View Post

August Fast Facts

FACT #1 A brain imaging study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse has shown that regular users of marijuana have less gray matter than nonusers of the drug in the orbitofrontal cortex, a brain region that contributes to impulse control, decision making, and learning.  (NIDA) FACT #2 THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocanabinol) is the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana. Marijuana concentrates contain …

View Post

July Fast Facts

FACT #1 Taking benzodiazepines (e.g. Xanax, Valium, Ativan) while taking prescription opioids can be a dangerous combination. *CDC FACT #2 MYTH: Drugs prescribed by a doctor (Rx) are safer than drugs purchased on the street. FACT: Rx drugs can be just as dangerous as illegal drugs when misused.   (SAMHSA) FACT #3 A property of opioid drugs is their tendency, when used …

View Post

June Fast Facts

FACT #1 Every day in the United States, 114 people die as a result of drug overdoses, and another 6,748 are treated in emergency departments for the misuse or abuse of drugs. (CDC)  FACT #2 50% of young adults admit to having abused prescription stimulants to improve academic performance. (Partnership for Drug Free Kids) FACT #3 When people tamper with …

View Post

May Fast Facts

FACT #1 Research on alcohol and drug use, and addiction, has led to an increase of knowledge and to one clear conclusion: Addiction to alcohol or drugs is a chronic but treatable brain disease that requires medical intervention, not moral judgment. (ONDCP)   FACT #2 Long-term studies on patterns of drug use among young people show that very few of them …

View Post

April Fast Facts

FACT #1 Researchers find the cells of young developing brains to be especially vulnerable to damage from alcohol. Most at risk is the hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for memory, learning, and motivation. (NIAAA) FACT #2 Alcohol is the #1 Youth Drug Problem.  Underage drinking is a leading contributor to death from injuries, which is the main cause …

View Post

March Fast Facts

FACT #1 Inhalant abusers risk an array of other devastating medical consequences. The highly concentrated chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can induce irregular and rapid heart rhythms and lead to fatal heart failure within minutes of a session of prolonged sniffing. This syndrome, known as “sudden sniffing death,” can result from a single session of inhalant use by an …

View Post

February Fast Facts

FACT #1 About 10 percent of 12-year-olds say they have tried alcohol.  By age 15, that number jumps to 50 percent.  The sooner you talk to your children about alcohol, the greater chance you have of influencing their decision not to drink. (SAMHSA) FACT #2 Research shows that children exposed to family alcohol abuse or dependence are more likely to …

View Post

January Fast Facts

FACT #1 Stopping drug use before it begins – particularly among young people – is the most cost effective way to reduce drug use and its consequences.  Research shows that every dollar invested in a school-based substance use prevention program has the potential to save up to $18 in costs related to substance use. (ONDCP) FACT #2 Youth who meet …