Kids Getting High Off of Anything

      Unlike our parents generation, kids today are experimenting in different ways to get high.  The most prevalent drugs for the baby boomers were opium and marijuana.  There have been many various narcotics within America, and unfortunately most of them came back, full swing, in the 90's. 
      But for the present time, younger kids are trying anything they can to get a high.  I will talk about bath salts, ecstasy, prescription drugs, salvia, fake marijuana and jenkem. 
      Bath salts; they are now illegal, but you can still get them online or in drug paraphernalia stores, like the fake marijuana.  We do not know much about the consequences of this drug because of its rapid emergence, but what we do know is that the evidence is worrisome.  We know that Mephedrone is a chemical within bath salts, this is of particular concern because, according to the United Kingdom experience, it presents a high risk for overdose. These chemicals act in the brain like stimulant drugs (indeed they are sometimes touted as cocaine substitutes); thus they present a high abuse and addiction liability.  Also the contents of bath salts are unknown at this time so abusing them make it that much more dangerous.  Lastly bath salts have been linked to an alarming number of ER visits within the Country. 
      Ecstasy, the party drug.  The medical term is MDMA.  The difference between Ecstasy and Molly (which is pure MDMA) is hard to conquer.  First there is not that much of a difference; ecstasy, the pill, comes compressed and you can distinguish it from other pills.  But you can never really tell whats in them, and MDMA can not be bound into a pill itself.  Now for molly, it is pure or straight MDMA in the form of crystals or powder.  There are adverse side effects to both of these drugs; nausea, chills, sweating, muscle cramping, and blurred vision. Overdoses can occur with symptoms of high blood pressure, faintness, panic attacks, loss of consciousness and seizures.  Because of its stimulant properties and the environment in which it is often taken, MDMA is associated with vigorous physical activity for extended periods. This can lead to one of the most significant, although rare, acute adverse effects -- a marked rise in body temperature (hyperthermia). Treatment of hyperthermia requires prompt medical attention, as it can rapidly lead to muscle breakdown, which can in turn result in kidney failure.
      Most experts will debate that prescription drugs are the most dangerous and prevalent drug amongst teens.  The use of illegal drugs is down in high school grades, according to the 2007 Monitoring the Future report from the National institute on Drug Abuse.  Instead, teens are using what they find at home, what they can buy legitimately at retail stores, and what they can buy over the internet.  These prescription drugs are also a high risk for drug abuse. 
      Another new drug is called Salvia.  This is a leaf that can be smoked like marijuana or chewed like chewing tobacco.  The high from this drug comes very quickly, but is not long lasted.  During the high people experience eliciting euphoria and temporary loss of motor skills.  This in my defense is very dangerous, because you are unable to control anything that happens, or the possibility of something happening.  Also with a bad trip it will bring on intense paranoia and panic attacks.  This drug again is easily accessible to teens, who can buy it in head shops and stores that sell herbal remedies, and don't forget EBay.  Stores can also claim it as an incense.
      With salvia being claimed an incense, vendors do it with fake marijuana also.  Law enforcement tries to keep up with this industry and tries to shut it down like the brand K-2.  But people keep coming out with new ones like Spice, Genie, Zohia, Happy Hour, etc..  The effects of this are the same as regular marijuana.  Again we do not know the effects, or long term effects of this drug.  But it has been noted that there were ER visits and even possible deaths from the product. 
      And lastly, Jenkem.  This is very new, and most people do not know about it, i did not know until writing this blog.  Jenkem is an inhalant made my fermenting raw sewage (fecal matter and urine) it is a cheap way to make a hallucinogenic high.  This drug was particularly used by children in third world countries but now is a popular drug in American Schools.  Jenkem again, is a homemade substance which consists of fecal matter and urine.  These ingredients are placed in a bottle or jar and covered most commonly with a balloon.  The container is then placed in a sunny area for several hours or days until fermented.  The contents of the container will separate and release a gas, which is captured in the balloon.  Inhaling the gas is said to have a euphoric high similar to ingesting cocaine but with strong hallucinations of times past.  Articles on this subject have indicated that the user immediately passes out after ingesting the gas then regains a magical/hallucinogenic state. 


Sources:

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/jenkem.asp

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/fake-marijuana-the-next-big-drug

http://www.parentswithoutpartners.org/_documents/Authors/Parenting-NewHighs.pdf

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/ecstasy/f/mdma_faq04.htm

http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/directors-page/messages-director/2011/02/bath-salts-emerging-dangerous-products