SATUCI Youth Partners e-Newsletter
December 2013
Marshalltown students take Iowa Youth Survey

Marshalltown middle school and high school students took the Iowa Youth Survey in October. Results will be used by community agencies and organizations to make decisions about their programs and services. See the youth survey summary.
 
Social Host ordinance review
 
December is a good time to review Marshalltown's Social Host ordinance. Take a look.
 
Marijuana: What's the big deal?
 
Here's some tips on how to talk to your child if you suspect he or she is using marijuana. More here.
 
Molly - new name, same deadly results

What's in a (drug) name? The now-popular party drug named Molly sounds friendly and safe, and young people know that the drug is the same as what used to be the pill from of Ecstasy. Read more here. 
 
Quick Links




 Youth Partner sponsor for this issue:
Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA
Welcome to our first newsletter!
 
We are excited to send you our first newsletter! You will be getting this newsletter each month and it will feature information about substance use and abuse issues. We hope to offer parents and community agencies and organizations important information about our efforts to curb underage drinking and drug use and abuse. We also want to pass along information we have about these issues.

Please help us spread the word so we can get more subscribers! To subscribe or to give us feedback on our newsletter, send us an email at: youthpartners@satuci.com
 
We'd appreciate knowing what you think and how we can improve!

Vickie Lewis
Do home drug tests work?
Parents are becoming more concerned about their teens' marijuana use and are using over-the-counter drug tests available at local pharmacies. There are three different types of urinalysis tests. One tests for marijuana, another for cocaine and the third and most expensive tests for 12 different drugs, including  amphetamines, opiates and benzodiazepines. 

 

Although convenient, these tests are not as thorough or accurate as industry-standards UAs. At-home tests only offer a positive or negative result. UAs used at treatment facilities and doctor's offices measure how much of a chemical is present in the urine. Some at-home tests can show a false positive if a person has used certain prescriptions or medicines. Before you buy, parents are reminded to read the instructions carefully. 

For more information, call 641-752-5421
.

Krokodil creeping into the Midwest

"Krokodil" is a homemade synthetic form of a heroin-like drug called desomorphine that is made by combining codeine tablets with various toxic chemicals including lighter fluid and industrial cleaners.

 
This extremely dangerous mixture gets its name from the scaly, gray-green dead skin that forms at the site of an injection.

 
The flesh destroyed by krokodil becomes gangrenous, and, in some cases, limb amputation has been necessary to save a user's life.

 
Desomorphine has a similar effect to heroin in the brain, although it is more powerful and has a shorter duration.

More recently, it has been reported in a few U.S. states.


 Source:National Institute on Drug Abuse

 
Parent tip for the month
Holiday times mean teens are out of school and facing much less structure and supervision. School breaks mean lots of freedom and time spent socializing with friends, not to mention an increased access to alcohol that comes with the parties. Because boredom is a major reason teens give for substance abuse, even the most trustworthy teen can be at risk.  Parents need to set