Trends on the Greater Eastside
DRUGS,
ALCOHOL,
KIDS
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
1
Substance Use In Our Schools
This year, drug use
will add 10% or
more to the cost
of elementary &
secondary
education, due to
violence, special
education, teacher
turnover, truancy,
property damage, &
injury.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
2
Cocaine, Psyilocybin, MDMA, Heroin
“HARD” DRUGS
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
3
Cocaine Making a Come-Back
Cocaine use has risen dramatically on the
Eastside for the last 5 years or so.
 Teens are starting to identify cocaine as a
―soft drug‖ because they compare it with
methamphetamines.
 Due to a short high and easy-to-cover
come-down, cocaine has a reputation of
being a good ―in front of others‖ drug.

Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
4
Psilocybin (‗Shrooms)

Due to many of the arguments around
cannabis being ―safe,‖ a lot of other ―natural‖
drugs are becoming popular.

Hallucinogens are not considered as
addictive as stimulants or depressants.

Mushroom hunting is fashionable.

It is easy to get ―bad ‗shrooms.‖

Psyilocybin is very hard on the kidneys and
liver, which can impact other
drugs/medications being taken.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
6
MDMA – ―ecstasy‖
Typically a club drug, ecstasy has become
more popular and common, and a lot of
kids now use at home, hanging out, or
even at school.
 As a psycho-stimulant, ―E‖ is progressively
addictive the more it is used.
 High risk drug, because of unknown
contents designed to give a more intense
high/experience.

Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
8
Heroin

We have reports of black and white tar
heroin being used by teens in Kirkland,
Redmond, Sammamish, Bellevue, Issaquah,
North Bend & Spanaway.

Kids who started abusing pain meds have
developed opioid tolerance.

Smoking heroin does not have the same
reputation as shooting up.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
10
Prescription Medication
CONFUSING DRUGS
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
12
Commonly Abused Meds

Pain-killers, also called analgesics or
opioids. This would be stuff like OxyContin,
Vicodin, and Codeine. (Equal to: Heroin)

Amphetamine congeners, also called
psycho-stimulants. This includes AD/HD
medication like Ritalin or Adderall, or
sometimes diet pills. (Equal to: Speed)

Tranquilizers, also called anxiolytics. These
are usually sleeping pills and anti-anxiety
meds. (Equal to: Alcohol)
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
13
Abusing Prescription Meds

Taking more at once than prescribed

Crushing the pills and snorting them

Smoking them ( ―smoking beans‖)

Combining them with alcohol or other
drugs to increase the effects
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
15
What You Should Know…
…about pain killers

―Prescription pills are so easy to get.‖

―It‘s a gateway drug—more than weed.‖

―Parents should monitor their kids‘
prescriptions, like really know what they
have.‖

―Pain pills are stronger than you think.‖
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
16
Marijuana, Alcohol, Spice
“SOFT” DRUGS
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
17
Immediate Alcohol Risks

The majority of teens don‘t know how much
alcohol constitutes ―a drink,‖ nor do they
know the definition of ―binge drinking.‖

The majority of teens who drink illicitly do
not keep track of how much they are
drinking.

The majority of teens do not know how to
recognize the symptoms of alcohol
poisoning.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble"
Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
18
Substance Use in Our Schools
In Washington state, one in four 8th graders
who report drinking in the past month
also report carrying a weapon, as compared
with 1 in 20 who did not drink.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble"
Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
19
Short-Term Alcohol Risks

Approximately 1 out of every 4 teens in the
U.S. drank alcohol in the past 30 days.

About 80% of those were binge drinkers.

And about 25% were heavy drinkers, binge
drinking on a regular to semi-regular basis.

Motor vehicle crashes are still the leading
cause of death for people from age 15 -20
yrs old. 25% of teen deaths related to
vehicles, involved alcohol.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble"
Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
20
Substance Use in Our Schools
Students in grades 8, 10 and 12 who report
recent alcohol use are more than twice
as likely to have been in a physical fight in
the past year than those who don't drink.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble"
Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
21
Short-Term Alcohol Risks

Three out of four (75%) of high school students
have consumed alcohol - a drink, not a few sips by the end of high school.
(2005 Monitoring the Future)

More than 2/3rds of teens who try alcohol before
age 15 will try other illegal drugs.

Teens who drink are 22 times more likely to use
cannabis.

Teens who drink are 50 times more likely to use
cocaine.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
22
Long-Term Alcohol Risks
Adults who first drank alcohol before age
21 are more likely to become
alcoholics—the younger the age of ―first
use,‖ the more likely that becomes:

Ages 17-20, one in ten develops
alcoholism.

Ages 14 -17, four out of ten.

Before age 14, odds are 50/50.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
23
Cannabis is Addictive

Tolerance occurs fairly rapidly. First-time
users may not get high, & sometimes
sensitivity may initially increase. With
continued use, smokers will need larger and
larger amounts to get high.

Withdrawals kick in late and come on slowly.
They include irritability, body aches,
depression/apathy, inability to concentrate,
tremors, sleep disturbance, sweating,
appetite/digestive problems, craving.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
24
Cannabis as a ―Gateway‖ Drug

Youth who smoke cannabis by age 17 are
about 2 to 5 times more likely to become
harmfully involved with other drugs.

Cannabis users are more likely to be
offered other drugs, & more likely to
accept.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
26
Synthetic Cannabinol

―Spice‖ ―Black Mamba‖ ―Genie‖ ―K2‖ etc.

Sold as an incense—currently legal.

Looks like oregano, smells like ―Glade‖—
this is inert plant matter sprayed with labmade chemicals similar to THC.

Five times more potent high.

Short-term risks include violent mood
swings and seizures—long-term risks are
unknown.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
27
RELATED TRENDS
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
29
Anxiety
Last year, the NIMH reported that
Anxiety Disorders surpassed Major
Depressive Disorder as the #1 mental
health problem in America, with the
highest percentage of victims being
adolescents and young adults.
 The adolescent brain is just learning how
to identify emotions and how to cope
with them effectively.

Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
30
Bullying/Harrassment
High school incidents show one to three
bullying incidents in the last month.
 Half of all bullying incidents go
unreported.
 282,000 students are physically attacked
in secondary schools each month.
 One out of every 10 students who drops
out of school does so because of
repeated bullying.

Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
31
Bullying is HERE

According to new bullying statistics these
are the five top worst states to live in to
avoid bullies in K thru12:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
#1 California
#2 New York
#3 Illinois
#4 Pennsylvania
#5 Washington
Presentation by Andrea "Noble"
Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
32
Suicide
In Washington state, 1 out of 4 high
school students have thought about
suicide within the last year.
 In Washington, 1 out of 10 will attempt
suicide before leaving high school.
 About 40% of teens report feeling
depressed most days of the year.

Presentation by Andrea "Noble"
Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
33
Self-Harm

An increasing number of teens use cutting
or burning as a way to manage stress.

Tips for self-harm and covering it up are
easily available on the internet.

Some youth view self-harm as an easy way
to make friends.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
34
Take An Active Role
COMMUNITY
Presentation by Andrea "Noble"
Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
35
What You Should Know…
…about drug availability

―Parents who think their kids aren‘t using
are the one‘s whose kids usually are.‖

―People in college have everything!‖

―Even if you‘ve never used it, you can get
it within a day. Anything!‖

―Everyone knows who‘s using.‖
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
36
When Teens Were Asked:

When they use drugs most often, they
reported it was between the hours of
3:00pm and 6:00pm.

Where they use tobacco, alcohol or other
drugs, they said…
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
#1 place ―in their own home‖ (20% reported)
#2 place ―at their friend‘s home‖ (17% reported)
#3 place ―in their community‖ (14% reported)
#4 place ―in a car‖
(10% reported)
#5 place ―at school‖ (4% reported)
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
37
Schools Have Influence

School environment has strong
influence on drug an alcohol use; the
adolescent brain is wired to accept and
conform more & more to peer influence.

If a student gets to age 21 without using
tobacco, alcohol or other drugs, he or she
probably never will.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
38
Parents Have Influence
―Parents are the single most
important influence on teens’
decisions to smoke, drink, or use
drugs. Yet many parents do not fully
understand the extent of their
influence.‖
- National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
39
Parents Have Influence

Talk to your kids about drugs! Kids
whose parents regularly talk about drugs are
nearly 50% less likely to use.

Adolescents (ages 12 to 17) who
believe their parents would strongly
disapprove of their using a particular
substance were less likely to use it than
were youths who believed their parents
would somewhat disapprove or neither
approve or disapprove.
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
40
Community Has Influence
Talk to your kids
 Talk to other parents
 Talk to professionals
 Know your community resources
 Keep up with the latest information
 GET PEOPLE TALKING

Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
41
Any Questions?
Thank you for coming!
Presentation by Andrea "Noble" Erickson, MA, CDP 2010
42