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“For most addicts,there’s a constant presenceon your shoulder telling youyou’re not good enough,that somehow, you’re ‘less’than everyone out there.Your thoughts go round likea washing machine on highspeed. The noise in yourhead is constant, loud andharsh. Alcohol and drugs aremerely the medication.“Addiction isn’t fun.Addiction is lonely, terrifyingand insidious. Oh, sure, youstart out like everyone else, afew drinks here and there, adabble or two in something alittle harder. You don’t realizewhen it stops being fun, butit does. Suddenly you findyourself alone in a room,afraid to go out, because‘outside’ is too damn scary.So you take that hit, and for ashort while, the noise stops.Peace through oblivion. Thenyou come around and thenoise starts again, louder thistime, and coupled with theanxiety, fear and terror thatcome with withdrawal.“So you take another hit.Sweet, blessed relief. Andsomewhere in the back ofyour mind you hope you don’twake up from this one. You’renothing but trouble, you see.All you cause is pain andworry.”— Kristian JohnsChanging timesThroughout much of the last century, scientistsstudying drug abuse labored in the shadowsof powerful myths and misconceptions about thenature of addiction, according to the NationalInstitute on Drug Abuse. Back in the 1930s, it wasassumed that people addicted to drugs werelacking in willpower.Today, thanks to science, our views andour responses to drug abuse have changeddramatically. Groundbreaking discoveries aboutthe brain have revolutionized our understandingof drug addiction, enabling us to respondeffectively to the problem. As a result ofscientific research, we know that addiction is adisease that affects both brain and behavior.Research has shown that people generallytake drugs to feel good, feel better or copewith difficult problems or situations. Youcannot turn on the television, listen to theradio or pick up a magazine without seeing anadvertisement promoting some substance thatwill improve your life. This Tampa Bay TimesNewspaper in Education publication, created inpartnership with the Drug Abuse ComprehensiveCoordinating Office (DACCO), focuses oneducating you on substance abuse prevention.We hope this publication will serve as adiscussion tool for parents, teachers, communitymembers and youth.Addiction: a treatable diseaseWhile the initial decision to use drugs isvoluntary, drug addiction is a disease of the brainthat compels a person to become singularlyobsessed with obtaining and abusing drugsdespite their many adverse health and lifeconsequences.Addiction is a primary, chronic illnessinfluenced by genetic, psychosocial,environmental and lifestyle factors. Addictionis not a sign of weak morals; it is a disease.Symptoms of addiction include loss of controlover drug or alcohol use, cravings, use despiteconsequences, distortions in thinking, the needto consume greater amounts to get high, andphysical dependence and withdrawal.Like many other diseases, substance usedisorders are chronic and follow a predictablecourse. Long-term drug abuse results in changesin the brain that persist long after a person stopsusing. The good news is that addiction, like otherdiseases, can be successfully treated. Peopleall around the world are recovering to live long,healthy and happy lives!The best treatment programs are scientificallybased and meet the multiple needs of theindividual, not just his or her drug use. It isimportant to remember that no single treatmentis appropriate for all individuals.Sources: National Institute on Drug Abuse, NationalInstitute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the NationalInstitutes of Health, and the Department of Health & HumanServices Centers for Disease Control and Prevention2 tampabay.com/nie

HillsboroughPreventionCollaborativeIn November 2010, several local leadersin Hillsborough County, Florida, formed theHillsborough Prevention Collaborative (HPC) towork together to deal with community issuessuch as alcohol and drug abuse, violence, ganginvolvement, teen pregnancy, school failure,youth crime and obesity.The HPC has had participation fromthe Hillsborough County Board of CountyCommissioners, the Children’s Board ofHillsborough County, Hillsborough CountyPublic Schools, the Hillsborough CountySheriff’s Office, the Central Florida BehavioralHealth Network, the Florida Department ofChildren and Families Suncoast Region, theU.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District, the FamilyJustice Center, DACCO, Mental Health CareInc., ACTS, the Mendez Foundation, the Centre,Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, the CrisisCenter of Tampa Bay, Bay Area Youth Services,Success 4 Kids and Families, the Child AbuseCouncil, Hillsborough Kids Inc., the HealthyStart Coalition, the Hillsborough Healthy TeenNetwork, the Florida Institute for CommunityStudies, St. Joseph’s Children’s HospitalAdvocacy Center, Abe Brown Ministries andBeulah Baptist Institutional Church.Community members, including students,parents, schools, churches and businesses,can work with the Hillsborough PreventionCollaborative to make sure health, wellnessand success are promoted in all aspects ofcommunity life – family, friends, school, work,social, business, neighborhoods and so on. Thiscan be done through activities that• raise awareness about health and theprevention of illegal drug use, underagedrinking, prescription drug abuse, violenceand failing school• promote healthy individual, neighborhood,school and family relationships• provide information to community membersso they can make positive choices• try to change parts of the communityenvironment that promote unhealthy orunsafe choicesThere are many ways you can getconnected with the Hillsborough PreventionCollaborative. Visit us at https://sites.google.com/site/hillsboroughprevention/, e-mail us athillsboroughprevention@gmail.com, or look forus on Facebook.Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating OfficeThe Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office’s(DACCO) mission is to work for a drug-free community– one person, one family at a time. DACCO reachesHillsborough County residents through communityeducation, prevention, assessment and referrals,support services, intervention, and outpatient andresidential treatment.Research shows that the use of alcohol, tobacco andother drugs is associated with specific aspects of ayoung person’s community, school, family environmentand individual characteristics. These aspects arecalled risk or protective factors. Effective preventionprograms identify which risk factors are elevatedin the community and which protective factors aresuppressed, and then implement programming thatspecifically targets those factors.Prevention strategies include education onsubstance abuse and its risk, as well as short-termactions focused on changing individual behavior.Environmental prevention strategies involve long-term,potentially permanent changes that have a broaderreach. The most effective prevention plans will use bothenvironmental and individual prevention strategies.Working in various locations, DACCO educates youth,adults and families about preventing substance abuse.Now in its third year, the DACCO-led Community AlcoholPrevention Grant Collaborative is targeting youngadults through a countywide educational campaignthat highlights state laws, campus alcohol policies, thenature of blood alcohol concentration and the needto self-monitor alcohol use. Partners in this initiativeinclude the University of South Florida, the Universityof Tampa, 10 Connects CBS Tampa Bay and the TampaBay Times.DACCO provides a range of treatment servicesfor individuals and families in need. DACCO treatssubstance use disorders in outpatient and residentialsettings and addresses co-occurring mental healthissues, such as anxiety, depression and post-traumaticstress disorder (PTSD).DACCO offers supportive services to help clientsstay engaged in treatment, meet all their health careneeds and improve their lives, including HIV testing andcounseling, adult education/GED, primary health care,day care and affordable housing. DACCO offers bothoutpatient and adult residential treatment programs.Both outpatient and residential programs includedifferent intensities of individual, group and familycounseling; on-site NA/AA meetings; life skillseducation; and urine drug screening. To schedule anassessment of patient needs, call 813-984-1818, ext. 0.To learn more about DACCO’s services, visitdacco.org and click on “Community Education” tolearn more about substance abuse.tampabay.com/nie 23

I got a clear understanding of my addiction – how far I have comewith my recovery. I lost my friends’ and family’s trust and respectbecause I lied to them so much. I’m looking forward to gaining itback. Now that I am in recovery, I am changing my life and I love it.”— Rebecca W.Risk factorsMany risk factors affect a youngadult’s risk for substance abuse,including community deficienciesthat contribute to high-risk alcoholor drug use, such as perceived risk,social norms and access to help.But many protective factors canreduce a youth or young adult’srisk for substance abuse and otherproblem behaviors, such as:• Strong positive bonding to parents/caregivers, family, friends, school• Healthy beliefs and clear standards• Constructive recreationopportunities• Parental disapproval of problembehavior• Parent/child connectedness; feelingunderstood, loved, wanted and paidattention to• Parental presence before school,after school, at dinner and at bedtime• Academic achievement, regularschool attendance, pro-socialopportunities• Development of critical thinking andproblem-solving skills• Education about social and healthrelated costsSource: DACCOAll drugs have the potential to bedangerous, whether alcohol, illicitdrugs or prescription drugs. Alcoholcontinues to be the most commonlyused drug in Hillsborough County andits abuse is a leading cause of carcrashes, injury, homicide and suicide.There also has been a significantincrease in local deaths related toprescription drugs such as OxyContin.According to data from the countyMedical Examiner Department, in 2009an alarming 92 percent of HillsboroughCounty drug-related deaths involved atleast one prescription drug.According to a 2008 national survey,the intentional misuse of prescriptiondrugs is now second, only to marijuana,as the nation’s most prevalent drugabuse issue. And 70 percentof prescription painrelievers usednon-medicallyin our nationcame fromfriends orrelatives.Source: DACCOStopping drugand alcohol abusebefore it startsStopping drug andalcohol abuse before itstarts remains the key to reducing drugabuse locally, as well as nationally. Themost effective way to address drugand alcohol abuse and its devastatingconsequences is through education.Did you know that researchconfirms that if young people make itto adulthood without experimentingwith drugs, they are far less likely tostart using later in life? Successfulprevention will result in fewer trafficfatalities andinjuriesas wellas less crime, violence, disease, childabuse, lost productivity and addiction.According to the National Office ofDrug Control Policy, current researchdemonstrates that for every dollarinvested in research-based prevention,$10 is saved in treatment costs alone.Of course, no dollar amount can beplaced on the human suffering andanguish that results when parentswitness a child descending into alifestyle of drug use that can end withaddiction, prison or death.Recent scientific findings on theeffects of substance abuse on theadolescent brain also underscore thevital importance of prevention efforts.During early childhood, the brainundergoes rapid growth. Importantareas of the brain continue to developand mature through adolescenceand young adulthood. Substance useduring adolescence can disrupt andimpair brain function in the prefrontalcortex and other important areas4 tampabay.com/nie

that are crucial to learning, memory,motivation and judgment. The disruptiveeffects of alcohol and other drugs on thedeveloping adolescent brain can haveserious, long-term consequences.Identifying risk factorsRisk factors are conditions thatincrease the likelihood of drug use.Protective factors are conditionsthat help safeguard young peoplefrom exposure to risk and reduce thepotential for involvement with substanceuse and related problems. Researchindicates that the more risk factors ayoung person is exposed to, the morevulnerable he or she is to becominginvolved with drugs.According to the National Office ofDrug Control Policy, many of the riskfactors identified for substance abusealso have been found to increasethe risk of other serious adolescentproblems, including delinquency, riskysexual behaviors and teen pregnancy,school dropout rates, violence,depression and anxiety.According to the National Instituteon Drug Abuse, young people who usedrugs also may engage in delinquentacts such as theft, truancy, vandalismand violence.Sources: The National Office of Drug ControlPolicy, the National Institute on Drug Abuseand the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServicesParents, get involvedTalk to your teen and set clear and consistent expectations about theuse of alcohol and other drugs. Be a good role model. If you choose todrink, do so responsibly.Remember these survival tips:1. Be a good listener.2. Give clear “no-use” messages about drugs and alcohol.3. Help your child deal with peer pressure to use drugs.4. Get to know your child’s friends and their parents.5. Monitor your child’s whereabouts.6. Supervise teen activities.7. Maintain an open and honest dialogue with your child about drugs,alcohol and the consequences of using either.Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Marijuana: Facts parentsneed to know”Be The WallCheck out the Be The Wall campaign at bethewall.org. Thisinteractive website encouragesparents to “Be clear, be firm andbe consistent” when it comesto drinking. The site enablesparents to e-mail or text fun,supportive messages to theirkids, download a screensaver,learn about the teen brainand pledge to “Be The Wall”between their loved one andalcohol.Teaching with the Times activity:Journaling to self awarenessKeeping a journal or writing a blog is agreat way to learn more about yourself.Who are you? Why do you do what youdo? Do you have strong convictions? Areyou able to stand up to others when yourideas are questioned? In addition to yourgeneral thoughts, include your thoughtsabout articles you read in the Tampa BayTimes and tbt*. To begin your journal,write about something that you have readin the Times or tbt* that directly affectsyour life.tampabay.com/nie 54

Knowing the factsIn Florida, it is illegal for anyone under age 21 to drive with any alcohol in his or her system; a blood alcohol level (BAL) of.02 percent or higher can lead to a six-month driver’s license suspension. Driving with a BAL of .08, or under the influenceof any amount of alcohol and/or drugs, may result in a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrest.It is illegal for a person under the age of 21 to purchase or possess alcoholic beverages and for anyone to purchase orprovide alcohol for persons under the age of 21. Sale of alcoholic beverages to underage individuals is a second-degreemisdemeanor. Adults who allow underage drinking parties in their home can be arrested for violating the open house partystatute. Teens or young adults under age 21 using false identification (fake ID) can be charged with a felony.The$10,000drinkNo matter how you look at it, getting aDUI is a bad idea. What you might notrealize is the financial cost. Getting aDUI could take a big chunk out of yourpaycheck. The average costs (notincluding any costs for lost pay, personalinjuries, medical costs, vehicle damageor additional penalties for causing acrash while drinking) for a first-offensedrunken driving case are:Minimum fine:.......................................$390Penalty Assessment:..........................$666State Restitution Fund:.......................$100Alcohol-Abuse Education Fund:.........$50Blood- or Breath-Testing Fee:............$37Jail Cite-and-Release Fee:..................$10Driving/Alcohol-AwarenessSchool:...........................................$375(16 weeks minimum)License Reissue Fee:..........................$100Attorney Fees (average):................$2,500Auto InsuranceIncrease:......................$3,600 - $6,600(The Auto Club estimates $2,200 ayear for three years)Total....................................$7,828 - $10,828Source: Mothers Against Drunk DrivingAlcohol facts• Alcohol reduces alertness, interfereswith judgment and impairs vision.• It takes about one hour to cancel theeffects of one drink.• The probability of an accidentincreases with each drink.• Physical exercise, black coffee,fresh air, cold showers and other“remedies” do not effectively helpsomeone sober up.• The amount of blood alcohol in a oneounceshot of whiskey, three-ounceglass of wine and 12-ounce beer isthe same.• The significance of .10 percent BAL inrelation to driving impairment is thatthe probability of having an accidentis 7 ½ times greater than whensober – increasing to 25 times at .15percent BAL.• Alcohol is medically termed a drugand a depressant. The combineduse of alcohol and other depressantdrugs, such as antihistamines, maybe more dangerous to health and tohighway safety than the effects ofeither the alcohol or drugs alone.Source: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s OfficePrevention across theSuncoast regionTwenty provider organizationsare currently contracted to provideprevention programs and servicesthroughout the 11 counties of theSuncoast region. These providers workclosely with local community-drivenprevention coalitions in order to assistin the selection and implementation ofevidence-based programs, practicesand strategies to address the specificneeds of the communities they serve.The Suncoast region is host to 10anti-drug coalitions whose primarygoal is to ensure that their communitiesare safe, healthy and drug-free. Thesecoalitions have been trained in theSubstance Abuse Response Approach(SARA) and, as a result, producecommunity-level needs assessments,resource assessments and communityaction plans addressing a variety ofsubstance abuse problems, includingunderage drinking, prescription druguse/misuse, marijuana, adult bingedrinking and polysubstance use (multidrugcombinations). The substanceabuse prevention coalitions arecontinuously evaluating and updatingthe community action plans andworking with community partners toincrease awareness, educate thecommunity and work collaborativelywith service and program providersto reduce substance abuse in theSuncoast region.Suncoast region consequencesidentified:Alcohol-related crime and violence onschool campusesJuvenile crimeAlcohol-related automobile accidentsAlcohol-related fatalitiesDUI-related deaths and injuries“I lost family and friends, as well as my opportunity for education. I lost myspiritual connection with my higher power, my peace and my integrity. I losttouch with myself, and I lost my freedom. Through my recovery I regainedall these things and I am still gaining. I have found love and inspiration, and Ihave found pure joy in life.”— Samantha8 tampabay.com/nie

Suncoast region community actionplan goals:Reduce• Number of DUI-related automobile accidentsamong drivers 21-25 years of age• Alcohol-related incidents of crime andviolence on high school campuses• Rate of alcohol-related automobile accidentsamong drivers 19-25 years of age• Binge drinking in the 19-25 age group• Violent/harmful behaviors that are the resultof alcohol use• Number of persons that accept non-medicaluse of prescription drugs and self-medicationas safe• Number of admittances to emergencyrooms for previously undetected drug andpolysubstance-related causes• Number of adult (age 20-35 years)prescription drug deaths from unintentionalpoisoning• Youth deaths from the use of alcohol mixedwith prescription drugs• Retail access and availability of prescriptiondrugsIncrease• Use of evidence-based strategies to raiseparental/community awareness aboutunderage drinking and related antisocialbehaviors• Collaborative efforts between communitypartners• Community awareness of the effects ofalcohol use by youths• Support of enforcement to decrease alcoholavailability• Capacity to understand where youths aregaining access to alcohol• Capacity of epidemiology networks andassessment committees to collect and sharedata• Local doctor (clinic, primary care) knowledgeof laws regulating prescription drug sales• Community awareness (among parents,youths and key community leaders) of theeffects of alcohol use mixed with prescriptiondrug use by youths and increasedenforcement effortsCentral Florida Behavioral HealthNetwork Inc.All contracting for mental health, substanceabuse and substance abuse preventionservices with local provider organizations in theSuncoast region of Florida is facilitated throughthe Managing Entity, Central Florida BehavioralHealth Network Inc. (CFBHN), rather thandirectly with the Department of Children andFamilies (DCF). Working in partnership with DCF,CFBHN is a not-for-profit corporation basedin Tampa, whose primary goal is to ensure awell-organized and accountable system ofcommunity behavioral health care services.CFBHN contracts with 52 providerorganizations that offer a full array of mentalhealth and substance abuse treatment servicesin 11 counties to an estimated 105,000 people.The range of services provided includes acutecare, residential treatment, housing, medical,outpatient and recovery support services.The network also provides substance abuseprevention services to more than 170,000 at-riskchildren and adults.For more information on preventionprograms, plans and services; communityprevention coalitions; or events and activitiesaround the Suncoast region, contact RebeccaR. Todd, prevention program manager, CentralFlorida Behavioral Health Network Inc. atrtodd@cfbhn.org.learning with the times activityDriving under the influenceDriving under the influence of alcoholand other drugs is dangerous. Monitorthe Tampa Bay Times and tbt* for a fewweeks. How many people are reported tobe involved in DUI accidents or arrestsThink About ItSo what if I got drunk last night. I am okay now! Areyou? You are out partying with your friends: goodfriends, good times and a 12-pack of beer. You go tobed intoxicated with a blood alcohol level (BAL) of .18.Alcohol leaves the blood stream at .015 percent per hour.Time Action BALMidnight Go to bed .1801 a.m Sleep .1652 a.m. Stumble to the bathroom .1503 a.m. Sleep .1354 a.m. Sleep .1205 a.m. Sleep (still intoxicated) .1056 a.m. Wake for work .0907 a.m. Drive to work .0758 a.m. At work – still impaired .0509 a.m. Difficulty staying awake .03510 a.m. Sleep at desk .020Driver’slicensesuspensionfor minors)Noon Time for lunch no longerimpairedSource: Suncoast Safety Councilduring this time period? Based on whatyou read and see in your community,write down your thoughts about whypeople drive under the influence.Research alternatives to this behavior.tampabay.com/nie 89

Binge Drinking“Alcohol abuse means having unhealthy or dangerous drinking habits,such as drinking every day or drinking too much at a time. Alcohol abusecan harm your relationships, cause you to miss work and lead to legalproblems such as driving while drunk. When you abuse alcohol, youcontinue to drink even though you know your drinking is causing problems.“If you continue to abuse alcohol, it can lead to alcohol dependence.Alcohol dependence is also called alcoholism. You are physically ormentally addicted to alcohol. You have a strong need, or craving, to drink.You feel like you must drink just to get by.”Source: WebMDBinge drinking is a common pattern of alcoholabuse. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuseand Alcoholism defines binge drinking asa pattern of drinking that brings a person’s bloodalcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or above.This typically happens when men consume five ormore drinks and when women consume four or moredrinks in about two hours.According to national surveys:• Although college students commonly binge drink, 70percent of binge drinking episodes involve adultsover age 25.• The prevalence of binge drinking among men is twotimes higher than among women.• Binge drinkers are 14 times more likely to reportalcohol-impaired driving than non-binge drinkers.• About 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by youthunder the age of 21 in the United States is in theform of binge drinks.• About 75 percent of the alcohol consumed by adultsin the United States is in the form of binge drinks.Binge drinking is associated with manyhealth problems:• Unintentional injuries (car crashes, falls, burns,drowning)• Intentional injuries (firearm injuries, sexual assault,domestic violence)• Alcohol poisoning• Sexually transmitted diseases• Unintended pregnancy• Children born with fetal alcohol syndrome disorders• High blood pressure, stroke and othercardiovascular diseases• Liver disease• Neurological damage• Sexual dysfunction• Poor control of diabetesConsequences of binge drinkingThe Centers for Disease Control and Preventionreports that young people who drink alcohol are morelikely to experience the following:• School problems, such as higher absence and pooror failing gradesThink about itMany people dismiss underage drinkingas a normal “rite of passage” inadolescence. It is important to rememberthat although alcohol is legal for adults,it can be unsafe and unhealthy. InFlorida, it is illegal for those youngerthan 21. According to a report by theU.S. Department of Health and HumanServices, more young people in theUnited States drink alcohol than smoketobacco or marijuana. Alcohol use byyoung people is a factor in a host ofserious health, social and economicproblems. Underage alcohol use canhave immediate and tragic consequences,such as alcohol poisoning, injury anddeath, as well as long-range harmfulconsequences, such as increased riskfor physical and developmental damageand chronic alcohol addiction.10 tampabay.com/nie

• Social problems, such as fighting and lack ofparticipation in youth activities• Legal problems, such as arrest for driving orphysically hurting someone while drunk• Physical problems, such as hangovers orillnesses• Unwanted, unplanned and unprotectedsexual activity• Disruption of normal growth and sexualdevelopment• Physical and sexual assault• Higher risk for suicide and homicide• Alcohol-related car crashes and otherunintentional injuries, such as burns, fallsand drowning• Memory problems• Abuse of other drugs• Changes in brain development that may havelifelong effects• Death from alcohol poisoningSource: Florida Department of Children and FamiliesBinge drinking on college campuses• According to a 1997 national study conductedby the Harvard School of Public Health,nearly half of all college students surveyeddrank four or five drinks in one sitting withinthe previous two weeks.• Students who live in a fraternity or sororityhouse are the heaviest drinkers: 86 percentof fraternity residents and 80 percent ofsorority residents report binge drinking.• In a recent study, 39 percent of collegewomen binge drank within a two-weekperiod compared to 50 percent of collegemen.• Colleges with high binge-drinking rates alsowere much more likely to attract studentswho were binge drinkers in high school.• In schools with high binge-drinking rates, 34percent of non-binge drinkers reported beinginsulted or humiliated by binge drinkers;13 percent reported being pushed, hit orassaulted; 54 percent reported having to takecare of a drunken student; 68 percent wereinterrupted while studying; and 26 percentof women experienced an unwanted sexualadvance.Sources: U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices and Substance Abuse and Mental HealthServices AdministrationMyth:fact:Myth:fact:Myths and facts about drinkingCoffee can sober upsomeone who has hadtoo much to drink.Only time sobers. It takesabout one hour to oxidizeeach drink.Hard liquor is moreintoxicating than beer orwine.A 12-ounce can of beer, afive-ounce glass of wineand a 12-ounce wine coolercontain the same amountof alcohol and the sameintoxication potential as1 1 /2 ounces of liquor.Alcohol poisoning 101Many people choose to ignore bingedrinking. It is dismissed as a game or a funtime. But every day, people die from theconsequences of binge drinking: alcoholpoisoning, car wrecks, drownings and soforth. Have you ever participated in partiesor events where people binge drink? Doyou know people who drink excessiveMyth:fact:Source: Florida Highway PatrolSomeone who has hadtoo much to drink willlook intoxicated.Someone’s physicalappearance can bemisleading. One drinkcan impair someone’sability to drive. Judgmentis the first thing affectedwhen someone has beendrinking and importantmotor skills are next.Alcohol poisoning is one of the most serious consequences of bingedrinking. When excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed, thebrain is deprived of oxygen. The struggle to deal with an overdoseof alcohol and lack of oxygen eventually will cause the brain to shutdown the voluntary functions that regulate breathing and heart rate.Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:• Vomiting• Unconsciousness• Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin• Slow or irregular breathing (fewer than eight breaths a minute or 10 or more seconds between breaths)Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrationlearning with the times activity • Binge drinkingamounts of alcohol on a daily or weeklybasis? Did you know that drinking fouror more drinks in a short period of timeis considered binge drinking? Look inthe Tampa Bay Times and tbt* for barand restaurant ads. Do any of these adsencourage binge drinking?tampabay.com/nietampabay.com/nie 101111

A fatal trendSince 2004, poisoning has overtaken firearms as a leading cause ofinjury/death in the United States. Close to 70 percent of all poisoningdeaths are due to unintentional drug overdoses.“Prescriptiondrug abuse kills 40Americans every day.That’s more than a threefoldincrease in the last decade,according to the U.S. Centers forDisease Control and Prevention.“Oxycodone is the deadliestdrug of all. An opiate found insuch painkillers as OxyContinand Percocet, it’s prescribed aftersurgeries and car wrecks, and topeople in chronic pain.“Others take it just for the high.The drug works by blocking thespinal cord’s pain receptors. Itdoesn’t make the pain go away,but prevents people from feelingit, creating a sense of euphoria.Soon, they need to take moreto get the same pleasurableescape.“Oxy makes junkies outof people who would neverbuy from a street dealer. It iseveryman’s high, heroin in a pill.“Of all the oxycodoneprescribed in America in the firsthalf of last year, 98 percent wasdispensed in Florida. Accordingto the state medical examiner’soffice, an average of sevenFloridians die from prescriptiondrug overdoses every day —more than from car accidents.”Source: Tampa Bay Times, Lane DeGregory,Times staff writer, December 2011Abuse of prescription drugs to get highhas become increasingly prevalent amongteens and young adults. Abuse of prescriptionpainkillers now ranks second – behind onlymarijuana – as the nation’s most prevalentillegal drug problem.Adults consume 25-40 percent of the nation’sprescription drugs, and medication-relatedproblems may be the third- or fourth-leadingcause of death among older adults.Sources: National Center for Health Statistics andSubstance Abuse and Mental HealthServices Administration, Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention“I have been in recovery for 17 years. Witheach year, I continuously grow thanks tomy family and friends and professionals inour field. The contributions of Nancy Hamilton,President and CEO of Operation PARand Dr. Stephanie Covington, are infinite,particularly for women in recovery. I havealways believed that recovery is aboutworking hard to be the person you aremeant to be. As Dr. Covington describes,it’s about having integrity. Your actionsbecome consistent with your character,your values, your core ethics.”~ Jackie Griffin,vice president of development,Operation Par, Inc.Think about itPrescription painkillers and antianxietydrugs now kill about 500people per year in the Tampa Bayarea – triple the number killed byillegal drugs such as cocaine andheroin.Source: Tampa Bay Times 200812 tampabay.com/nie

Parents bewareTeens are turning away from streetdrugs and using prescription drugs toget high. Next to marijuana, the mostcommon illegal drugs teens are using toget high are prescription medications.Teens are abusing prescription drugsbecause they believe the myth thatthese drugs provide a medically safehigh.The majority of teens get prescriptiondrugs easily and for free, often fromfriends or relatives. Girls are morelikely than boys to intentionally abuseprescription drugs to get high.Pain relievers such as OxyContinand Vicodin are the most commonlyabused prescription drugs by teens.Adolescents are more likely thanyoung adults to become dependent onprescription medication.Source: Office of National Drug Control PolicyPrescription drug dangersWhen taken properly and undera medical provider’s supervision,prescription drugs can have manybenefits. Prescription drugs, as well asover-the-counter (OTC) drugs, can bedangerous, especially when abused.There are serious health risksassociated with the abuse ofprescription drugs. A single large doseof prescription or OTC painkillers ordepressants can result in breathingproblems that will lead to death.Stimulant abuse can lead to violentor paranoid behavior or even fatalseizures.In small doses, depressants andpainkillers can affect a person’s motorskills, judgment or the ability to learn.The abuse of OTC cough and coldremedies can cause blurred vision,nausea, vomiting, dizziness, coma anddeath.Young people report many reasonsfor abusing prescription and OTC drugs.Sometimes teens and college-agestudents use prescription and over-thecounterdrugs to get high. This might beto party, to escape reality, to experimentor to relieve boredom.However, some people say theyabuse these drugs to help them cope, todeal with pressures or to self-medicateto relieve pain or sleep better.Source: Parents. The Anti-Drug.Children and caregiversbewarePrescription drug abuse is mostcommon in young people (ages 12-17),women and older adults. While people65 years of age and above compriseonly 13 percent of the population, theyaccount for approximately one-third ofall medications prescribed in the UnitedStates. Older patients are more likely tobe prescribed long-term and multipleprescriptions, which could lead tounintentional abuse.The elderly also are at risk forprescription drug abuse, in whichthey intentionally take medicationsthat are not medically necessary. Inaddition to prescription medications, alarge percentage of older adults alsouse over-the-counter medicines anddietary supplements.Because of the elderly’s high ratesof having multiple illnesses, changesin drug metabolism with age andthe potential for drug interactions,prescription and over-the-counter drugabuse and misuse can have dangeroushealth consequences. Health careproviders, primary care physiciansand pharmacists, as well as patientsthemselves and their caregivers, all canplay a role in identifying and preventingprescription drug abuse.learning with the times student activityAnalyzing advertisementsA drug is any non-food substance thatwhen put into the body changes theway the body or mind works. Physiciansmay prescribe legal drugs. Over-thecounterdrugs may be purchased at drugstores or other retail stores. Newspapers,the Internet and television frequentlycontain advertising for drugs. Monitor theJust the Facts• In 2009, there were 7 millionAmericans aged 12 yearsand older who abusedprescription drugs for nonmedicalpurposes withinthe past month, up from 6.2million in 2008.• In 2009, on average, 6,027persons per day abusedprescription pain relieversfor the first time.• Every day, on average, 2,500teens use prescription drugsto get high for the first time.• Sixty percent of teens whoabused prescription painrelievers did so before theage of 15.• According to the Centersfor Disease Control,prescription drugs,including opioids andantidepressants, areresponsible for moreoverdose deaths than“street drugs” such ascocaine, heroin andamphetamines.Source: Drug Enforcement AdministrationTampa Bay Times, tbt* and your favoritetelevision station for a week. In yourjournal, write down each time you see anadvertisement for a prescription or overthe-counterdrug. As a consumer, do youthink you are being bombarded with theseimages? What is the message that is beingconveyed in these advertisements?tampabay.com/nie 1213tampabay.com/nie 13

“I was only 17 and had undergonesurgery for a disc that was rupturedin my back due to a car accident. Istarted taking the prescriptions oxy/roxycotin after I gave birth to my son,Kayden, to deal with the pain that Istill had from the accident. Before Iknew it, I was ingesting more than15 pills a day. When the clinic I wasgetting my pills from was raided, I hitthe streets and started stealing.“Thank goodness for my family.They took care of my son while myaddiction drove me to the streets formore than a year. Life on the streetstook everything from me — mytime with my son and being able tohelp him when he got real sick, myrelationship with my son’s dad andmy own health. By the time of myfirst arrest, I only weighed 115 pounds.It was only after I spent almost amonth in jail did I decide to come toDAccO for treatment. Unfortunately,my addiction started trying to takeme back less than a month after Ientered the program. I thought I couldstill use and when I was offeredsome pills, I took them and got high.My counselors at DAccO knew I hadrelapsed and had me tested whenI came back from escorting anotherclient to the hospital. When I testedpositive, I was arrested and put backin jail for another 43 days.“I thank God that neither the judge,DAccO nor my family deserted me. …I know now how much I was hurtingeveryone around me and how muchI missed, but I also feel so lucky thatKayden still loves me and puts upwith me. I want to let others knowthat recovery is great and you canhave it if you want it.”— KellieThe new working definition of Recoveryfrom Mental Disorders and Substance UseDisorders is as follows: “A process of changethrough which individuals improve their healthand wellness, live a self-directed life, and striveto reach their full potential.”Everyday peopleNearly 75 percent of all adult illicit drugusers are employed, as are most bingeand heavy alcohol users. Studies showthat when compared with nonsubstanceabusers, substance-abusing employees aremore likely to• change jobs frequently• be late to or absent from work• be less productive employees• be involved in a workplace accident• file a workers’ compensation claim.Source: Substance Abuse and Mental HealthServices AdministrationMarijuana use increases as alcoholuse decreasesMarijuana use among teens rose in 2011 forthe fourth straight year – a sharp contrast tothe considerable decline that had occurredin the preceding decade. Daily marijuana useis now at a 30-year peak level among highschool seniors.“Synthetic marijuana,” which until earlierthis year was legally sold and goes by suchnames as “K2” and “spice,” was added to thestudy’s coverage in 2011; one in every ninehigh school seniors (11.4 percent) reportedusing that drug in the prior 12 months.Alcohol use – and, importantly, occasionsof heavy drinking – continued a long-termgradual decline among teens, reachinghistorically low levels in 2011.Source: National Institutes of HealthA weed by any other nameKnown as incense or “fake weed,”K2 and similar substances are syntheticcannabinoids much more powerfulthan marijuana, according to the DrugEnforcement Administration.Sold by the gram in brightly coloredpackets, the substances, when smoked,could induce overexcitement, hallucinations,paranoia, agitation and anxiety, not tomention high blood pressure, panic attacksand seizures.The fake drugs were sold online and in drugparaphernalia shops and convenience storesbefore the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) banned the use and sale of their keyingredients in March 2011. Shortly afterthe DEA announced its ban, some of themanufacturers started advertising other fakepotproducts. Many of them are sold onlineand are showing up in the Tampa Bay area.Sources: Tampa Bay Times and Drug EnforcementAdministration14 tampabay.com/nie

Adults: Be the WallWe know you would never host a party withalcohol for teens, but do you know how tokeep teens from trying to sneak it in the frontdoor? Brush up on your chaperone skills –Be The Wall!• Utilize a location that has clear entrancesand exits, such as your home or acommunity center. If there are multiple exits,block off all exits you do not want used orutilize other chaperones to block the exits.• Work with your teen to decide on a guestlist ahead of time. Set a limit to the numberof people and make a contingency plan forpolitely turning away party-crashers.• On the event invitation, clearly state thebeginning and ending time, what to bringand what not to bring.• Ask teens to leave purses or backpacksin their locked cars or at the front door.Discourage teens from going back and forthfrom your home to their cars.• Lock up any alcohol in your home before theparty.• Ask adults that may be attending the partyto leave their alcohol at home for the event.• Utilize the television, swimming pool, videogames or karaoke machine to entertain teens.• Provide plenty of space for teens to justhang out comfortably where you can seethem but not hover over them.• Utilize single-serve cans instead ofdisposable cups. Do not use a punch bowlor pitchers.• Monitor behavior by circulating around thehome and interacting with teens. Work withyour teen ahead of time to agree upon acourse of action should such a situation arise.• Never let a teen that you believe to beimpaired leave your home.K2, or ‘spice’K2, or spice, is a mixture of herbs andspices that is typically sprayed with asynthetic compound chemically similarto THC, the psychoactive ingredient inmarijuana.K2 is commonly purchased in head shops,tobacco shops, various retail outlets and overthe Internet. It is often marketed as incense or“fake weed.” Purchasing over the Internet can be especiallydangerous because it is not usually known where theproducts come from or what amount of chemical is beingused.On March 1, 2011, the United States Drug EnforcementAdministration (DEA) listed five chemicals used to create this“fake pot” product as Schedule I drugs. Except as authorizedby law, this action makes possessing and selling thesechemicals or the products that contain them illegal in theUnited States.These chemicals have not been approved by the FDAfor human consumption, and there is no oversight of themanufacturing process. Brands such as Spice, K2, Blaze andRed X Dawn are labeled as herbal incense tomask their intended purpose. Since 2009, the DEAhas received an increasing number of reports from poisoncontrol centers, hospitals and law enforcement regardingthese products.“Young people are being harmed when they smoke thesedangerous ‘fake pot’ products and wrongly equate theproducts’ ‘legal’ retail availability with being safe,” said DEAadministrator Michele M. Leonhart. “Parents and communityleaders look to us to help them protect their kids, and wehave not let them down. Today’s action, while temporary, willreduce the number of young people being seen in hospitalemergency rooms after ingesting these synthetic chemicals toget high.”Source: Drug Enforcement AdministrationTeaching withthe TimesThe Tampa Bay Timesspecial report, “If I DieYoung,” can be accessedat tampabay.com/specials/2011/reports/addiction-recovery.Have your students readabout the struggles ofStacy Nicholson as shestruggles for sobrietyin the epicenter ofFlorida’s Pain Pill Crisis.Share your lesson plansand thoughts on theNIE Blogging Zone attampabay.com/blogs/niezone.tampabay.com/nie 1415

Resources:Addiction Recovery Care of Tampa (ARC)Outpatient substance abuse treatment:813-978-1300Agency for Community Treatment Services:actsfl.orgAdult Outpatient Treatment:813-246-4899Adult residential detoxification facility:813-367-2315Residential long-term treatment:813-879-1649Juvenile addiction receiving facility:813-931-4669, x229Thonotosassa Youth Residential:813-986-5966Associates in Behavioral Health andRecovery Inc.Outpatient substance abuse treatment:813-931-5933Centre for Women:centreforwomen.orgOutpatient substance abuse treatment:813-251-8437Drug Abuse Comprehensive CoordinatingOffice (daccO): dacco.orgMedication assisted treatment services:813-984-1818Women’s outpatient services:813-384-4000Adult & adolescent outpatient services:813-984-1818Women’s residential services:813-384-4000Men’s residential treatment facility:813-984-1818Brandon outpatient: adults & adolescents813-413-1065Community education:813-984-1818HIV testing:813-984-1818duI Counterattack, Hillsborough Inc.:813-875-6201DriveSafeTampa.orgFlorida Council on Compulsive Gambling:1-888-ADMIT-ITgamblinghelp.orgFlorida Tobacco Quitline:1-877-U-CAN-NOWThe Quitline is a toll-free telephone-basedtobacco use cessation service.Goodwill:goodwill-suncoast.orgOutpatient services:813-877-3234Healthcare Connection of Tampa Inc.:healthcareconnectionoftampa.comOutpatient substance abuse treatment:1-800-444-4434Hillsborough Prevention Coalitionsites.google.com/site/hillsboroughprevention/.E-mail - hillsborough.prevention@gmail.comHillsborough Community Alcohol and DrugAlliance (Hcada):HCADA.comHyde Park Counseling Center:hydeparkcenter.comResidential substance abuse treatment:813-258-4605Personal Growth Behavioral Health Inc.Outpatient substance abuse treatment:813-685-9332Phoenix Houses of Florida:phoenixhouse.orgOutpatient substance abuse treatment:813-881-1000Tampa Bay Academy:tampabay-academy.comYouth and family-centered services:813-677-6700Tampa Alcohol Coalition:tampatac.orgTampa Crossroads Inc.:tampacrossroads.comRose Manor Residential Program:813-228-9226Outpatient substance abuse treatment:813-238-8557, x401Tampa Metro Treatment Center:methadonetreatment.comOutpatient methadone detoxification,buprenorphine services:813-236-1182Town and Country Hospital:townandcountryhospital.comAddictions Recovery Unit:813-884-1904Turning Point of Tampa Inc.:tpoftampa.comResidential substance abusetreatment service:813- 882-3003Western Judicial Services Inc.:westernjudicial.comOutpatient substance abuse treatment:813-930-9595“I was losing my friends, therespect of my family, andclinging onto my job withbloodied fingernails. I couldn’teven tell you the last time I’dfelt something close to selfrespect.All the while I wasplaying out a life in public thateverything was okay. But then,I guess that’s what the diseaseof addiction turns you into: aliar. … I couldn’t live like thisany longer. I stopped trying todo it on my own and I got somereal help. …For anyone who’slistening, you can’t do it alone.You’ve probably tried alreadyand it’s failed.”— Kristian JohnsIn the know. In the Times.The Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education (NIE)program is a cooperative effort between schools and the Timesto promote the use of newspapers in print and electronicform as educational resources. Since the mid-1970s, NIE hasprovided schools with class sets of the newspaper, plus ouraward-winning original curriculum, at no cost to teachers orschools.With ever-shrinking school budgets, the newspaper and ourcurriculum supplements have become an invaluable tool toteachers. In the Tampa Bay area each year, more than 5 millionnewspapers and electronic licenses are provided to teachersand students free of charge thanks to our generous individual,corporate and foundation sponsors.NIE provides supplemental materials and educatorworkshops free of charge. Our teaching materials cover avariety of subjects and are consistent with Florida’s NextGeneration Sunshine State Standards.The Times and our NIE curriculum are rich educationalresources, offering teachers an up-to-the-minute, living textand source for countless projects in virtually every contentarea. For more information about NIE, visit tampabay.com/nie.Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/TBTimesnie, and checkout the NIE Blogging Zone at tampabay.com/blogs/niezone.To learn how to sponsor a classroom or educationsupplement or receive NIE resources at your school, go totampabay.com/nie or call 800-333-7505, ext. 8138.NIE STaFFJodi Pushkin, manager, jpushkin@tampabay.comSue Bedry, development specialist, sbedry@tampabay.comCarolyn Mantell, account coordinator, cmantell@tampabay.com© Tampa Bay Times 2012CredITSResearched and written by Jodi PushkinDesigned by Stacy Rector, Times staff* Kristian Johns is an editor and writer from South London.You can read John’s blog at sexdrugssausagerolls.wordpress.com.This blog contains mature content. You also can follow himon Twitter, Twitter.com/guy_interruptd.16 tampabay.com/nie