ABUSE MAGAZINE
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Suffolk County Correctional Facility, the
department of probation, and the East End
Regional Intervention Court, and is able to
test for Molly and other synthetic drugs—as
well as alcohol, as much as 96 hours later.
Molly, he said, is a drug parents should
fear, causing a spike in emergency room
visits, with teens experiencing heart palpitations, hallucinations, and lower than normal
body temperatures.
war on drugs,” she said.
But because not everyone is aware of the
synthetic drugs or how to test for them,
there have been instances when diagnoses
could not be made.
“Youth have died in emergency rooms,”
Toman said. “We need to stay current, to
battle the romanticizing of these dangerous
substances.”
“There’s been a boom,” he said. “This is
not just in high school—even adults are using
it. It’s the new feel-good drug.”
Prevention, Toman said, is key. “What
causes our young people to seek these
escapes? That is part of what needs to be
answered.”
Toman said synthetic drugs work with
chemicals with in the brain that help regulate mood by increasing the activity of three
neurotransmitters, serotonin, dopamine,
and norepinephrine.
Studies and surveys similar to those done
on the North Fork in 2006 and 2012 need to
continue every two years, even in the face of
a faltering economy, Toman said.
“When depleted of these natural occurring neurotransmitters, youth can fall into
depression. It can be for a short period time,
while others may need to be hospitalized,”
she said. “Brain chemistry is general and yet
unique. Some of our youth do not have the
advantage of an abundant supply of these
neurotransmitters. It is playing a psychological Russian roulette.”
Adults have a responsibility to educate
young people in health and science classes
about the reality of synthetic drugs.
“We must act—and stay current with the
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“As a doctor puts on a cast to heal a broken
bone, so can some of these prevention programs be implemented universally to aid in
reducing underage drinking and substance
abuse. Our communities and youth and families are broken - we need to act now.”
Parents, Toman said, need to be parents. “We need skills to parent our children
through this dangerous environment. Knowledge is the key. Awareness that if we are not
clear about the boundaries regarding our
laws our norms, that we are giving our youth
a message of indifference. We need to set
clear and strong boundaries both in our families and within our community.”
Phone: 1-800-765-1790
Email: [email protected] • www.nai-ames.com
“We are proud to be a drug free workplace!”
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Youth education, parent support
groups, family counseling, support
of law enforcement, and encouraging the business community to be on
board are also important.
Community groups and government leaders need to become
involved, as well—a collaborative
approach is key, Toman said.
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515-956-3536
3015 Grand
515-233-1345
Ames IA
“Proud to be a drug free workplace.
We care & get involved!”
abusemagazine.org | Iowa - 2014 |
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