|
Opioid Deaths are Preventable
Learn how to make a difference
The recent death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman by an apparent drug overdose - a mixture of heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamines - reminds us no one is immune from the risks of drug use.
According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), every day, 100 people die from drug overdoses in America, and about half of those deaths involve opioid drugs - including prescription painkillers and heroin.
_________________________________________
An opioid is a medication that relieves pain.
Common opioids include:
* Codeine
* Morphine
* Methadone
* Fentanyl
* Hydrocodone/Oxycodone (usually found in prescription painkillers and known under various trade names including OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, or Vicodin)
* Heroin (an opioid drug synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant.)
__________________________________________
ONDCP has been working closely with the medical community, law enforcement, health officials, and with measures through the Affordable Care Act to provide strategies and solutions to reduce and prevent drug overdoses. The primary message? Every overdose is preventable.
ONDCP has outlined actions that parents can take to prevent the next opioid overdose death.
- If you know someone struggling with the disease of addiction, let them know help is available. Give them the treatment referral line phone number: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of an overdose, and what actions to take.
- Get rid of all unused, expired, or unneeded prescription drugs at home. Learn how to dispose of unused medicines.
- Download and share this helpful guide on how to prevent opioid deaths in your community.
To learn more about opioid overdoses and overdose prevention, click here.
|
| |
|
New Study Examines Cyber Abuse Among Teens
Report from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Cyber dating abuse is abusive behaviors perpetrated by romantic partners via technology/new media (e.g., social networking sites, texting, email), including threats via technology, harassing contacts, and using a partner's social networking page without permission. Cyber dating abuse can be sexual in nature (sexual cyber dating abuse) or more general (non-sexual cyber dating abuse).
A recently released NIJ-funded study looks at the prevalence of dating violence among more than 5,000 teens at 10 schools in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Asked about experiences with a romantic partner within the past year:
- 18% of all teens surveyed reported cyber abuse (e.g., "my partner used my social networking account without permission" or "my partner sent texts/emails to engage in sexual acts I did not want").
- 12% of teens in a relationship reported perpetuating cyber abuse.
- 28% of females in a relationship reported being a victim of cyber dating abuse vs. 24% of males.
- Cyber abuse is often combined with other forms of dating violence and abuse or other forms of bullying.
 SADD encourages parents to view the full report. The report is comprehensive, but the detailed Table of Contents will help you easily navigate the survey findings and increase awareness about the complexity of technology and teen relationships.
|
| |
|
Seat Belt Use Climbs Slightly
U.S. seat belt use in 2013 reached 87%
Long before the conversations about cell phone use, texting, and "distracted driving," we all talked about seat belts. And that's a good thing. Seat belts are the #1 defense against serious injury or death from a car crash. While there was just a one percent gain over the previous year, seat belt use has been increasing steadily over the past two decades.
Highlights from the most recent National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS)
Seat Belt Use by Occupant Type
- Drivers - 88%
- Right-front passengers - 85%
Seat Belt Use by State Enforcement Law Type
- Primary enforcement laws - 91%
- Other laws - 80%
Seat Belt Use by Occupant Vehicle Type
- Occupants of vans/SUVs - 90%
- Occupants of passenger cars - 88%
- Occupants of pick-up trucks - 78%
Seat Belt Use by Region
- West - 93%
- South - 87%
- Midwest - 85%
- Northeast - 84%
Since 1981, SADD chapters have championed seat belt advocacy and worked within their schools and communities to raise awareness about the life-saving importance of buckling up. Ask your teen about the seat belt activities led by their SADD chapter and share this link with them for campaign ideas!
For additional seat belt facts from NOPUS, see the Seat Belt Use in 2013 - Overall Results Fact Sheet. NOPUS is the only nationwide
probability-based observational survey of seat belt use by passenger vehicle occupants in the U.S.
|
| |
|
|
Deadly Vehicle Crashes Involving Drugs Climbing
Why this impacts teens and young adults
Several traffic safety and public health publications have recently reported that fatal driving crashes involving drugs are on the rise in the U.S.
A study conducted at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that the presence of drugs other than alcohol, such as marijuana, in a driver's system after a deadly crash increased from 16.6 % to 28.3% percent from 1999 to 2010.
According to the study's co-author, the findings are important because motor vehicle crashes are a major source of morbidity and mortality and a leading cause of death for children and young adults. Data shows that
50% of fatal crashes involve drivers under the influence of alcohol, other drugs or both.
Most of the increase in drugs detected in drivers' systems was from marijuana and opioids.
1999 2010
Marijuana 4.2% 12.2%
Opioids 1.8% 5.4%
Alcohol 39% 39%
 The results of the study can be a starting point for a conversation with your teen about the dangers of drugged driving. It is important for young people to understand that marijuana and non-prescribed prescription drug use under any condition is illegal and unhealthy - and pose potentially fatal consequences if combined with driving.
Use these SADD resources to talk with your teen:
Click here to read the online article.
|
|
| |
|
National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week
March 16-22, 2014
What is National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week?
National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW) is an annual, community level program to highlight understanding and education around inhalant abuse prevention.
Why is it important?
A child is 50% less likely to try an inhalant if an adult has spoken with them about the dangers of inhalant abuse.
What are inhalants?
Inhalants are products that are potentially dangerous when inhaled. Most inhalants are found right in the home - which is why they can be so dangerous and go unnoticed by parents. Some common inhalants include glue, aerosols, cleaning products, food products (cooking spray, whipped cream), butane lighters, paint, permanent markers, and nail polish remover.
Did you know?
- Inhalants are the 4th most abused substance after alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana.
- Over 2.6 million children, aged 12-17, use an inhalant each year to get high.
- 1 in 4 students in America has intentionally abused a common household product to get high.
- Inhalants tend to be the drug that is first tried by children.
The Inhalant Abuse Prevention program (www.inhalant.org) is an incredible resource for anyone who wants to learn more and take action to prevent inhalant abuse. These resources are great for parents.
Want more?
SADD and ACE (the Alliance for Consumer Education) have partnered to create an Inhalant Abuse Prevention Facilitators Guide and Lesson Plan. Share this link with your teen's SADD chapter or others in the community who have a role in educating high school and middle school students about inhalant abuse.
|
| |
|
Coming in April ...
Be sure to check us out next month for information on the Text, Talk, Act to Improve Mental Health special event to get people talking about mental health (April 24th), the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day (April 26th), and other news and events of interest to parents. As always, if you enjoy our newsletter, please forward to a friend (use the link below) and encourage them to register to receive their own copy!
|
| |
|
