Being a parent is the most difficult job in the world. We give our children good values and teach them virtuous behaviors, with faith and hope that they do not turn to alcohol and other drugs to feed their emotional selves.
With Thanksgiving holiday behind us, and as we prepare for the Christmas/New Year’s holiday season, it is imperative that we keep a watchful eye on our youth…that they may not succumb to the use of illicit chemical substances and ethyl alcohol beverage.
The use and abuse of licit and illicit chemical substances continue to run rampant in our Nation. Legal, licit substances, such as ethanol beverage and tobacco products, continue to be a focus of attention, yet they are not the only chemical substances that we should be concerned about.
Our Nation has been through a lot of terrible events this year, but it is time to regain focus on the more important, chronically important issues facing our Nation; such as substance abuse.
Opiate drugs, Opioids, and synthetic Heroin use and addiction, once confined to major metropolitan areas, has found its way into the heartland states, and even into remote states at an alarming rate. New Hampshire, for example, is experiencing and unprecedented rise in opiate overdose deaths; particularly among young people, as is the State of Ohio and elsewhere.
The Journal of the American Medical Association, Pediatrics (JAMA Pediatr., Oct 31, 2016) reports that the rates of opioid poisoning in the United States has almost doubled between 1997 to 2016; the highest hospitalization rates occurring among older adolescents, but the largest increase in hospitalizations over time was seen in children aged 1 – 4 years of age. The report also points out that mortality rates attributed to opioids “are also alarming.” “Emergency department visits for opioid-related indications have risen substantially in children and adults during the past 2 decades…even in children younger than 6 years, accounting for the majority of drug poisonings.”
The researchers point out that most of the drug poisoning in these young children were related to opiates intended for use of adults living in the household.
As predicted long ago by addictionologists and other professionals working in the field of substance abuse, the passage of cannabis laws in some states for recreational use, have had most devastating results.
Colorado and Washington states, two of the states who have legalized marijuana for recreation use; as example, we have seen a tremendous rise in High School dropout rates, and our youth not completing their high school studies requirements due to Cannabis use.
Additionally, statistics from those states have shown an increase in school suspensions related to Cannabis use, and increase in Marijuana related traffic deaths, the number of calls to poison control centers with Cannabis related emergencies, an increase in children taken to the hospital for Cannabis related issues, and in many other areas. Yet, the citizenry in 5 other states; California, Massachusetts, Maine, Arizona, and Nevada; have voted to allow the recreational use of Marijuana…this despite all of the adverse consequences that legalization produces.
In the past three years we have witnessed a doubling of the use of Cannabis in the United States, making it now the number one drug of choice, particularly among adults; followed only by the legal use of ethanol related beverage which continues to be used by the majority of the population in our nation. Cannabis, marijuana contains in excess of 100 chemicals. Due to the ever increasing amount of Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (the psychoactive chemical in the marijuana that causes the “high”), clearly one-third of marijuana users are now addicted to the drug.
It is important to note, that for every dollar spent on marijuana, ten dollars are necessary for treatment of the addictive disorder. This means that the citizenry of our nation are being burdened through our tax dollars at an increasing rate due to treatment issues, eg ER visits, hospitalizations, out-patient substance abuse clinics, etc. The legalization of Cannabis does not come without a price tag, the Medical, social and legal consequences are staggering.
The use of ethanol related beverages in the United States continues to rise as well; particularly noted among young people; and as reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
This ever growing problem among our youth is responsible for many deaths due to alcohol poisoning, traffic fatalities, and other issues…continuing to be our nation’s number one drug problem, and the number one drug problem causing billions of dollars being lost to our nation each year; the abuse of alcohol causes a multitude of other issues as well: breakdown of the family unit, ER visits and hospitalizations for treatment, traffic fatalities and injuries, legal issues of DWI and other illegal acts related to alcohol abuse, loss of workers time at work, etc.
As our nation becomes more technologically oriented and with an increase in university students and graduates; and with an aging population, an increase in the manufacturing and sales of prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and the synthetic drugs designed to alter mood…all getting into the hands of our youth at an alarming rate of progression.
Everything from chemicals of a psychoactive nature, to depressant and stimulant drugs…all with the intent to alter the state of one’s mind and mood.
As my colleagues and I have pointed out for many years, the use and abuse of licit and illicit chemical substances can only be curtailed by a continuing, multipronged attack; through drug intervention, prevention, and treatment efforts; all leading hopefully to a change in our national behavior towards the problem. We cannot choose just one of few drugs out of the many categories to teach our youth about…they must learn about all of the categories, with emphasis on the consequences of their use and abuse.
Most importantly, families need to demonstrate responsible use of alcohol, medications, and the non-use of illicit chemical substances with their children. Keeping them engaged through after school sports or other meaningful activities, family get-togethers, eating together, religious services together…all help our children to learn healthy living.
Remember that children learn through example, actions of the adults, not with mere words. Until next time, Stay Healthy My Friends!
