BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY

In the last two features we discussed aggression and resilience. The
concepts discussed included some causes of aggression and a few ways
to become more resilient to the many forms of excessive stress in
these very challenging times.

As students return to school, please keep those concepts in mind; such
as the need to eat nourishing well-balanced meals, exercise the right
amount -- not too much, not too little, and to find safe and
productive ways to relax.

When I was a boy, kids would often play more outdoor games and tell
stories and just before school started to help deal with the stress
regarding the uncertainty of who your teacher would be, what friends
would be sitting nearby in class and how much homework to expect in
the next school level.

Unfortunately, many kids today use drugs, alcohol and/or tobacco to
help them deal with school. This condition is especially true during
highly stressful and sometimes intimidating conditions during the
first few weeks of middle school, high school or college.

"Party hardy" is often the name of the game and "anything goes" is
sometimes the game plan. To avoid disaster, parents need to be part
for solution and not be part for the problem.

For example, while marijuana is now decriminalized in Connecticut,
some of the potential dangers are worse than ever with the very high
potency "genetically engineered" into the modern varieties. Parents
condoning and consuming "weed" because of the lesser laws not helping
their children.

Chemicals from the highly potent "weed" of today are often stored in
the fat tissues of the body -- even in the areas within and behind the
eye. In some individuals, a condition called "canabinoid hyperemesis"
results in bouts of mysterious vomiting, abdominal pain and nausea.

The marijuana can make other underlying gastrointestinal problems
worse. This matter is sometimes confusing in that medical marijuana is
sometimes used to alleviate some forms of chemotherapy induced nausea
- -- different mechanism. Potential side affects are still there,
including making psychological and social problems worse. Driving
under the influence is among the most potentially lethal
consequences.

The extreme dangers of compounding alcohol with other illegal and even
legal drugs is considerable. Parents who have kids who drink and drive
or ride along those who do are strongly advised to follow through with
finding out how underage kids obtaining alcohol. There may be
organized criminal activity in your area in which unlicensed alcohol
distributors are getting alcohol illegally and passing it along to
children.

Parents with children in rehab, group therapy and related programs are
also advised to pay close attention to who they interact with;
including whom they hang out with between sessions and those who they
work with as practitiners. These places are notorious as meeting
locations for drug activity -- at all levels.

Education is key to prevention and should include the buy-in of
parents or other high status individuals of significance to your kids.

For instance ,a little research from parents would inform them
that:

1) Tobacco is directly responsible for more than 30 percent of all
cancers.

2) Heroin can stop the breathing regulation centers at the base to the
brain leading to death.

3) Cocaine, crack and "speed" can kill very rapidly by increasing
blood pressure in the brain or near the heart leading the extensive
bleeding.

4) Alcohol is a major cause of lethal accidents.

Increasing self-esteem and confidence is key to preventing disasters,
as exemplified by the occupational based rehab centers like the
"Delancy Street Foundation" in California.

By all means, do not throw your kids out if they disobey you by doing
drugs. Make sure they have a safe place to live, are well-nourished,
and try hard to keep them away from those who will encourage drug use.

Pay particular to the "anti-social" boyfriend or girlfriend who "just
happens to be there" every time your child gets into trouble. Despite
their characteristically fake smiles and manipulative stories, and
claims of innocence to the extreme, they are often the ones who are
directly or indirectly responsible for many of your child's problems
and will often try to pass the buck to your child or others once they
are found out -- in the most convincing ways!

Stories of girls or women procuring or holding drugs for their
boyfriends who are masterminding operations behinds the scenes are not
uncommon. Many an unsuspecting child may be led to intravenous heroin,
crack or marijuana addiction, then conned into paying for their
deadbeat boy or girl friend's "party materials" and/or taking the rap
for the real criminals working as conspirators.

If you suspect that your child is being exploited by a
behind-the-scenes orchestrator, have police and the DEA check out the
situation and make sure that they are thoroughly informed of the
circumstances. The antisocial personality type can be quite deceiving
and convincing and are known to even beat lie detectors while fooling
the most discerning of investigators. Don't let them fool you!

Have a great school year, have fun and be safe!

Parents -- please pay attention!