Commonwealth Conversations: Public Health

Substance Abuse Higher Among Teens Not in School

 

Posted by Adrienne Deeble, an intern with the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services 

 

All parents know how important it is to encourage their kids to stay in school. In addition to helping them receive an education, attending school can help them lead healthy lives. A recent report found that substance abuse – including binge drinking - is higher among 12^th graders who dropped out of school than their peers who continued to attend. While talking to your kids about these issues may seem intimidating, there are some simple actions parents can take to help keep their kids on track:

• Talk with your child – Children with limits and support are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs. Set clear expectations while still being supportive.
• Stress the importance of education – Discuss their long term educational goals and emphasize how important it is to stay in school and off drugs. As an added benefit, this conversation is a great way to open communication lines between you and your child.
• Encourage them to be involved - Extracurricular activities can help your child stay engaged in school and focus on future success.

To learn more powerful prevention tips, visit www.mass.gov/dph/parentpower 

Tips for Keeping Track of Your Medication

   

Posted by Casey Cokkinias and Andrew Vidikan, student interns in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services

Have you ever left the doctor’s office only to realize you forgot to ask the important questions you had about your medication? Keeping track of various medications and their instructions can be difficult. Here are a few simple tips to help you make sure your medications are working best for you. 

1) Keep a record of your medications. Use a tool such as this free Wallet Card developed by the US Department of Health & Human Services to help you keep track of any medicines or supplements you are taking. 

2) Know the details. You should know all of the different medications, including non-prescription medications, vitamins, and dietary supplements you’re taking. Be able to tell your healthcare provider how often you take them, in what amounts, and if you have any allergies.

3) Ask questions about new prescription medications you receive. Make sure you know when to take them and what they are for. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have. It may be helpful to write down your questions beforehand and bring them with you.

4)Take your medications as prescribed. Some medications need to be taken with food, while others are meant to be taken only at certain times during the day. Talk to your doctor if you wish to stop using your prescribed medication or have any questions about when or how to take your medication.

5) Only take your own medications. Although sharing your medication with a friend or relative who has the same stomach bug may seem considerate, never give your prescriptions to anyone else and never take anyone else’s prescriptions. Drugs that have not been prescribed to you could be dangerous.

6) Call the poison center.  If you think someone has been poisoned, free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day: 1-800-222-1222. Poison experts such as doctors, pharmacists, and nurses will provide expert advice if you have questions about your medication or if you think you’ve made a medication error. 

For more information about how to take your medicines safely, visit the BSAS or HHS websites.

Is Alcohol Keeping Me From Being Healthier?

Posted by: Adam Stoler of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services 

Now that we’re two weeks into the New Year, how are you doing on your Resolutions?  Maybe you intended to drink more water, get more exercise, or be healthier? Sometimes we can have a hard time meeting these new goals. I know I do!

If you are trying to be healthier, sometimes drinking alcohol can get in the way of that goal. Did you know that one glass of wine (5 ounces) can have over 150 calories?

How much is in a drink? Can I use alcohol safely? How can I drink less alcohol?

To find out the answers to these questions and get useful feedback on how to improve your health, take a quick and interactive quiz at www.alcoholscreening.org.

If you are concerned about a loved one’s alcohol use or are looking for support for your own or a loved one’s recovery visit www.helpline-online.com or call 1-800-327-5050 (7 days; multi-lingual); TTY: 1-888-448-8621 for peer support services, confidential information, and referrals to counseling.

How to Enjoy A Safe Holiday Season

 Posted by: Kathleen Whelton who works in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services

The winter holidays are a great time to get together and celebrate with family and friends. Whether you are hosting a holiday party for a crowd or an intimate dinner party for a few close friends, as the host you have many decisions to make and details to remember. However, if you choose to serve alcohol, the most important thing to consider is how you are going to keep your guests safe both during and after the festivities. 

Consider the following tips as you get ready for the holiday season.

• Avoid making alcohol the main focus of social events. Entertain guests with music, dancing, games, food, and lively conversation.
• Offer plenty of nonalcoholic choices such as sparkling water, fancy juice drinks, soft drinks, and bottled water.
• Provide guests with nutritious and appealing foods to slow the effects of alcohol. High protein and carbohydrate foods like cheese and meats are especially good. They stay in the stomach much longer, which slows the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol. Avoid salty foods, which encourage people to drink more.
• At least 1 hour before the end of the event, stop serving alocohol and offer coffee, non-alcoholic beverages, and desserts.
• Recruit people ahead of time who will not be drinking to help ensure that everyone has a safe ride home.
• Be prepared to offer your guests alternate forms of transportation. Know what “safe ride” programs are available in your area, keep the phone numbers of several cab companies handy, and ask someone who was not drinking to drive a guest home. If these options aren’t available, offer your place to spend the night.

And remember, when it comes to underage drinking, the law is clear.  If you are 21 years old or older,  you may consume alcohol.  If you are not, it is against the law.  If you have a party, you may not provide, give, or allow any of your guests who are under 21 to have alcohol. To learn more about the Social Host Law in Massachusetts click here.

For more alcohol and drug free party planning tips click here for a free copy of SAMHSA’s guide, “Party Planning Tips for an Alcohol Safe and Drug Free Holiday Season to Remember.”

If you are concerned about a loved one’s alcohol use or are looking for support for your own or a loved one’s recovery visit www.helpline-online.com or call 1-800-327-5050 (7 days; multi-lingual); TTY: 1-888-448-8621 for peer support services, confidential information, and referrals to counseling.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Take Time Out For a Veteran on Veteran’s Day

 Posted by: Ben Cluff (pictured) and Joe Burch of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services.

With Veteran’s Day coming up, it is a great opportunity to take a minute to reflect on our freedom and the people who have fought, and continue to fight, to protect our rights. Our veterans and active duty service members are brave men and women who have sacrificed time away from their families, their safety, and even their lives. To all of our military and military families, we thank you.

These service members have done so much to support us, but what can we do to help support them? All of this time spent away from family, friends, and the security of home can take a toll and cause physical and mental health side effects, including substance abuse.

If you have Veterans in your life with substance abuse issues, here are ways you can help:

• Learn as much as you can about what your loved one is going through and how counseling can help. Knowing how substance abuse affects people may help you understand what they may be going through. The more you know, the more you can help.
• Offer to go to doctor visits with your loved one. You can help keep track of medicine and therapy, and you can be there for support.
• Tell them you want to listen but that you understand if he or she doesn't feel like talking.
• Plan substance-free social activities together.
• Take a walk, go for a bike ride, or do some other physical activity together. Exercise helps clear your mind and elevate mood.
• Encourage contact with family and close friends. A healthy support system will help someone get through difficult changes and stressful times.
• Remember, nobody expects you to have all the answers.

For information on Veterans’ Services in Massachusetts, visit www.mass.gov/veterans. Mass Vets Advisor helps Veterans and families find state and federal services and programs. This includes resources for counseling and healthcare, finance, education, employment, and housing. Visit www.massvetsadvisor.org. 

If you have concerns about loved ones’ drug or alcohol use, visit www.helpline-online.com or call 1-800-327-5050 (TTY: 1-888-448-8321) 7 days a week. You can ask questions in confidence, or get information about prevention or counseling programs in Massachusetts.

Thinking or Drinking? Alcohol Use Can Damage Teens’ Brains

Posted by Andrew Vidikan, a student intern in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services

 

Did you know that the human brain continues to develop up to the age of 25? That means that, just like their bodies, teens’ brains are still growing, and using alcohol during these formative years can damage developing brains, specifically the areas in charge of memory, decision making, and impulse control. Using alcohol can also make it more difficult for teens to have successful school, social, and family lives and increases the likelihood of alcohol and other drug addiction later in life. In addition, studies show that the brains of 15 year-olds who abused alcohol were much less active than those of 15 year-old non-drinkers.

Waiting until the age of 21 to begin using alcohol can help reduce these risks. Talking to your children about your rules and expectations that they will not use alcohol or other drugs is an important step you can take to keep them safer. Encourage your children to visit our Be the Future U Youtube channel to learn ways to decline using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

To learn more about how to talk to your children and teens and set clear and helpful rules about alcohol and other drugs please visit www.mass.gov/maclearinghouse or call 1-800-952-6637 (TTY: 1-617-536-5872) to download or order free parent resources, some booklets are available in multiple languages. To learn about activities for youth in your area visit www.mass211help.org or call 2-1-1 (TTY: 508-370-4890).

If you have concerns about loved ones’ alcohol or drug use, visit www.helpline-online.com or call 1-800-327-5050 (TTY: 1-888-448-8321) 7 days a week. You can ask questions in confidence, or get information on prevention or counseling programs.

Talking to Your Kids About Marijuana

  

Posted by: Kathleen Whelton and Avi Pinals who both work in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services 

Marijuana is the most used illegal drug among youth. Almost half of U.S. teens will have tried marijuana at least once by the time they graduate high school. As a parent, you play an important role in helping your teen stay away from drugs. Talking to our children about drug abuse isn’t easy, but it is essential. You have the power to influence your teenagers’ lives for the better. As you think about starting a conversation about drug use with your kids, here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Sit down with them and tell them how you feel about illegal drugs. From the start, explain that you have their best interests at heart and that they have your full support.

2. Learn about and share the risks of marijuana use. In addition to being illegal, marijuana can have very negative effects on your teenager’s life. Kids who smoke are at an increased risk for drugged driving, panic attacks, mental illness including schizophrenia, attention problems, memory loss, lung/throat/mouth cancer, and using other dangerous and addictive drugs.

3. Set clear “no use” rules for alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. Let them know that if they lose your trust, they will lose a privilege that is important to them for a period of time. Follow through if they break your rules. Recognize and reward your children for good behavior and positive efforts. Even if your teen doesn’t like your rules, they may be thankful to be able to tell their friends, “I can’t go there, or I’ll get grounded for a week!”

For resources on how to keep your kids safe from drugs and alcohol visit the Bureau of Substance Abuse Service's website. To learn about activities and services in your area for youth visit  http://www.mass211help.org or call 2-1-1 (TTY: 508-370-4890). If you have concern about a loved ones’ drug or alcohol use, visit http://www.helpline-online.com or call 1-800-327-5050 (TTY: 1-617-536-5872) 7 days a week.

Bath Salts are Now Illegal

   

Posted by: Kathleen Whelton and Avi Pinals who both work in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services 

Bath Salts have been in the news a lot lately, but what are they? Bath Salts are a group of chemical compounds that when taken orally, inhaled, or injected mimic the effects of stimulants (like cocaine). According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, these compounds have been named “Bath Salts” in order to hide their actual purpose and to avoid government regulations.

Since Bath Salts are a relatively recent invention, there is limited research on their long term consequences.  We do, however, have information about some of their short term effects, which include violent behavior, confusion, chest pain, hallucinations, paranoia, vomiting, seizures, anxiety, and even death.

Fortunately, Governor Deval Patrick recently signed legislation making Bath Salts illegal in Massachusetts.  Furthermore, a federal law signed by President Obama in July makes it illegal to sell, own, or use any products containing the chemicals used in Bath Salts, including buying and selling online.

For resources for parents on how to keep kids safer from drugs and alcohol, visit the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services’ website. To learn about activities and services in your area for youth visitwww.mass211help.org or call 2-1-1 (TTY: 508-370-4890). If you have concern about a loved one’s drug or alcohol use, visit www.helpline-online.com or call 1-800-327-5050 (TTY: 1-617-536-5872) 7 days a week.

 

Back to School Stress and Marijuana Use

Posted by: Avi Pinals. Avi is a high school student and intern in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services

 

 For kids, going back to school is a chance to see friends from last year, and an end to the free time they have during the summer. For parents, going back to school means buying new books and backpacks, and getting into the school routine again. For both of them, going back to school can also add stress to the end of the summer. A lot of times, when kids feel stressed they turn to marijuana as a way to relax. 

Using marijuana gets in the way of getting good grades and being successful in sports and after school activities. Marijuana is illegal and can damage learning and memory areas in the developing brain. These side-effects can be long term. But marijuana use is preventable!1 Here are some steps you can take to help keep your child safer from marijuana when they go back to school:

• Talk to your child about marijuana; make sure they know how you feel about it. Set a clear “no-use” rule.
• Make sure your child knows your family’s rules and what will happen if they use marijuana, alcohol, or other drugs.
• Ask them how they feel, and who they would go to if they felt overwhelmed by the pressure of going back to school.
• Reward good grades and good behavior so that your kids will keep up the good work!

For resources for parents on how to keep youth safer from drugs and alcohol, visit DPH’s Bureau of Substance Abuse Service’s website. To learn about activities for youth in your area visit  www.mass211help.org or call 2-1-1 (TTY: 508-370-4890).
 
If you have concerns about loved ones’ drug or alcohol use, visit www.helpline-online.com or call 1-800-327-5050 (TTY: 1-888-448-8321) 7 days a week. You can ask questions in confidence, or get information on prevention or counseling programs.