ABUSE_MAGAZINE_ID_ Iowa Issue 2015 | Page 6

NOTE

FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Iowa readers and supporters , In this edition of ABUSE Magazine we are focusing on cyberbullying , peer pressure surrounding new dangerous teen trends . Tobacco use , teens & self-medicating , the latest club drug “ Molly ”, we are bringing awareness to parents and faculty on “ Skittles Parties ” and also distractive driving .

All of these topics hold great importance when it comes to our youth . Our goal at ABUSE Magazine is to bring awareness to each of these issues and to provide the right resources .

Marijuana Use & Driving

According to a recent driving study , as many as 1 in 5 teen drivers say they drove under the influence of marijuana . More than one-third of them did not believe that marijuana affected their driving , whereas less than one-fifth of teens who drove after drinking alcohol said their driving wasn ’ t impaired .

These numbers show that some teen drivers aren ’ t getting the message that both alcohol and drugs including marijuana are dangerous risks behind the wheel . Not only that but drivers under the influence of these substances endanger other users of the road as well .

“ Molly ” & “ Skittles Parties ”

This dangerous trend is very serious and scary . We want to bring awareness to the dangers of “ Skittles ” & “ Pharm ” parties for concerned parents , our readers and faculty at the schools these are slang terms to be aware of . These parties are consisting of kids stealing prescription drugs from parents , grandparents and anywhere else the kids can get ahold of prescription drugs . It does not matter what prescription drug , that is the scariest part of this trend ! They are simply dumping handfuls of colorful pills into a bowl , or jar and then grabbing a handful and taking them all together . Obviously this is very dangerous and all of us at ABUSE Magazine want to encourage anyone who has prescription drugs to keep them locked up . Out of sight out of mind !

Molly is the nickname for two different , but similar , drugs that are very popular at the moment . The name , which stands for molecule , can be used in reference to TFMPP or , more commonly , to the pure powder form of MDMA .

The latest club drug to gain popularity among our teens is a drug called “ Molly ” this drug is gaining popularity among youth due to celebrities and pop stars such as Madonna promoting this dangerous drug at concerts . What message does this give our young people ? We want to educate our youth on the dangerous side effects of “ Molly “.

Cyberbullies & Our Teens

Online bullying , called cyberbullying , happens when teens use the Internet , cell phones , or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person . Cyberbullying is a problem that affects almost half of all American teens .

With today ’ s technology it can be challenging to be a working parent and keeping up with what our children are doing online . I have recently learned about a term called “ Chatroulette ” that I wanted to share with others even our children on how dangerous this online game is . This is where a child is online in a random chat room and are “ dared ” to speak with a stranger not knowing who they are chatting with or where the other person is located . In most cases the kids are speaking with adults and predators that are looking for their next victim and can also learn the location of the kids . In the chat rooms there have been “ dares ” going on where a student is being dared to even show provocative photos to the other person in the chat room . Also , cyberbullying has proven to have lifelong effects on our children .

Dangerous New Teen Trends

At ABUSE Magazine we are always trying to stay up to date with new trends . If you have not heard of “ Trunking ” this is a dangerous new trend we are talking about in this edition where kids are transporting extra friends in the trunk of their cars because they simply do not fit in the vehicle . Of course this is very dangerous and we want to bring awareness to our readers about this trend . “ The Choking Game ” - “ This potentially lethal “ game ” involves the use of restraints or the assistance of a friend to choke the player in order to cut off the flow of blood to the brain . “ Purple Drank ”, Popularized in the late nineties rap scene , purple drank has been abused by teens for decades . Rap music is still peppered with references to the substance , and more teens have been brewing the concoction at home . By adding cough syrup with codeine to a soft drink and candy ( usually Sprite and Jolly Ranchers ), tweens and teens create what they consider a quick remedy for tension , anxiety , and aggression . The drink can be made with the over-the-counter medications like Robitussin DM , which contains dextromethorphan .

With your help and support we can make a difference and reduce the sometimes tragic occurrences that stem from teen depression / suicide , drinking and driving , gun violence , substance and sexual ABUSE .

ABUSE Magazine would like to say thank you to all of our supporters and readers for your contributions and participation in helping us provide this free preventative educational magazine to your local schools .

Sincerely ,

Brooke

Brooke Sprute / Editor

Please feel free to contact us : ABUSE Magazine 1-877-687-8172 or visit us online at www . abusemagazine . org

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