Teen Drug Abuse: Know the Facts

by Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications

Drug abuse. It’s one of the big white elephants in the room no  one wants to talk about, especially when it may involve our children.

But drug abuse is a real problem, especially among teenagers. And it’s one we can’t pretend isn’t happening. Consider these statistics from the website, teendrug.com:

• According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Georgia is among ten states indicating the highest risk of occasional marijuana use among children aged 12 or older
• According to the Georgia Student Health Survey, nearly one in five Georgia high school students has consumed five or more alcoholic drinks in a row at least once
• Nearly one in five Georgia high school students has smoked marijuana at least once.

Alcohol and marijuana are just the tip of the iceberg. Increasingly, hard-core drugs, like ecstasy, are making front-page news. Recently, police arrested an 18 year-old woman from Columbus, Georgia for transporting more than 79,000 ecstacy pills –about 33 pounds — in a duffel bag. The woman was charged with drug trafficking and possession of cocaine. The pills were worth more than $1.5 million.

Methamphetamine use a growing problem in Georgia

Perhaps even more addictive and deadly than ecstasy is methamphetamine, or meth, for short. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Atlanta is a hub for methamphetamine trafficking, mostly by Mexican drug cartels.

Meth abuse costs Georgia an estimated $1.3 billion annually. An astonishing forty-two percent of child endangerment cases in Georgia involve meth, and 43 percent of federal convictions in Georgia are meth-related.

Concerned that your child or teenager might be using drugs? Here are some warning signs:

Secrecy

We all need our personal space, but if your teenager becomes secretive about his or her whereabouts, possessions, or friends, get involved. Ask questions. If your teenager begins to disappear for hours at time, something is wrong. Find out where he or she goes and have an open, honest discussion about drug abuse.

Declining academic performance

It’s normal for students to find certain school subjects challenging, but if a drop in academic performance coincides with other suspicious behavior, such as extreme secrecy or disappearing for hours on end, you need to get involved. Declining academic performance in conjunction with these behaviors could indicate a drug problem.

Change in appearance

Has your teenager lost interest in grooming or personal hygiene? A disheveled appearance or red or glazed eyes is another warning sign of drug use.

Disappearance of money

Has money begun to disappear unexpectedly from your household? If so, question your teenager about the money. He or she could be using money to buy drugs or settle debts.

Withdrawing from family

Teenagers are notoriously moody and often withdrawn, but an unexplained, sudden withdrawal from family relationships may indicate a bigger problem. Pay particular attention to how your teenager treats his or her siblings and other family members. If they become suddenly disengaged, ask if they’re having any personal problems and ask, flat out, if they are using — or feel pressure to — use drugs.

Trust your gut, always

Always, always, always trust your gut. If you sense that something is wrong, it probably is. Do not ignore unusual, suspicious behavior from your teenager. Question his or her whereabouts and get to know their friends.

Drug use may be the big white elephant in the corner of the room that no one wants to talk about, but we must. If you find out that your teenager has a problem with substance abuse, help is available. Click here to find drug treatment centers in your area.

And remember to subscribe to this blog for regular, timely safety-related tips and updates just like this.

Rutgers Freshman Suicide Highlights Problem of Cyberbullying

By Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications

The recent death of an 18 year-old Rutgers University freshman after two classmates posted an intimate video of him on the internet has generated a lot of talk about cyber bullying. In fact, according to the website, wiredsafety.org, an astonishing 36 suicides in the past four years have been attributed to cyberbullying.

What is cyberbullying?

According to the website, Stopcyberbullying.org, cyberbullying is any type of online or digital torment which is instigated or perpetrated by one minor against another. In cyberbullying, a child, preteen, or teen uses the internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, embarass, or otherwise target another minor.

Examples of cyberbullying include the following:

• Sending hateful messages or anonymous death threats over the web
• Tormenting a child on websites
• Posting hurtful things on a child’s website guestbook (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
• Posting private or hurtful videos on the web

Why do children cyberbully?

As with regular, schoolyard bullying, reasons and motives for cyberbullying differ from child to child. Some children bully out of anger; others are coerced into bullying as a result of peer pressure. Whatever the case, bullying should always be taken seriously.

Isn’t cyberbullying against the law?

According to wiredsafety.org, 45 states do have anti-cyberbullying laws. Cyberbullying can result in misdemeanor or cyber harassment charges, or if the child is very young, charges of juvenile delinquency.

However, if torment or harassment escalates to cyberstalking–harassment which is instigated by adults–or overt threats, don’t wait. Call law enforcement immediately! And, if your child’s personal contact information is posted online, contact the authorities.

Be sure to print out all instances of cyberbullying, and take with you any live, electronic evidence of cyberbullying (harmful or hurtful videos posted online, etc.).

How can I protect my child against cyberbullying?

Keeping the lines of communication open with your child is the best way to stay on top of what’s happening in his or her life. Talk openly and honestly with your child about what is appropriate or inappropriate online behavior. Here are just a few tips to help you along:

• Teach children to treat others with respect
• Ask them if they have received any hurtful or inappropriate messages online
• Talk to them about what is appropriate when it comes to using technology
• Let them know there will be consequences (losing online privileges, etc.) if they participate in cyberbullying
• Let them know they can always talk to you if they feel sad, bad, or hurt

For more information about cyberbullying, visit wiredsafety.org or stopcyberbullying.org.

And for regular, timely safety tips and updates, be sure to subscribe to this blog.

Do Convicted Sex Offenders Live in Your Neighborhood?

By Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications

It seems you can’t turn on the news these days without reading about adults being arrested for and charged with child pornography.

At Pop-A-Lock Atlanta, we have a special heart for children, and we believe our greatest responsibility is helping to protect them.

That’s why we’re pleased to share with you a website we’ve discovered, Family Watchdog. This website is dedicated to helping locate and identify convicted sex offenders to keep children safe. Simply enter your address or the location you’d like to scan for offenders, and Family Watchdog will let you know if there are registered offenders in your area. And best of all, it’s FREE.

Please share the Family Watchdog website with other parents you know, and if you found this post helpful, remember to subscribe to this blog for regular, timely safety tips and updates.