Ecstasy, a common name for the drug MDMA, is highly popular at clubs, rock concerts and all-night dance parties, called “raves.” Normally taken orally in tablet form sporting brands like a Playboy bunny or the Nike swoosh, ecstasy has an amphetamine and hallucenogenic quality. It gives dancers energy to keep dancing throughout the night and it also improves their mood, amplifying sensitivity to touch. While users are under the influence of ecstasy, they will also typically experience increased self-confidence.

Some of the paraphernalia associated with ecstasy use include baby pacifiers or pacifier-shaped lollipop rings. These are used in raves to alleviate the pain that often comes with teeth clenching, one of the side effects of ecstasy use. Other popular items for ecstasy users are fluorescent light sticks, hospital masks, menthol ointment, and children’s vitamin containers and bags of Tootsie Rolls – both popular ways of concealing the drug.

The seemingly pleasant side effects of ecstasy that has ramped up its popularity among teens are actually relatively short-lived. Other effects users may experience while high on the drug include chills, nausea, sweating, fixations with lights and sounds, increased heart rate and blood pressure and possibly even seizures. The high from ecstasy lasts about three to six hours, while the after-effects of insomnia, nervousness and depression can reportedly last up to several weeks. Ultimately, ecstasy use can destroy brain cells and break down muscle tissue, kidneys, liver and cardiovascular functioning. It is a dangerous drug that has been linked to teen drug addiction several fatalities, whether by causing cardiovascular failure or triggering seizures or dehydration in a crowded setting.

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Ecstasy, more scientifically known as MDMA, heightens the ability of the five senses – particularly those of sight, hearing and touch. It is one of the more popular drugs in teen circles, but can also be one of the most harmful and addictive.

• Ecstasy creates the illusion of self-confidence and pleasure.
• Ecstasy creates a high lasting three to six hours, typically kicking in about 30 to 45 minutes after consumption.
• The drug is most commonly used by adolescents and young adults in a dance club, concert or party setting.
• The abuse of ecstasy can lead to cardiovascular and renal failure, as well as the loss of brain cells and teen drug addiction.
• The negative effects of using ecstasy can last for several weeks after use of the drug. These effects include depression, nervousness and anxiety, insomnia and memory loss.
• Ecstasy is heavily marketed toward teens and young adults. The drug comes in tablet form and features the branding of popular companies like Nike and Playboy. Paraphernalia typically associated with ecstasy include the popular candies Ring Pops pacifier-shaped lollipops and Tootsie Rolls. Ring pops and pacifiers alleviate pain when ecstasy causes users to clench their teeth tightly together. Tootsie Rolls are sometimes heated so ecstasy can be pushed into the candy before it is re-wrapped and used as a method for transporting the drug.
• The Drug Enforcement Administration seized 13,342 ecstasy tablets in 1996, but that number surged to 949,257 by 2000.
• Data shows that ecstasy is used more and more by marijuana users. There were 796 emergency room reports of ecstasy use combined with marijuana use in 1999.
• The risks faced by ecstasy users are similar to those faced by users of cocaine and amphetamines.

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In the United States, marijuana is the most widely used – and probably the most socially acceptable – illegal drug. Even among those who don’t use the drug, there is a prevailing debate over the merits of legalizing the substance and how harmful it really is. There have even been popular comedy films made about the drug. The realities of marijuana, however, are no laughing matter.

With marijuana’s pervasiveness in American culture, it is small wonder many teens like to smoke it in a pipe or rolled cigarettes, also called “joints”. Like with so many drugs, teens may use marijuana out of a desire to fit in with a certain crowd and gain acceptance from peers. They may have been told that they can quit the drug at will, that it is not addictive. This, however, is an illusion and many teens need drug rehab.

Marijuana has a calming, relaxing effect that becomes a critical need during times of stress, much like nicotine. Another similarity between marijuana and cigarettes is that both wreak havoc on the lungs, facilitating breathing conditions like bronchitis. The main difference is that marijuana is a mind-altering drug.

Marijuana dulls concentration, focus and mental clarity. It can therefore cause those under its influence to make bad decisions they would not have otherwise made. Marijuana also raises the heart rate, blood pressure and sense of paranoia. It can cause dry mouth, red eyes, sleepiness, ravenous hunger and even hallucinations.

Teens are especially susceptible to succumbing to the peer pressure to use marijuana. They are also especially vulnerable to developing a teen drug addiction to the substance, although treatment has been proven effective, particularly when intervention is early on.

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Marijuana is also known as grass, pot or weed. It comes from a plant called Cannabis sativa. The plant’s leaves, when dried and crushed, can be smoked in a pipe or rolled into a cigarette, known as a “joint.” Marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals; the main mind-altering chemical is known as THC. The potency of marijuana is determined by the concentration of THC.

Efforts to legalize marijuana, especially for medicinal use, have gradually gained momentum since the 1970’s. California has already legalized the substance for medicinal use and other states aim to follow suit in the future.

Young people are often introduced to marijuana by friends or family. The younger a person is upon beginning marijuana usage, the more detrimental effect it will have on their health and quality of life. It will affect their understanding and retention of school lessons and their motivation to complete homework and strive for good grades. Marijuana is also widely viewed as a gateway drug; the earlier a person tries marijuana, the more likely they will probably be to try other, harder drugs and need teen drug rehabilitation. Marijuana smoke is even more likely than cigarettes to cause lung cancer and it also affects one’s driving ability by slowing reflexes and blurring judgment.

In short, despite widespread belief that marijuana is not a harmful drug and is not an addictive substance, studies have proven otherwise. As with many substances – legal or illegal – marijuana is more addictive the younger a person starts using it. Thus, preventative education and open discussion with teens are key to winning the battle against teen drug addiction before it starts.

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There is a barrage of print ads, TV and radio commercials and general societal belief supporting the message that alcohol leads to a good time. Combine that message with the adolescent need for acceptance and popularity, and it’s no wonder teen alcohol abuse is so prevalent. There is not as much information discussing the negative effects of alcohol, particularly when it comes to teen alcohol abuse:

Drinking and driving: One of the leading causes of teen death is vehicle crashes. Teen alcohol abuse not only impairs a teen’s ability to appoint and use a designated driver, but also sharply increases the likelihood that they will be involved in a vehicle crash, possibly injuring or killing themselves or someone else.

Sexual promiscuity: Teen alcohol abuse is linked to casual sex, unprotected sex, unplanned pregnancies and regrets. It starts with a dulled sense of judgement, caused by the alcohol’s effect on the brain. It is also linked to sexual assault, as girls who are not fully in control of their bodies and minds make easier targets.

Depression and suicide: Depression and other mental issues tend to go hand-in-hand with teen alcohol abuse. Depression medication interacts negatively with alcohol, exacerbating the depression and stress already caused by teen alcohol abuse in the first place. This can lead to a desire to commit suicide. In fact, one study cited that 37 percent of females in eighth grade females who drank heavily reported having attempted suicide, compared with only 11 percent who did not drink.

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Studies show that teenagers younger than 15 are actually five times more likely to abuse alcohol in adulthood, as opposed to those who begin drinking at age 20 or later. Despite the portrayal of teens in the media, about 71 percent of those ages 12 to 20 have not had an alcoholic drink in the last month. This is an important fact because it may decrease the teenage perception that alcohol use is the only way to have fun.

Alcohol abuse causes a host of other problems. For instance, more than 35 percent of alcoholics had demonstrated symptoms like binge drinking, which is consuming at least five drinks in one sitting, by age 19. Alcohol abuse also increases the risk of cancer, obesity, depression, heart and liver disease and other physical afflictions.

Alcohol abuse can also cause alcohol poisoning, a serious a condition with serious and possibly fatal consequences, involving the aspiration of vomit into the body when a drunk person passes lying on their back. Alcohol poisoning is a common killer at college and high school parties. Alcohol abuse also increases the risk of a traffic accident. In fact, 43 percent of fatal accidents involved alcohol in 2006. That year saw the highest number of alcohol-related car crashes in 15 years.

About 1 in 13 American adults abuse alcohol. The highest percentage of alcohol abuse is in those ages 18 to 29. The younger a person is when the alcohol abuse begins, the more likely they will develop harder addictions or serious mental, physical, emotional and social issues in the future.

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Adolescence is a time of uncertainty and experimentation, trying to establish one’s personality and independence. In an effort to belong to some type of social group, adolescents can be especially vulnerable to friendships that focus on unhealthy activities like teen alcohol abuse or teen drug addiction.

In many cases, teen drug rehab can help intervene and stop the behavior before the addiction becomes even stronger or leads to the abuse of even more harmful substances. Teen drug rehab often involves lots of activity, goals and rewards. It can be inpatient, outpatient, extended care or even outdoors rather than inside a facility. The wilderness setting for teen drug rehab is commonly referred to as “boot camp” or “troubled teen camp.” Sometimes participation in a teen drug rehab program is ordered by a juvenile court judge. In the teen drug rehab environment, under close monitoring, there is ample opportunity to establish healthier life habits and avoid further drug use.

Detox is usually a part of the teen drug rehabilitation process. Depending on which types of drugs were being abused, the detox process can range from mild to severe. It is important for a licensed professional to be involved in the process of detox.

Teen drug rehab is normally twofold: the psychological addiction and the physical addiction. Just as teens crave the substance, they crave the way the substance makes them feel and the fact that the substance helps them forget the pains and troubles of life. Perhaps they will crave the friendships and sense of belonging that accompany the substance abuse.

In any case, teen drug rehab serves to break the addiction and dependency, both mentally and physically.

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When it comes to adolescent drug abuse, the earlier a parent or legal guardian intervenes with adolescent drug rehab, the better. Early intervention will increase the likelihood of successful adolescent drug rehabilitation and decrease the likelihood of progression toward harder, more harmful substances. So what signifies that it is time for adolescent drug rehab? Through careful observation, questioning and overall involvement in the child’s life, a parent or legal guardian will be in a better position to identify the telltale signs.

These can include:

• Behavioral challenges, lying, running away, missing curfew, etc.
• Poor performance in school
• Moodiness, withdrawal, isolation, depression, fatigue
• Abrupt changes in friendships
• Hostility, irritability, laziness
• Sloppy personal appearance and bad hygiene habits
• Bloodshot eyes, runny nose, sore throats, weight loss
• Memory deficiency, insomnia, decreased appetite
• Arrests for drug use or the discovery of paraphernalia like pipes, needles, rolling papers, or even the actual drugs.

During the process of adolescent drug rehab, relapses are quite common. Supportive friends and family members are an integral part of the adolescent drug rehab process. Active and rewarding lives will help distract adolescents from the temptations of returning to their old behavior patterns. Even if this relapse does occur, however, friends and family members should try to show patience, love and encouragement. This kind of support will help ensure that the money and time invested into teen drug rehab program reaps the ideal reward of a long, healthy and productive life for the adolescent.

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Teenagers are susceptible to many different types of illegal drugs. They are commonly viewed as easy targets, easily swayed by their peers. Alcohol and marijuana are normally among the first mind-altering substances abused by teens. Marijuana proponents say it is not addictive and may even be legalized. Marijuana critics, however, say it is a “gateway drug” that leads users to explore other, harder drugs – particularly users who start early in their teen years.

First time drug use may be out of a desire to gain acceptance, popularity and credibility among peers – to fit into a crowd of people and make new friends. However, the substance’s effects can create an addictive pattern in the user. It will progress to the point where they will seek more intense and longer-lasting highs with harder, even more dangerous and addictive drugs.

There are a variety of treatment options available for teen drug addictions. However, one of the most effective methods is prevention. Parental involvement in children’s lives through active involvement, discussion, questioning about whereabouts and friends and getting to know those friends can go a long way toward preventing a drug addiction from ever forming in the first place. There have also been links established between overly indulgent parents and teen drug use. More than they need mom and dad to be friends, kids need their parents to be role models who set firm guidelines and keep behaviors in check. Though not foolproof, the temptations of drugs can be largely thwarted by that kind of discipline, along with frank discussion about smart choices in friends and the dangers of drug use.

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Teens typically respond very much to peer pressure, and alcohol and drugs are freely available in many junior high and high school social circles. The prevalent teen drug use escalates in American society as more teens feel pressured to try it “just once.” Of course, that one time makes it seem a little less harmful the next time, and the next time – until, before they even realize it, teens are well on their way to developing a full-blown addiction. It is a very easy trap to fall into.
Teen drug use is a problem for which there is no definite cause or solution. The causes could range from personal life and home issues to simply wanting a place of belonging and acceptance among peers. Teen drug use could even stem from a desire to rebel against authority.
There are a variety of treatment options available. The right one depends largely upon the type and severity of the addiction. Typically, the first step in recovery from teen drug abuse is admitting that a problem exists. If treatment is not sought, it could lead to a variety of health and quality of life issues.
Ongoing teen drug abuse dulls mental alertness and clarity, zaps enthusiasm and motivation and even transforms one’s personality into something completely unrecognizable and different from before. Recovery from teen drug abuse is a tough process for all involved. Support from family and friends will help sustain and encourage the teen through this difficult, critical time in their life.

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