TO YOUR HEALTH: BECOME STREETWISE ABOUT STREET DRUGS

Parents can arm themselves with information to help their kids

by The Health Library

Q - As the parent of a teen-ager, I've become concerned about the casual
way my daughter refers to other students as "druggies" while insisting that
they're not into any dangerous drugs. I feel that I'm out of the loop
knowing about current street drugs, or even what to look for as a
conscientious parent. Any good resources out there for people like me?

A - Even though you're probably of the generation that first openly used
"casual" drugs, you're right to feel at a loss about what your daughter is
talking about--things have changed, and you do need to find out about what
teens are facing in school and on the street regarding drugs. For coming up
to speed on today's drugs, "Buzzed, The Straight Facts About the Most Used
and Abused Drugs," by Cynthia Kuhn, Scott Swartzwelder and Wilkie Wilson is
a clear-headed book that gives straightforward, truthful information about
drugs ranging from alcohol to Ecstasy and everything else you might never
have heard about. What is particularly useful about this book is its
presentation of information without sensational fear tactics, which makes
it especially valuable as an educational tool for young adults. The
authors, who are researchers at Duke University Medical Center, explain the
history of a particular drug, its associated "buzz "or "high," how it
functions biochemically within the human body, and its effects--both short
and long term. They depend on studies and only report what has been proven
scientifically. If the research is not yet conclusive, they say that.

The chapter on marijuana is extremely thorough and includes discussions on
addictiveness and the drug's effect on the brain and other body parts. For
an older teen-ager or college student, the book allows them to draw their
own conclusions about the hazards of what they're confronting at parties
and in the dorm without a condescending rebuke of "Just Say No." Only in
one section, on inhaling solvents, do the authors invoke that slogan,
merely to make the point that this particular class of drug use is so
dangerous to first-time users that even experimentation has disastrous
results.

Since different drugs are often used simultaneously, the authors always
include a section on how the drug interacts with other drugs, even
prescription or over the counter drugs. In addition to its encyclopedic
approach, the book includes a section with color photographs of the most
common street drugs. It also has a good chapter on herbal supplements,
which are unregulated and sold in health foods stores nationwide, and which
are growing in popularity among young people.

The authors of "Buzzed" point out that there is a lot of incorrect
information on drugs out on the Internet, and unfortunately many children
access these sites. However, there are also responsible organizations
sponsoring Web sites that contain good, accurate drug information. Among
those are two that can be found on The Health Library's Web site under the
heading "Addiction & Recovery." The first site, the Partnership for a Drug
Free America, advertises full nonpartisan support by Congress, and it is a
very thorough Web site that makes a point of listing its references for all
of the facts it presents. Of special interest are the tips for talking to
your kids about drugs. The Web site is www.drugfreeamerica.org.

The second, The Indiana Prevention Resource Center from the University of
Indiana, has a very helpful glossary of street drugs that also lists the
drugs' other names, and when possible, it's pharmaceutical name as well.
The site has a lot of fact sheets on specific drugs, and these are
especially useful for educators, or for a quick point of reference for
parents. The URL is www.drugs.indiana.edu/druginfo/. To submit a question,
write to The Health Library c/o The Palo Alto Weekly or e-mail us at
Health--Lib@hosp.stanford.edu. The Health Library resources are not
intended as a substitute for medical care. The main branch is located at
248 Stanford Shopping Center. For more information, call 725-8400 or point
your Internet browser to http://www-med.stanford.edu/healthlib/. The
Health Library is a community service of Stanford University Hospital.

Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson