Prescription Addiction Can Be a Problem for Troubled Teens

Xanax addiction is a subject that's near and dear to my heart. Alprazolam, which is the chemical name for Xanax (which is the brand name of the drug produced by Pfizer), is a prescription I've had off-and-on for years. It's a sedative from the benzodiazapene class of drugs, that is often prescribed to treat panic attacks.

And I've suffered some panic attacks in my day. Ironically, it's because I've abused alcohol regularly, and alcohol depletes your body's stores of vitamin B. Vitamin B is, of course, a mood stabilizer. Remove it from your body, and suddenly the walls start closing in and everything is going wrong. And that's where the xanax addiction comes in.

You see, xanax cures what's ailing you. Take half a milligram (a relatively low dose) and suddenly you won't be paralyzed with fear or depression. You might not be singing and dancing, but you'll be in control of yourself enough to put your anxieties aside and get on with your work.

Take a full milligram and you'll be completely chillface. Take more than that, and you'll either be asleep or you'll have yourself a full blown xanax addiction.

You see, sedatives work by calming you. They make it so that you'll be able to completely relax and face whatever is troubling you. A xanax addiction means that you can't do that without the help of the drug. You don't want to get to that point, but unfortunately, many people are already there.

My current prescription, for example, is to take a two milligram "bar" (called "zany bars" among the cool kids) three times a day. Which is absolutely ridiculous. No one could take that much xanax in a day and not become a complete zombie. Plus, I don't think anyone could take that much xanax or other benzodiazapene drugs (valium and klonopin being two that come to mind) without developing a xanax addiction.

Instead, I'll take a bar and break it into quarters. If I'm feeling wired before bedtime, I'll take half a milligram to help me relax when my head hits the pillow. If I'm feeling something beyond wired - depressed, anxious, whatever - I'll take a whole milligram. Only when I'm feeling a full-blown panic attack will I take a full two milligrams, and most nights I'll take nothing at all.

So beware of a xanax addiction. It's a wonderful drug, but just like everything else, it needs to be used in moderation.

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Alcohol Awarness Classes Could Save Adults and Teens From DUIs

Have you ever pulled up to a store or mechanic shop and saw a line of bikes locked up in front of the store? If so, it may be due to DUI or DWI offenses. It seems that every day the number of offenses grows. One of the most effective ways to stop offenses is to get an alcohol and drug awareness education. Online alcohol awareness classes could prevent a DUI or DWI before it happens. That prevention could save you and your family the trouble and inconvenience of losing a licensed driver.

How Will Classes Prevent A DUI OR DWI in Current Drinkers
Research has shown that the main reason people abuse alcohol or drugs is due to a lack of support and knowledge. Online alcohol awareness classes could prevent a DUI or DWI by teaching the student the signs of abuse. All some people need to accept the problem is for someone to point out the problem.

Online classes can help the student come to terms with the problem they have. Since the classes are done online, they can be done in the privacy of their own home. That privacy can give students a confidence and learning curve they might not have when strangers in a strange environment surround them.

Online Alcohol Awareness Classes Could Prevent a DUI or DWI in Teens
Current drinkers aren't the only one that could benefit from online alcohol awareness classes. Teen drinkers account for the vast majority of alcohol related car accidents in the US. By making sure you AND your teen takes alcohol awareness classes, you'll understand the problem as a unit, as a family. The best way to prevent the dangers and consequences of alcohol is by being informed of those consequences and how it can affect a person's life.

Those who have just turned 21 are also in the high-risk group of obtaining a DUI or DWI. Online classes offer an alternative to the standard class, which is especially useful when a teenager, or any young drinker, is involved. Peer pressure can have a huge influence on their learning ability.

Being able to sit at home, whenever they can fit it into their schedule. That ability to keep the classes a secret will be very important in their ability to learn from the classes. If they get embarrassed, or found out, about the prevention classes, they may begin to blow them off. With online classes, that doesn't have to happen and the student and get as much as possible out of every hour.

The materials for an online alcohol awareness class are easy to access and easy to find information in when it's needed. The best online classes will offer a certificate of completion and online support throughout the classes. There are multiple levels of classes and multiple prices. Look around to find the best class for your and even your teen. Once you enroll, if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask them to your instructor, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

Dr. Ari Novick is the President of NationalAlcoholClass.com. A website dedicated to educating people about alcohol and drug awareness. Click here for more information on Alcohol Awareness Classes

Dr. Ari Novick also provides world class online Minor in Possession Classes

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ari_Novick,_Ph.D.

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Top 5 Drug Addiction Causes In Teens - Things You Must Be Aware Of As A Parent

As a parent it is important to stay up to date on topics such as teen drug usage to see what your child may encounter in his/her teenage years.

Much of today's youth's drug usage begins with peer pressure and the need to want to fit in and be like everyone else. By the time your child reaches the age of 18 there is about a 70 percent chance that your child has been offered some kind of drug in his/her life time. There is about a 15 percent chance that he/she has actually tried some sort of drug at one point. For the most part, teenagers are curious and rebellious so they tend to experiment. Cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana are the most common and the most accessible.

With this said, it is important that you get to know your child's group of friends so that you have an idea about what type of people they are associating with. Studies show that we are like the five people we hang out with the most. If you look at the five people closest to you, you will find yourself. It is crucial that you prepare your child for the peer pressure that they are sure to experience. You may want to give them different scenarios and ask them for their response in such a situation.

Another factor that causes drug addiction in teens is a poor family life. People that are unhappy at home are three times as likely to become addicted to drugs or start using them than someone who experiences a healthy living environment. The reason for this is that they start using drugs to escape the emotional pain they are experiencing and drugs work for that. If you feel like the living situation you are in at the moment is affecting your child, make sure that you talk to them about it and do something to help them cope with the situation.

Some teens feel like they can only be confident and happy with the consumption of drugs and alcohol, that is why it is important that you give them proper praise whenever they do something good. Make sure you acknowledge them for achievements, even if they are small. A simple, "good job," can go a long way to build confidence and self-esteem in your child.

Furthermore, steroids are becoming more and more popular among high schoolers. With all the actors and actresses in perfect shape, we all tend to think that being like that is normal. Teenagers look up to these people more than anyone. This is why a lot of females experience eating disorders and why a lot of males start taking steroids. They want to have the perfect body in the shortest amount of time possible. Unfortunately, a lot of teenagers don't see steroids as being as detrimental to their health as marijuana or other drugs. A lot of teenagers start taking them with the intention of quitting when they get the body they want. They figure that because it isn't an addictive drug that they will be able to do so. However, due to the fact that once you quit using them, you lose a lot of muscle mass, a lot of people tend to get back on them when they notice themselves getting smaller. They cycle on and off of them and over time this can cause extreme irreversible health problems.

The last, most common cause of drug addiction among teens and others is that it starts off as medication. The most common type of drug that starts off as medication are pain killers. Pain killers can be extremely addictive and hard to break away from once you are on them. The addiction to these drugs kind of sneak up on you. If you know your child is taking them for some kind of injury they experienced make sure you are monitoring their usage and cutting them off when you feel appropriate. What happens is that people get so used to taking them that they end up needing them just to feel normal. Once the normal dosage stops doing the trick they end up taking more and more.

With all this said, it is important that you talk to your children about drugs and their effects on the body and mind. Make sure you educate them properly. A lot of parents make the mistake of thinking their children are too young to speak with them about drugs but they aren't. You should talk to them about it as soon as possible and set a good example for them. Show them pictures of what drugs do to people and give them as much information about them as possible.

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Alcohol Awareness and MIP Classes Help Address Peer Pressure Issues Among Teens

Peer pressure is the number one influence in a teenager's every day life. Many parents might think that their teens actions are mainly influenced by the parents, but in today's society this just isn't as true as it once was. Much of a teenagers behavior, especially behavior like drinking alcohol, can be caused by peer pressure from the wrong types of "friends." Alcohol awareness classes can help teens fight peer pressure and be prepared to be their own person.

The biggest reason that teens drink as a result of peer pressure is simple, they want to be accepted by the group he or she is trying to fit with. This influence can cause many teens to become fully dependent on alcohol before they hit 17 years old. The best way to counteract this dangerous path isn't just by removing the negative types of peer pressure, but reinforcing your teen with positive types of peer pressure, such as the learning challenges of alcohol awareness courses.

Alcohol awareness classes or "Minor in Possession Classes" as they are often called, are great for young teens just entering high school, or even middle school. These classes will help them learn effective techniques that will assist them to fight off the peer pressure they'll surely encounter. The type of education that an alcohol awareness class can offer will show them the proper application of positive peer pressure. It can give them the ability of helping him or herself that may not have been achieved on their own.

There is more than one way to get your teen enrolled in alcohol awareness classes. First, there are the traditional live classes, then, there are also the more modern in-home classes that are done online. In the traditional live classes, there are several down falls but one sure positive.

The down falls of the traditional classrooms are commute time, rearranging work and school schedules, and even the group aspect of it all. It can be very embarrassing to sit in a big group with other students. The embarrassment and shyness can be keep them from learning the most important information in the class.

There is one big positive in going to a traditional classroom alcohol awareness class, it's the live instructor. Few things can beat a professional and knowledgeable alcohol awareness instructor, but sadly, few are that knowledgeable. That fact make the second option a sure fire way to learn.

When considering online alcohol awareness class, the student will be at ease when absorbing the lessons he or she will need to know to effectively fight peer pressure when faced with option of drinking alcohol and even drugs. If your teen is comfortable and at ease with the learning environment, he or she will be ready to learn.

If you combine that with the fact that no will know, he or she will be much more likely to remember and utilize what the lessons are designed to teach. These goals of these lessons will be achieved step by step, culminating in a final goal. With the lessons your teen learns heading toward this goal, their alcohol awareness certificate, they will be able to apply their own means of self-control over unpredictable situations. This will give them the power to make the right decisions with certainty.

This class isn't just for raising a teens confidence level, but the parents confidence in their teen as well. After a teen has completed an alcohol awareness class the parent can start to build, or rebuild a trust but verify relationship. That will allow the child to earn more freedom back as he gains more space. It is possible to effectively educate your teen about the threat of alcoholism and how to avoid the peer pressure, which can causes many to repeatedly drink and possible end their life in jail or in a casket.

Dr. Ari Novick is the President of AlcoholDrugClass.com. A website dedicated to educating people about alcohol awareness. Click here for more information on Alcohol Awareness Classes

Dr. Ari Novick also provides world class online Minor in Possession Classes

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Keeping Teens Out of Trouble Through Drug and Alcohol Awareness Programs

Today's society has become so liberal that there are few if any absolute right or wrongs anymore. Everything is relative to the person and circumstances. This has become increasingly confusing for children, preteens, and teenagers. Undefined lines as to what is good for us and what is not causes many to stumble. Two of many areas of which confusion arises is the abuse of drugs and alcohol to the body. Not to fret.

There are positive ways to keep your teen from going down the wrong path that leads to alcoholism and/or drug addiction. You can discuss with your teen the consequences of substance abuse, or even better - you can enroll them into substance abuse awareness class. There are online classes available, and these classes are just as effective as the live coach classes. At the same time, they give your teen a lot more privacy and they can keep their names secret from others if they want to.

One of the main causes that lead to one or both of these substance abuse problems is stress. A stressful lifestyle needs an outlet. Today it is common for the average teenager to take on too many task's during one season. He/she may be involved in athletic sports, music, drama, and high school governmental leadership programs while trying to maintain their grades to stay on the honor roll.

While having too much idle time causes problems, over doing it causes stress that must have some sort of relief. Unfortunately, some take it by way of escape through using drugs or alcohol.

While some drugs may be used to exit the real world for a very short while, other drugs may be used to alter the physical fitness of an athlete's body. Both have the potential to lead to death. Your teens will learn more about this in any substance abuse awareness class they choose to attend ( or you choose to enroll them into).

Using alcohol is typically used to relax and unwind as a form escape of one's circumstances for a moment. This can be masked as a form of entertainment for a while and may remain as such all of their lives with no problem. For others, it may escalate to over use and lead into poisoning one's body from alcoholism.

So, if too much idle time can lead to problems, and business leads to need from unnatural relief, what is the answer to keeping our teenager's drug and alcohol free?

First, keep in mind that the teenager is not an adult no matter their physical size. They are still children in quickly developing bodies that need continual guidance. A place to come to and know that they are accepted just as they are without conditions. Make sure that they know that they do not have to be an over achiever to have the positive attention and respect of their parents. If they are into too many activities at one time, help them decide which would be most beneficial for them for that season and which to pick up at a later time.

If they show no interest in anything, encourage and explore with them until he or she learns something new about themselves in regard to what they enjoy. Show them your interest in that you support whatever direction they tend to be pulled (as long as it's a good thing). There a correlation between underage drinking and teenage theft and shoplifting.

Most would be shocked to know that Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming allow minors to consume alcohol as long as the minor is on a private, non alcohol selling premises, with parental consent.

The main thing to remember is that teenagers need the advice and guidance of an adult whether they ask for it or not. The trick is to help guide them in such a way that they almost think it's all their own idea. That is possible if you are truly helping them discover their own strengths and weaknesses. Help them maintain a healthy balance between over exertion and laziness. If they maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle, there will be no need for substance abuse.

You should also encourage them to attend drugs and alcohol awareness classes or minor in possession (MIP Classes), by telling them that there is no shame in attending such a class. After all, it is for their own good to learn about the dangers and dire consequences of substance abuse. Asking them to attend such classes online will not make you look like a bad parent - you will actually prove that you are a responsible one.

Dr. Ari Novick is the President of AlcoholDrugClass.com. A website dedicated to educating people about alcohol awareness. Click here for more information on Alcohol Awareness Classes

Dr. Ari Novick also provides world class online MIP Classes

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