Entries Tagged 'drugs' ↓

Nearly 4 million people nationwide watched the Ben Cousins documentary Such is Life – The troubled times of Ben Cousins. The program detailed his public life as a footballer while leading the secret life of a drug addict. This duplicitous lifestyle finally came to an end when he was arrested in Perth in 2007.

Paul Dillon, author of Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs and Generation Next speaker, asked the question “How can you really answer a question about the harms associated with drug use when incredibly successful men in peak physical condition admit to regular drug use?”

The documentary was graphic in both its discussion of drug use and footage of Ben under the influence of drugs. At one point Ben says “There would be a time and a place for speed, there would be a time and a place for ecstasy, cocaine was my drug of choice, no question, but Valium played a huge part in that and Xanax played a huge part in that.”

Paul Dillon addressed the problem of profiling public figures that are known drug users, “The major problem is the message that these admissions send to young people. Although many would imagine that stories of famous people using drugs and experiencing a range of problems would discourage teenagers from going down the same path, in many cases just the opposite happens.  Unfortunately the only message that some young people pick up is that these celebrities have ‘made it through to the other side’ and continue to lead very glamorous and successful lives.”

Later in the program Cousins says “I would train and f***ing train and obsess and play good footy and the thing that would get me through those tough moments, those tough days, … was I knew at the end … I was going to absolutely annihilate and launch into as much drugs as I could.”

Paul Dillon went onto to say “When you look at the messages that we give young people about drugs they are usually negative, warning about the risks associated with their use. Drugs destroy lives – people who use them lose their jobs, their families and are very unhealthy. This just doesn’t match what they see when the latest rock star tells all on a TV chart show, or a famous sportsman has been caught doing the ‘wrong thing’.”

He added “Even if they did have a bad time there for a while, they certainly don’t look like they’re suffering too much at the moment. These cases also cause young people to question the legal issues around drug use when they see celebrities who are caught with illicit sub stances getting off with a slap on the wrist.”

Although the documentary showed Ben Cousins’s drug use, it failed to address the underlying issues of why he became addicted, or explore  the internal changes and revelations he went through during the process of ‘becoming clean’.

The Sun Herald reported that “Cousins’ pain was palpable, but there was precious little sense of him realising he’d long before foregone the right to expect anything else by virtue of his own betrayals.”

Paul Dillon commented that “There are physical, psychological and, importantly, social effects that can arise as a result of using alcohol and other drugs. In some cases, the use of drugs may not result in any major physical effects that anyone can see, but the mental health repercussions may be immense. In other cases, the physical impacts of long-term drug use may be obvious.”

After the program aired the Sydney Morning Herald conducted an online survey, in which 16,054 people participated, 57% of the respondents felt he was “smug and full of excuses”.

Danny Weidler, a Channel Nine sports reporter said that his motivation for the tell all documentary could have been financial rather than conscience driven.  He is not earning the big bucks anymore and he is about to retire. “Channel Seven paid $800,000 up front for the program; other networks had knocked it back – the feeling was that it wasn’t sending the right message,” he wrote.

Paul Dillon advised parents and teachers to make “sure the information we give young people is balanced, accurate and credible is crucial. Acknowledging that not everyone is going to experience the same problems will enable us to explain why some people appear to get by unscathed. At the same time, no matter who you are, there are problems – some you may not be able to observe by watching the nightly news, but they are there.”

For more information on issues related to the use of drugs and alcohol go to Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA).

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.
Source: Paul Dillon – DARTA (Drug Alcohol Research and Training Australia). Sydney Morning Herald

It is expected that by 2012 Australia will be the first country in the world to impose generic packaging on tobacco companies.

At the same time there is a push to force tobacco companies to be more up-font about the content of their products.

There are growing concerns among anti-tobacco campaigners that menthol is increasingly being used as a “mild anaesthetic” to line the throat of a smoker so they cannot feel the full impact of the harmful effects of the tobacco that is being in-hailed.

Menthol could make smoking more addictive and attractive to younger smokers as it has the effect of cooling the throat.

Similarly, according to Professor Simon Chapman of Sydney University, tobacco companies are adding chemicals such as ammonia to their products under the guise of “processing aids”. Ammonia speeds up the rate that nicotine infiltrates the brain which in turn could encourage addition.

Professor Chapman, who was the 2008 NSW Premier’s Cancer Researcher of the Year, said companies ”cover up the secret formula of their brands”. He has urged the federal government to insist that companies show all ingredients contained in their products.

”The real issue here is whether it is sensible to allow tobacco companies to add ingredients that will make tobacco products more palatable to young smokers when they’re first starting off,” he said.

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

The new craze being pitched at teenagers is the i-Dose; an audio file that allegedly induces the same kind of experience as drugs. In fact the binaural MP3 audio files even take their names from drugs including; methamphetamine, cocaine, crack, LSD and Crystal Meth.

The files range in strength from the standard ‘heroin’ track to a hardcore track called the “Gates of Hades’ which promises listeners “Smoke and torment. Weeping and gnashing of teeth. Death. Destruction”.

For as little as $U2.75 teenagers can download the audio file and take a trip. This new digital drug culture that is growing in popularity has sinister undertones because it is introducing young people to the drug scene in what seems to be the safety, privacy and comfort of their own home.

Paul Dillon, founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia and Generation Next speaker said “We are seeing drug culture seep more and more into the youth market, where people can make a quick buck. That is a very sad part of this that they are targeting the group most vulnerable – the young who see this as being a cool thing to do.”

The websites are full of jargon synonymous with drugs and loaded with images of pills and chunks of hash. However it is all presented in a way that makes the drug scene look very acceptable and even a normal part of adult life.

According to the “I-Doser” website, they are the “industry leaders in binaural brainwave audio doses (that) powerfully alter your mood” and the i-Dose is a “Safe, effective, and legal alternative to recreational and prescription drugs,” adding “ use of the I-Doser Application and included or purchased doses should be used for entertainment purposes only.”.

But as Paul Dillon points out this is very dangerous form of entertainment because “The earlier you find yourself in that (drug) culture the more problems you are likely to have in the future.”

Experts like Paul Dillon are not concerned so much with the content of the downloads as they are with the drug culture that they support.

The internet is now seeing a whole barrage of adolescents in headphones writhing around on the floor in what looks like agony as they experience an i-Dose.

Traditionally the droning binaural beats based on alpha and delta waves have been used to induce a relaxed state; but here it is being used to ‘mimic’ the effect of hardcore drugs.

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Technology), i-Doser

There are growing concerns within the medical profession that young people are mixing high caffeine ‘energy’ drinks with alcohol. The affects are disastrous and has led Steve Hambleton, vice president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), to speak out.

He has called for an open debate involving health experts and spear headed by government to discuss the merits of ‘energy’ drinks. His concerns are that some of the violence and drink driving associated with Saturday nights may be attributed to a mix of highly caffeinated drinks and alcohol.

Mr Hambleton said “it may well be giving intoxicated people more confidence, we are worried about them getting in a car and driving… and it may actually be leading to extra violence.”

Caffeine is an addictive substance which acts as a cardiac and central nervous system stimulant. The risk of withdrawal symptoms from long term consumption of low doses is higher in children than adults (FSANZ). As there is inconclusive evidence about a safe level for children, the sale of caffeinated beverages is not allowed in schools and preschools.

Typically an ‘energy’ drink contain around 160 – 300mg of caffeine per 500 ml serve, compare this to coffee which as 40-80mg per cup or tea which has about 30mg.

Apart from its addictive nature, caffeine can also have adverse effects such as insomnia, nervousness, rapid heart rate, hypertension, anxiety and hyper activity which when combined with alcohol, have the ability to destabilise a person and give them a heightened and distorted sense of confidence.

In addition, withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, anxiety and irritability are likely to occur with a reduction in caffeine intake.

Dr Hambleton continued “I think we’ve certainly got to have a rethink about how we use it and the role of caffeine in our society,” he said.

“There seems to be a very big push for these caffeinated drinks and of course there’s a lot of caffeine in some of these energy drinks…  if you mix that with alcohol, well it can be a dangerous mix” he added.

The issue of ‘energy’ drinks in schools was also raised by Dr Hambleton who said “we know that there’s an interference with kids concentration at school. I think it’s time we had a look at this again.”

The government has already raised concerns about ‘energy’ drinks being supplied to children and they are banned from sale in schools.
 
A fact sheet (developed by SA Health in partnership with DECS for the Right Bite strategy) outlining the adverse affects of caffeinated drinks including difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, nervousness, headaches, anxiety, physiological dependence to caffeine and anxiety was circulated in some  high schools at the beginning of the year.

The Right Bite strategy takes an educative approach to providing healthy food and drink choices in schools and preschools. While there are no set guidelines relating to students bringing ‘energy’ drinks, individual schools are encouraged to develop whole of school strategies in consultation with their school community, based on accurate information and with regard to student health and wellbeing.

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.

Source: Australian Medical Association. DECS

National drugs Campaign (NDC) website
Tel: 1800 250 015

The Australian government has established a website to support their Australian Governments National Drugs Campaign (NDC). This campaign aims to help young people and parents understand the harmful affects and consequences of drug use.

The NDC has been running since 2001 and has a number of phases that have focussed on particular drugs. The focus of each phase depends on the emerging drug trends at the time of being in the media. This varies over time as drug culture changes.

February 2010 – current phase of the Campaign launched and focuses on:
Ecstasy
Marijuana (Cannabis), and
Methamphetamine (ice)

The aim of the National Drugs Campaign is to contribute to a reduction in the uptake of ecstasy, marijuana (Cannabis), methamphetamine (ice) and other illicit drugs among young Australians, by raising awareness of the harms associated with drug use and encouraging and supporting decisions not to use. It will also encourage young people using illicit drugs to re-consider their use and direct them to relevant support, counselling and treatment services.

The target audiences for the Campaign:

People aged 18-25 years who are at-risk of, or currently use ecstasy, marijuana and/or methamphetamineTeenagers aged 15-17 yearsYoung adults aged 25 years and over who are current users of ecstasy, marijuana and/or methamphetamine, andParents of 15-25 year olds.

Key overall messages

There are specific risks and harms associated with using ecstasy, marijuana and methamphetamineThere are specific risks and harms associated with using illicit drugs (generally)There are real benefits to not using ecstasy, marijuana and methamphetamine and other illicit drugsThere is a range of information available on the facts about illicit drugs including ecstasy, marijuana and methamphetamines, and

There are a range of support and treatment options available to help cease using illicit drugs.

The website includes information on the following:
Information for parents
This section gives parents tips on how to talk to their children about drugs and some reasons why young people take drugs, to help parents understand where their children are coming from.

The information will equip parents to talk with their children so they are informed and able to reach out to them in an honest and open way.

Information for schools
This section is helps identify and access relevant information on:
• effective drug education
• managing drug use issues

The website contains a comprehensive database of information about resources, policies and materials for drug education and incident management.

These resources have has been designed for school principals and administrators, classroom teachers, pastoral care/welfare staff and chaplains, specialist counsellors, psychologists, school nurses, school councils/boards, student teachers and tertiary educators of pre-service teachers.

Information and help for youth
This section directly addresses the youth and explains the different affects of drugs and gives them advice on many aspects of drug use including:

1. Avoiding situations
2. How to get help for yourself and others

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha

Source: National Drugs Campaign

Generation Next presents Australia’s leading experts on children and teenagers in one event.

Generation Next is an exciting new initiative featuring a national seminar series and supporting resources aimed at protecting and enhancing the wellbeing of our children and teenagers.

Generation Next has been developed in close consultation with leading experts in adolescent psychology, drug and alcohol research, depression, cybersafety, sexualisation and bullying. The seminars address the rising tide of mental, emotional and social challenges affecting young people as they enter and begin navigate through the increasingly complex world in which we live.

Generation Next will provide professionals, parents, carers, teachers and anyone who cares about the future of Australia’s young people with accurate information and reliable advice on how to deal with these unprecedented challenges.

Generation Next Public Seminar

ADELAIDE - 21 August
For Parents, Carers and Teachers:

Venue:  AAMI Stadium. West Lakes, Adelaide
Time:    12.30pm – 5.30pm

Register online by going to Generation Next Seminars or Download the brochure.
See details and running order for “Generation Next Public Seminars”.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young People 2010

SYDNEY – Friday 10 September.                
For Education, Health and Welfare Professionals:

Venue: Matthews Theatre A, University of NSW, Sydney
Time:   9am-5pm

Register online by going to Generation Next or Download the brochure.
See details and running order for “The Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young People 2010″.

Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.

By Maggie Hamilton.

AT RISK. How the new techologies, drugs and alcohol, peer pressure and porn affect our boys.

Some of the material covered here is shocking, but its important to realise this is the toxic atmosphere many of our children encounter daily… When we understand what they’re up against, we can help bring about much-needed change and support our boys in appealing, meaningful and relevant ways.

Australian author and Generation Next speaker, Maggie Hamilton has written a new book What’s Happening to our boys? Available at the end of May, this insightful book takes an in-depth look into the lives and experiences of teenage boys and the complicated relationships they have with the world around them.

What kind of world are our boys to growing up in? Why are increasing numbers of boys suffering body image and self-esteem problems? Why do they feel worthless without the latest branded toy, game or item of clothing? What makes soft drinks, snacks and fast foods so attractive?

Why are they drawn to countless acts of violence on TV, in movies and in computer games? What impact does our highly sexualised climate, our emphasis on success and money, have on them as they grow? And why are so many boys vulnerable to cyber bullying and to porn?

Childhood and teenage life is changing rapidly, leaving parents exhausted and confused as to how best to tackle the many issues they face. How does this high pressure environment affect a boy’s confidence, his values and aspirations, his wellbeing, his sense of community, his attitudes to girls and women?

In her follow-up book to What’s Happening to Our Girls?, bestselling author Maggie Hamilton asks these and many other vital questions, as well as providing numerous tips for parents and educators on how to create a more promising future for our children.

She draws upon interviews with over 70 experts including doctors, psychologists, police and teachers, as well as the 50 anonymous boys themselves to see into their secret lives and understand the challenges they face.

What’s Happening to Our Boys? is a meticulously researched book that confronts the problems boys and young men face, suggesting positive and constructive ways to help them grow into resilient, productive and happy individuals.

What’s Happening to Our Boys? is published by the Penguin Group (Australia).

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.

Source: Penguin Group (Australia).

Generation Next and Healthed invites you to attend this highly informative and educational event. No other educational event brings together so many leading experts under one roof.

This UNIQUE multi-disciplinary seminar  features leading experts who will present authoritative and practical information specifically relevant to the mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing of young people.

The aim of the seminar is to enable attendees to develop not only an understanding of the individual issues but also how they frequently interrelate across the boundaries of teaching, health, welfare, law and the community.  Hence the need for teaching, health and welfare professionals to understand how they can work together for better outcomes at all levels.

Date:    Friday 25th June 2010
Venue: Federation Auditorium, Reservoir St, Surry Hills, Sydney
Time:   9am-5pm

Issues covered include:
Bullying, Cyberbullying and Violence in Schools
It’s impact on Mental Health and Wellbeing
An update on new guidelines
Depression and Anxiety
Understanding the signs, symptoms and treatment
Alcohol, Binge Drinking, “Meow”
An update on current issues and practical solutions
Body Image and Eating Disorders
Why early detection is essential and how to spot the warning signs
Sexualisation, Consumerism and the Media
What are its effects on our Young People?
Resilience
Skills and strategies to bounce back from mental stress & trauma
Practical meditation session

Speakers include:
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg
Adolescent Psychologist

Paul Dillon
Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia

Maggie Hamilton
Author and Researcher – Sexualisation

Dr Andrew Fuller
The Resilience Foundation

Susan McLean
Cybersafety Expert, previously of Victorian State Police

Prof Stephen Touyz
Eating Disorder Specialist

Melinda Hutchings
Author, Ambassador for The Butterfly Foundation

Who should attend:
• Teachers, educators in primary, secondary, TAFE and tertiary
• Psychologists, Nurses and other Health Professionals
• Social Workers, Youth workers, teacher aides
• Student teachers
• Parents

Education points:
• PD: 6 hours
• CNE points applied for
• APS professional development points applied for

Registration:
Enquiries via Healthed Conference Management:
Phone: 1300 797 794 Fax 1300 797 792
Email: enquiries@generationnext.com.au
Web: www.generationnext.com.au
Discount Registration Available Online

Program:
Each talk is approx. 45 mins in duration with a brief question time.

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.

Many teenagers who occasionally smoke cannabis don’t think that they are putting themselves at risk of developing issues of addiction or health problems as they grow older.

However Paul Dillon, author of “Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs” and Generation Next speaker, has commented that “… experimenting with cannabis puts you at risk of coming into contact with a range of other drugs… There is also the possibility that after breaking one taboo – smoking an illegal drug like cannabis – it is much easier to break another.”

More information about the effects of smoking cannabis can be found at the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre website.

A new Australian study “Outcomes of occasional cannabis use in adolescence: 10-year follow-up study” carried out in Victoria confirms that even occasional cannabis use can lead to the use of hard drugs and excessive drink in their 20’s and beyond. The study and its findings were recently published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

The Study:
Assessed almost 2,000 teenagers at the age of 13-14 years old
Assessed again four times during their teenage years, and
Assessed again twice in their early 20s.

The Results:
34% of the students reported using cannabis in their teens.
64% of these users said they used cannabis occasionally and the rest used it weekly
60% said they were still using cannabis by the time they reached early adulthood
77% of these users said they used cannabis occasionally, and
23% used cannabis weekly.

The Findings:

• Teenagers who occassionally used cannabis were at higher risk of illegal drug use, and alcohol and tobacco dependence when they reached early adulthood, and
• Occasional teenage cannabis users were less likely to have gained post-school qualifications by the age of 24 years.

Lead researcher Professor Louisa Degenhardt, of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre  (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales, said: “… even those students who only used cannabis occasionally in their teenage years faced a higher risk of drug problems in adulthood too.”

“It seems clear that in countries such as Australia, where cannabis use is the norm among young people, even infrequent cannabis use is related to later levels of drug use of all kinds. Whether this is due to learning processes, the influence of social networks or other factors, it is still the case that early onset occasional cannabis use is a marker for later drug use and drug problems.”

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.

Source: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

9% of Australians have smoked cannabis in the past year
63% of teenage daily users cannot control their use

The  National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre has published a research report The epidemiology of cannabis use and cannabis-related harm in Australia 1993–2007ad.

This report has found that there has been a dramatic increase in people seeking medical treatment resulting from problems caused by smoking cannabis, many of these cases leading to hospitalisation.

Amanda Roxburgh, senior researcher at the university’s National Drug and Alcohol Centre, says  "what we think that reflects is a longer-term use over a long period of time."

Ms Roxburgh says older users are twice as likely to report daily use compared to teenagers, adding that the rate of harmful use among younger people is very worrying.

The researchers reported that “There is now good evidence that daily or near-daily use by adolescents and young adults can lead to the development of cannabis dependence”.

The Report also confirmed that regular use of this illicit drug was associated with an increased risk of psychosis and depression and poorer educational and occupational outcomes among those smoking before the age of 16 years.

The fact that young people do not seek medical treatment as frequently is more likely credited to the fact that teenagers who smoke daily are more likely to experience acute short-term cannabis-related harms (such as intoxication and drug-induced psychosis) rather than longer-term harms (such as dependence) requiring hospitalization.

The report concluded that “Those young Australian adults who use cannabis daily, however, appear to be more likely to use larger amounts of cannabis on each occasion. It is also of concern that 63% of young daily users reported difficulties controlling their use”.

Report Recommendations:

• Develop public health messages about the risks of cannabis use
• Develop strategies to reduce the quantity and frequency of cannabis use among people who are already experiencing cannabis-related problems
• Develop strategies that encourage users to seek help more quickly, and
• Develop more effective ways to help young people who develop cannabis-related problems to desist from using.

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.

National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre