DRUGS 101: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Armstrong County youth experiment and regularly use tobacco at higher rates than the state average.

GATEWAY TO FAILURE: Whether the result is negative health consequences or addiction, it appears that the common denominator in many of these problems is the early use of tobacco. More than 440,000 Americans die from tobacco related causes each year, and most of them began using tobacco before the age of 18

ADDICTION STARTS HERE: The first drug that youth typically experiment with is tobacco. People who become addicted to cocaine and heroin are almost always first addicted to tobacco. Most adults are keenly aware that tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. However, most adults fail to recognize that the path to addiction usually starts with the early use of tobacco. Young people who do not start using tobacco by age 18 will most likely never start. The younger the individual who uses tobacco, the more likely that individual is to become a regular drug user. 

More than 2/3 of drug users are regular tobacco smokers.
Area young people who become addicted to cocaine and heroin are almost always first addicted to tobacco and alcohol.

Kids who smoke are:

• 3 times more likely to use alcohol regularly 
• 8 times more likely to use marijuana 
• 21 times more likely to use cocaine 

VAPING: IT IS NOT THE SAFER ALTERNATIVE
Vaping is the trendy term for using an electronic cigarette. Instead of inhaling smoke, users inhale vapor from their e-cigarette cartridge. E-cigarettes contain liquid nicotine (a highly addictive drug that can affect your heart rate and blood pressure) and flavoring to make the vapor more appealing. This liquid (also called vape juice, e-juice and e-liquid) heats up inside the cartridge to produce vapor. 
 
To teens, vaping may seem like a ‘cool’ new thing to do. They may believe vaping is less dangerous than smoking cigarettes, but make no mistake... it is just a cleverly disguised way to addict people to nicotine.

Click HERE for more information on VAPING and E-CIGARETTES.

ALCOHOL: The most common gateway substance used by Armstrong County youth is alcohol. Alcohol is the most abused drug in the nation. Young people who smoke are 3 times more likely to use alcohol and 10 times more likely to develop alcoholism. 

If your child uses alcohol before the age of 15, he/she is 4 times more likely to have an alcohol addiction problem. More teens die from an alcohol overdose or an alcohol related car crash than from all other causes combined. 

Alcohol intoxication is associated with: 

• - Up to 64% of fires and burns 
• - 48% of hypothermia and frostbite cases 
• - 70% of attempted suicides 
• - 47-65% of adult drowning 
• - 59% of fatal falls 
• - 40% of all traffic fatalities 
• - 60% of boating fatalities

The earlier someone uses alcohol, the greater the risk for addiction and the use of other drugs. Although alcohol consumption is legally permissible at a certain age, the devastating consequences of abuse create as much of a social problem as illegal drugs. 

THINKING ABOUT FURNISHING ALCOHOL TO MINORS? THINK AGAIN! 
It is a criminal offense to provide alcohol to minors. As a parent, you should know that IT IS ILLEGAL to give alcohol to your teen or your teen’s friends under the age of 21 under any circumstances.

PENALTIES: THE PRICE YOU WILL PAY... 

• You could be fined up to $1,000 for the first violation and $2,500 for each subsequent  violation.
• You could be incarcerated up to one year.
• You have the potential for civil liability and loss of your assets which could include your home and your personal property.

In the past, alcohol usage by minors was considered a “rite of passage." However, today is different than yesterday. Today, when minors use alcohol, they are even more vulnerable to use highly addictive lethal drugs. 

MARIJUANA
Often referred to as ‘The Gateway to Failure’, marijuana decreases one’s productivity, ambition, and individual awareness. Often times, marijuana use opens the door to serious drug addiction.

THE FACTS: 

• Marijuana usage causes a substantial loss of energy. 
• Marijuana usage doubles the risk of depression and triples the risk of suicidal thoughts.  
• Marijuana can be both emotionally and physically addictive. 
• Marijuana today is significantly more powerful than 5 years ago. 
• Marijuana use and operating a motor vehicle is considered driving under the influence (DUI). 

There appears to be a progression in this addiction process. While marijuana is called a ‘Gateway Drug’, what many people do not realize is that marijuana use comes after young people already use tobacco and/or alcohol. Remember young people who use tobacco are 8 times more likely to use marijuana. Furthermore, in a study by the Journal of Pediatrics it was noted that individuals who never used marijuana were likely never to use Heroin. A study by the National Institute of Health on Drug Abuse 

(NIDA) reported that daily use of marijuana is found to be twenty times higher among high school seniors who smoke cigarettes. 

A NEW BREED OF DANGER:  Many parents who experimented with marijuana in their teens believe it is harmless. However, the marijuana of today is far more powerful and is often laced with Heroin and other harmful, highly addictive drugs. 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF USE:

• - Blood shot eyes
• - Eyelid tremors or spasms
• - Sleepiness
• - Continual snacking
• - Impaired or reduced comprehension
• - Incense or air fresheners to mask odor (Febreze is a popular item used for this purpose)

CLEVER METHODS OF DISGUISE: Teens are very adept at disguising their drug use. Do not assume that your child is not at risk because you haven’t found any of the ‘typical’ marijuana paraphernalia. Discreet methods such as the highlighter shown here, are being used to hide use and abuse. Even pop cans, water bottles and foil can be used to smoke marijuana.

PRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS
According to Armstrong County treatment facilities and law enforcement, there has been a drastic increase in the abuse of prescription pain relievers. Many young people believe that these drugs are safer because they are prescribed by a doctor. Oxycontin sells for a dollar per milligram. For example, a 40 mg tablet would sell for $40 on the street.

The abuse of prescription narcotics has ruined the lives of many area youth. When these pain relievers are no longer available or become too expensive, the user turns to the much cheaper heroin, which can cost as little as $10 to $15 per stamp bag.

THE FACTS: Common sense will tell you that the youth in our county don’t just wake up one day and decide to use prescription pain relievers. Think about it! It is a slow process that usually starts with the early use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and having friends with an unhealthy lifestyle. Nationwide, prescription pain relievers are involved in more drug overdose deaths than either cocaine or Heroin.

Commonly used prescription pain relievers include Oxycontin, Norco, Vicodin, Percocet, and Pain Patches. Overdose deaths from prescription pain relievers have quadrupled in recent years.

PAIN RELIEVER ALERT - A PRESCRIPTION FOR DISASTER: Armstrong County law enforcement spends thousands of dollars and man hours to pick up drug dealers while there are highly addictive, lethal drugs in the medicine cabinets of unsuspecting legitimate users. Once addicted to prescription pain relievers, a user will lie, cheat, steal or kill to support their addiction. Drug dealers often trade heroin for stolen prescription pain relievers.  

HEROIN
Heroin is a grayish white powdery substance that can be snorted or injected. It is highly addictive and can be lethal! 

Most heroin addicts are first addicted to prescription pain relievers. When prescription pain relievers
are not available or become too expensive, the individual will satisfy his or her addiction with heroin. Most young people fear needles and their stigma. In order to encourage new users, drug dealers sell heroin pure enough that the user can snort it through the nose. However, the user will eventually resort to the needle.  

Paraphernalia used by the heroin addict consist of stamp bags, syringes, tourniquets, spoons, razors, straws, and balloons. 

Most people who start experimenting with other drugs would never consider using heroin. However, it is the progressive cycle of addiction and lifestyle that contribute to that first use. In addition to friends, peer pressure from boyfriend and girlfriend relationships can also contribute to a first use. Overdose deaths from heroin have tripled in the last five years. Heroin is heated to become liquid and then injected.

Drug dealers are always looking for new customers because their old customers are already addicted, in jail or dead. Ideal customers for heroin dealers are the children of middle and upper income families.

Signs and Symptoms of Use: 

• Personal items missing from home 
• Erratic credit card use 
• Frequent trips to the Pittsburgh area
• False and misleading information 
• Drowsy/Mood Swings 
• Loss of Appetite and weight
• Vomiting/Diarrhea
• Withdrawn personality
• Facial scabs and acne
• Hiding arms to disguise needle marks
• Problems holding a job