Many teens and even some adults believe that teen drinking is no big deal. Teen drinking is a big deal. It can cause learning problems and lead to adult alcoholism. Binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning and even death.

Whether smoked as “joints” or “blunts” or in a hookah or an electronic vapor device or eaten in candy or desserts, marijuana can cause development issues, short-term memory loss, slow learning and other problems for teens who use it. (View Source)

Some people think that prescription drugs are safer than street or illegal drugs, but they can be just as addictive and deadly. Some of the most commonly abused by teens include: Stimulant medications (such as Adderall or Ritalin), prescribed for ADHD; narcotic (opioid) pain medications like OxyContin, oxycodone (Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), Fentanyl and morphine.; depressants like diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax) and anabolic steroids (called “roids” or “juice”).

Many people don’t know that nicotine is one of the ingredients in e-cigarettes. No matter how it’s smoked, nicotine is very addictive drug that can have lasting damaging effects on adolescent brain development and cause other serious health problems. (View Source)

32.6% of Cuyahoga County high school teens who smoke cigarettes have tried to quit. That’s important. Nearly 9 of out 10 adult smokers first tried smoking before they were 18 years old. (View Source)

Synthetic marijuana is called K2, Spice, fake weed, King Kong, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, or Moon Rocks and can cause rapid heart rate, vomiting, violent behavior and suicidal thoughts. It can also raise blood pressure and reduce blood supply to the heart, as well as kidney damage and seizures. (View Source).

Some other illegal drugs that teens experiment with include: A synthetic stimulant known as “Bath Salts”; GHB (called “liquid ecstasy” and used as a “date rape” drug); Ketamine (a drug legally used during surgery called “Vitamin K” and “Special K”); the herbs Kratom and Salvia; and “psychedelic” drugs like LSD (“acid”), psilocybin mushrooms, peyote and DMT; PCP (“angel dust”) and Rohypnol (called “roofies,” and used as a “date rape” drug).

Using any of these can lead to a serious health emergency like overdose and even death. There is no “illegal” or “street” drug that is safe for teens to use – even once.

Some of the most commonly abused over-the-counter drugs & household products include:

• Over-the-counter cough and flu medicines that contain dextromethorphan (DXM), which can cause seizures, high fever and brain damage. The risk is increased when mixed with alcohol in drinks or with other drugs. (View Source)
• Common household items that are inhaled, like spray paint, gasses and glues. These can cause sniffing death syndrome (“SSDS”) due to irregular heartbeat, choking on vomit and not being able to breath, even the first time a person tries it. (View Source) Drinking hand sanitizer or other non-consumable products containing alcohol can result in serious illness and a trip to the emergency room.