this treatment option.

But what does this have to do with youth? Clearly I am not a high school student anymore so even being 26 and after a fall, me qualifying really doesn’t mean much in regards to youth’s use. However, after doing a bit more digging into what is happening in Denver, I came across a story about Christian Thurstone, a psychiatrist for adolescents who runs a drug treatment program. He is seeing an increase in young patients into his treatment program. He claims the increase in patients is due to the fact that when there is an increase of a drug (Marijuana) at the same time of a decrease in perception of harm, use greatly increases. But how are they getting it if only people with medicinal needs own a card? According to Thurston, when he collected data of 55 juvenile marijuana users in his treatment center, more than 60% of them had gotten their marijuana from a patient with a medical-marijuana card (The United States of Amerijuana, Time Magazine, 2010).

Even after doing this research, I realize that what is happening in Denver does not mean the same effects of legalization of Marijuana will occur here in Iowa. But Denver is not the only city having these issues. As someone who has created a career around the prevention of youth using substances so that they can have a better, healthier life than what people my age had, I’m asking you, is it worth the risk?

Alcohol, Drugs, and the Brain—Prevention is Important

March 10, 2011 in Alcohol, JCSHYC, Marijuana, Parents, Tobacco

Twice in the past few weeks, in Monticello and Wyoming, I have had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Richard Newkirk, a Behavior Strategist, who does public speaking regarding brain anatomy, function, and various pathologies. He has worked on autopsied brains in a clinical setting for over a decade. I also heard him in the fall when he spoke at Anamosa. So in all I’ve heard him speak three times and he repeated many points, but also told some different stories and facts at each presentation. Then this week, I also noticed in the news a story on television about how drugs have been proven again to affect mental health, particularly if used in the teen years. You can click on the USA Today link below to see the article in full, but here is a good share of the article:

Smoking marijuana as a teenager or young adult raises your risk of having psychotic symptoms later in life, a new Dutch study shows.

“This cements much more firmly the reality that marijuana use in adolescence is a risk factor, along with the other genetic, environmental and socioeconomic risk factors, for developing psychosis,” said Dr. Kathryn Kotrla, associate dean and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Round Rock.

The findings, reported in the March 1 issue of the BMJ, come just weeks after Australian researchers reported on a connection between smoking marijuana and an onset of psychosis 2.7 years earlier than those who hadn’t used the drug.

This latest study, led by Jim van Os from Maastricht University, seems to go one step further by showing that marijuana use actually precedes the onset of symptoms, suggesting a possible cause-and-effect relationship.
Some 16 million people in the United States alone use marijuana regularly, and most started smoking in their teens. It is the third most widely used addictive substance after tobacco and alcohol.

The researchers found that those who started smoking pot during the 10 years of the trial had double the risk of developing psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, even after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, other drug use and other psychiatric diagnoses.

And the more persistent the use, the more persistent the symptoms.

Dr. Kathryn Kotrla, associate dean and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Round Rock, likened this to a “perfect storm,” given that people are more likely to use pot when they’re young, which is precisely when their brains are most vulnerable. http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/2011-03-06-youth-use_N.htm

Shirley Jones, the editor of the Midland Times also attended Dr. Newkirk’s presentation and much of what I share below is from her article after the event in Wyoming. Dr. Newkirk showed us a human brain sliced in half and explained that the blood vessels had been removed so it was tan in color. The brain weighs about 3 pounds.

The normal brain is smooth with sufficient blood vessels supplying nutrients. But when he cuts open the brain of a drug or alcohol addict, it is pitted because the drugs prevent the proper flow from entering the brain. The frontal lobe is still developing until age 27 to 29 and alcohol hinders that growth. Studies have shown that teenagers are more like to become addicted to alcohol and drugs. In that developing prefrontal cortex, synapses are selected based on whether they are used or not, so behaviors that shape the brain are more likely to be maintained if started at this age.

In most adults, various parts of the brain work together to evaluate choices, make decisions and act accordingly in each situation. The teenage brain doesn’t work like this. The brain’s remote control is the prefrontal cortex, a section of the brain that weighs outcomes, forms judgments and controls impulses and emotions. The prefrontal cortex communicates with the other sections of the brain through connections and synapses.

What scientists have found is that teenagers experience a wealth of growth in synapses during adolescence. The brain starts pruning away the synapses that it doesn’t need in order to make the remaining ones much more efficient in communicating. In teenagers, this process starts in the back of the brain and moves forward, so that the prefrontal cortex, that vital center of control, is last to be trimmed.

With the use of MRIs, scientists have been able to look inside the brain. Dr. Newkirk showed us pictures of brains of people who used different substances, even extremely high amounts of caffeine and tobacco. He showed us where the amygdala and hippocampus lay right beside each other in the center of the brain. Our amygdala processes emotions, and the hippocampus is where our short term memories are stored. Both very affected by alcohol or other drug use. Teenagers tend to make decisions using mostly their emotions, and with alcohol and/or drug use their brains continue in that fashion instead of developing more mature decision making processes.

Dr. Newkirk said that the brain will repair itself to some degree once drugs are discontinued. The degree differs for each individual and sometimes the damage is permanent.

All of this information about the impact alcohol and drugs can have on our teens’ brains gives us even more reasons why we want to reduce the access to alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and other drug abuse. Working on policies, signage, social marketing, and many other efforts to prevent and reduce teen substance use is vital. The recently passed Social Host ordinance in Jones County is just one of those efforts to reduce the underage drinking parties by holding adult hosts responsible.

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