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Marijuana Use Doubles in U.S. Pregnant Women to 1 in 14
An article published by the Associated Press, quotes a study by the American Medical Association, showing evidence that 7% of pregnant women, or 1 in 14, said they used marijuana in the past month, most commonly in the first trimester. The data came from an analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2002 and 2017, which involved nearly half a million women. In the article, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Dr. Nora Volkow warns about the dangers of marijuana use during pregnancy, saying "it's not worth the risk." (cadca.org, 6/20/19) New study shows teens who abuse opioids are more likely to later use heroin A University of Southern California study, published in JAMA pediatrics, highlights the association between prescription opioid use and heroin. The study found that adolescents and teens who use prescription opioids are more likely to start using heroin by high school graduation. The study followed more than 3,000 freshmen from 10 Los Angeles area high schools through their senior years, and were asked about previous and use of prescription painkillers to get high. The study found that 13 percent of current opioid users and 10 percent of former opioid users switched to heroin by the end of high school, leading to the conclusion that adolescents need to be considered, and not overlooked, when discussing the opioid epidemic. (Indiana State Department of Health, 7/16/19) People are more likely to try drugs including cocaine, ecstasy, molly and marijuana in the summer than in any other season, according to a new study. Researchers at the NYU School of Medicine found more than one-third of LSD use and about 30% of ecstasy and marijuana use starts in the summer, CNN reports. About 28% of cocaine use also begins during summer months, the researchers report in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. (drugfree.org, 7/28/19) Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl Recently, a number of people have lost children to counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. While it didn’t make the newspapers like the fentanyl-related deaths of Mac Miller and Tom Petty, it was no less of a tragedy. Many of the substances sold on the street are laced with “cutting agents,” more potent substances or disguised as another drug altogether. These can be laundry detergent, talcum powder or rat poison. For example, marijuana can be laced with embalming fluid, or the hallucinogen PCP. But one of the most dangerous is fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. Fentanyl is showing up in cocaine, heroin, other pain medications like Percocet and Oxycodone, and in prescription anxiety medications like Xanax. According to a CDC report, deaths related to fentanyl increased 45% in 2017 alone. Synthetic drugs are often more deadly not only because of how strong they are, but also because of the ever-changing ways in which they are blended into other substances. This makes it difficult for people to know not only what they are taking, but also the strength of the drug. Many families wonder why anyone would lace a product with a substance like fentanyl, given it’s so powerful and can easily cause an overdose. After all, who would knowingly promote a product that has the potential to kill their buyers? The answer lies in economics. It’s cheaper to produce, and when combined with other sought-after substances, can generate huge profits, despite the risk of overdose and loss of life. While measures are being taken to safeguard the country, there are actions you as a parent or caregiver can take to protect and reduce the risks loved ones may face:
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Community events are not only fun, they are vital to the life of a healthy community! Special events and community celebrations play an important role as attractions and catalysts for future community development. "In addition to the economic benefit that is derived from the increased number of tourists, festivals and special events also expand the tourist season of the destination, provide cultural and educational opportunities, foster a feeling of community pride, help conserve sensitive natural, social and cultural environments, and contribute to sustainable development." - Humaira Irshad Rural Development Division If you're a Jay County resident, you have the opportunity to participate in a community event This Week! If you've lived in Jay County for more than a year, you've probably heard about the "Tractor and Engine Show." But what you may not know, is that the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association hosts the world's largest gas engine and tractor show every year, right here in Jay County Indiana. The hub of the event is at the Jay County Fairgrounds, but the entire town of Portland seems to be taken over by golf carts, yard sales, and a whole lot of fun for an entire week each August. This year, the 54th Annual Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show will take place on August 20th-24th. Be sure to bring the whole family to the Jay County Fairgrounds to experience this unique event! Click here for more information.
Are you heading off to college within the next few weeks? If so, you're probably feeling excited and nervous all at once. You might be wondering if you'll get along with your roommate, or if the academics will really be harder than in high school. Maybe you're afraid leaving home, or you're excited for the chance to meet people with the same interests as you.
No matter how you're feeling about leaving for college, one of the things you may not have thought about was peer pressure and access to substances like alcohol, prescription, and illicit drugs.
If you experience feelings of anxiety, worry, or loneliness, drugs may seem like a quick fix. If you're being offered this kind of escape, it might seem like "no big deal." But the fact is, alcohol, misused prescriptions, and other drugs can have extremely harmful and detrimental effects on your brain and overall health. Things to Consider:
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) is also a great place to talk about those feelings--even if you are not experiencing suicidal thoughts. You can also watch the video below with a trusted adult and ask them to talk about it with you. This video helps inform adults on how to help you cope with some of the new stressors you may be facing. "...all of my friends, like all of my best friends, are addicted to nicotine..." JUUL is an e cigarette brand that currently has teens across America addicted to nicotine. JUUL was introduced to the market in 2015. It's sleek, and looks similar to a USB thumb drive. Because JUUL does not contain the burning tobacco that traditional cigarettes do, it was looked to as a safer alternative for adult smokers. However, because of the way JUUL has been marketed among youth, this device has led to what some call a "teen addiction crisis." According to Scott Gottlieb, FDA Commissioner, "E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitous and dangerous trend among teens. The disturbing and accelerating trajectory of use we are seeing in youth and a resulting path to addiction must end." According to an NBC News video: 1. JUUL appeals to underage kids, especially with its fruity flavors 2. JUULing leads kids to cigarette use 3. The high nicotine content makes JUULing highly addictive regardless of age 4. We don't yet know the long term health effects Some believe that JUUL can be the harm-reduction "missing link" between prevention and addiction, but even if JUUL does not contain the harmful tobacco smoke traditional cigarettes do, we don't have enough research yet to know what long-term effects use can have. And the marketing of JUUL seems to be targeting young people--not always lifelong smokers. Founder of JUUL admitted in an interview that the advertising geared to youth was "probably not our best foot forward." He claims the product was meant to be used solely by "adult smokers" as a harm-reduction tool. But for many people, a harm reduction strategy for lifelong smokers is not worth an entirely new generation of people addicted to nicotine. Scott Gottlieb, FDA Commissioner, "The FDA will not tolerate a whole generation of young people becoming addicted to nicotine as a tradeoff for enabling adults to have unfettered access to these same products." A new generation of young people is dependant on nicotine because of these products. It is important to stand up for thoughtful advertising techniques that employ best practices, and encourage retailers not to promote or sell to minors.
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AuthorMultiple Authors including coalition staff, board members, and coalition members contribute to this page. Archives
April 2022
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Location100 N. Meridian Street
Portland, Indiana 47371 |
About UsAs a community partner we support, advocate, and promote legal, state, and national efforts to prevent and reduce the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among youth and adults in Jay County, Indiana.
The Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition (JCDPC) is part of the statewide network of the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse. The JCDPC is the Local Coordinating Council (LCC) for the community. Contact Us(260) 251-3259
jcdpccontact@gmail.com |
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