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Dr. Heidi
brings awareness to
parents about
Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
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Recently, my daughter shared with me a story about a Burbank teen that overdosed at a party. The kids at the party thought he was sleeping on the couch but in fact he was
no longer breathing after an overdose of Xanax, Vicodin and other "pills
". Allie shared with me how
common it is for teens to use prescription medications to "Get High" (pain killers), "Numb Themselves" (Xanax, Valium) or even use them to "Study Longer" in hopes of getting better grades (Adderall)
.
I felt so sad to hear this story, my heart broke for this young man who ended his life prematurely. I felt moved to write this newsletter to
bring awareness to parents who may be looking for signs of pot or alcohol use in their teens but may be totally missing
THE NEW DRUG OF CHOICE: PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
.
(
Forward to ALL families of teens)
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Teens have grown up asso
ciatin
g medicine with solving problems - and have a heightened familiarity and awareness of RX and OTC medicines:
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Two-thirds (66 percent) of teens who report abuse of prescription pain relievers are stealing them from friends, family and acquaintances OR buying them from friends at school.
Must Watch Video for All parents & family of Teens
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Solutions:
For Teen parents
Education
:
- Sometimes parents unknowingly promote medication use. For example; giving Benedryl to help a child sleep gives the message that it is harmless. Benedryl and other OTC cold medicines are being taken in large doses by teens to get high. Use medications at home for Intended use Only and educate yourself and child on the dangers of side effects or overdose. EVERY medication has a side effect and should be avoided if a less toxic option is available.
- One in four teenagers believe that Adderall can be used as a study aid and nearly one-third of parents say they believe this common ADHD medication can improve a child’s academic or testing performance, even if that child does not have ADHD. Parents, children, and prescribers must be educated on the impact of prescription drugs on the developing brain. Parents need to understand & promote the health of our teenagers as vastly more important than a test grade or college admission.
- Teenage Anxiety is at an all time high. Parents are too often giving teens medications such as Xanax (anti-anxiety medication) without looking to the root of the child's stress level. Good therapy, social media monitoring and daily exercise along with lessening the pressure we place on our children should be our first line of action with teen anxiety.
Safe medication storage and disposal
:
- Two-thirds of teens who misused pain relievers in the past year say that they got them from family and friends, including their home’s medicine cabinets, making it important to safeguard medicine in the home to diminish opportunities for easy access.
Prescription drug monitoring:
- Because teens can simply call your pharmacy with your prescription ID# to get a refill, calling on doctors and pharmacies to better monitor how often your drugs are prescribed is a good idea. Especially if you have prescription pain killers, Adderall, Xanax or Vallium, at home. However, teens are consistently finding new prescription drugs they can abuse, so checking on all medications periodically is a good idea.
- Doctors more readily hand out prescription painkillers than they did ten years ago, and, according to some sources, pharmacists do not habitually check prescription drug registries, which help to identify potential over-prescribing and misuse.
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Where do I get HELP if I suspect Prescription Drug Abuse with my teen?
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Therapists we recommend for your Teen:
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Children & Family Counseling
Dr Melissa Springstead
specializes in working with children & teens who struggle academically due to a learning disability and other various educational barriers.
She helped my daughter immensely with test anxiety & overall school pressures.
Melissa can help alleviate teen stress that can often lead to future problems with depression, alcohol and drug use, relational problems, anxiety, etc.
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Shauna DaBiri-Far LMFT
specializes in
providing therapy to young adults, teens, children age 0-5 y/o.
She is a personal friend & colleague with my highest recommendation.
She works successfully with Special Needs children 0-5, Young Adults on the Spectrum, Domestic Violence families/children, School-Based children, Behavioral problems, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Self-Harming Behaviors, Life Changes, Farsi-Speaking, Trauma, Grief, Drug/Alcohol issues.
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Tree of Life Healing
Andrea-Marie
provides intuitive counseling and psychological healing through body release techniques.
She is a long time friend, healer and colleague with my highest recommendation.
Sometimes talk therapy is not an option for children and teens. In these cases Andrea-Marie addresses the trauma that is stored in the body using energy work and somatic psychology.
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Follow us on social media. InnerMovementChiropractic.
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