We at Pequawket Valley know how curious teens are, and therefore through our resource program, we answer the questions they may have. We also conduct classes in schools to educate teens about addiction and its consequences.

E-cigarettes and Youth Don’t Mix

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E-cigarette Basics

E-cigarettes are devices that heat a liquid into an aerosol that the user inhales. The liquid usually has nicotine and flavoring in it, and other additives. The nicotine in e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes is addictive. E-cigarettes are considered tobacco products because most of them contain nicotine, which comes from tobacco.

Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes can contain harmful and potentially harmful ingredients, including:

  • ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
  • flavorants such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease
  • volatile organic compounds
  • heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead

E-cigarettes and Youth Don’t Mix

Adolescent years are times of important brain development. Brain development begins during the growth of the fetus in the womb and continues through childhood and to about age 25. Nicotine exposure during adolescence and young adulthood can cause addiction and harm the developing brain.

Trends

E-cigarettes are very popular with young people. Their use has grown dramatically in the last five years. Today, more high school students use e-cigarettes than regular cigarettes. The use of e-cigarettes is higher among high school students than adults.

E-cigarettes Are Unsafe for Young People

No matter how it’s delivered, nicotine is harmful for youth and young adults. E-cigarettes typically contain nicotine as well as other chemicals that are known to damage health. For example, users risk exposing their respiratory systems to potentially harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes. Read about these and other risks young people face if they use e-cigarettes.

Information from https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov

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What Happens When Drugs Are Combined?

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Scientists from the National Institute on Drug Abuse answer common questions teens ask about drug use and addiction. The episode What Happens When Drugs Are Combined? introduces viewers to the health risks and unintended consequences of mixing substances like alcohol and prescription medications.

So, we know that both drugs that people use illegally, and the medications are made of chemicals and these chemicals impact your body in different ways. So, when people combine substances it can have unexpected effects and effects that are different than if you took one of those chemicals alone.

So, all drugs have risks, but I would say that mixing and matching is one of the worst things one can do as it can produce unintended, even fatal effects.

So, it’s important for people to know that taking drugs in combination can be far more dangerous than taking each of those substances by themselves. So, an example of this would be if a person were to take opioids at the same time as they took a stimulant such as methamphetamine or amphetamine or cocaine. So, opioids are nervous system depressants, and they slow down your nervous system, they slow down your breathing rate. Whilst stimulants speed up your body’s need for oxygen, so that can make it more likely that you would have an overdose and potentially die.

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Teens Ask: “Is There a Cure for Addiction?”

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We hear this question a lot during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®. The short answer is that, unfortunately, there isn’t a cure for addiction.

But the longer answer is more hopeful: There may not be a cure, but there is treatment.

So, how does treatment for addiction work?

First, it helps to know some things about addiction. It’s a complex disease that can change how a person’s brain functions in important ways. Addiction can happen at any age, but it usually starts when a person is young.

The first time a person uses a drug, it’s typically their choice. If they keep using it, it can become difficult to stop. Continuing to use drugs, even though it’s harming a person’s life, is a sign of an addiction.

Many types of treatment work for people with addiction. No single treatment is right for everybody; in fact, treatment often combines a few of these options. They include:

  • Behavioral counseling.
    • This can help people change their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use. For example, they may need to learn how to avoid or cope with “triggers” that could lead them to use drugs again.
    • Behavioral counseling can also teach healthy life skills. If a person has used drugs to try to escape stress, for instance, they may learn healthier ways to deal with stress.
  • Medications. 
    • Some medications can help the brain function normally again; they can also decrease cravings for the drug that could lead to relapse. Currently, medications are available to treat addiction to opioids, nicotine, and alcohol.
    • Medications can also treat “co-occurring” mental health conditions, like depression or anxiety, that sometimes contribute to addiction or lead people to try drugs in the first place.

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About the Adolescent Brain

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Research has shown that brain development continues into a person’s 20s—a time that encompasses many important developmental and social changes in a young person’s life. Yet important questions remain about the factors that influence brain development and their impact on physical, cognitive, emotional, and academic trajectories.

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study is the largest long-term study of brain and cognitive development in children across the United States. Findings from the ABCD Study will greatly increase our understanding of environmental, social, and genetic factors that affect brain and cognitive development and that can enhance or disrupt a young person’s life trajectory. Read more about the ABCD Study.

Adolescent Brain

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