Abuse of legal substances

Jan 13 2011

The Internet, smart phones and teens' endless search for self-acceptance in their technology connected yet isolated world is driving a revival of substance abuse of salvia, an herb from flower seeds that induces psychedelic effects but is not detectable with usual drug tests, and synthetic cannabis, a psychoactive herbal and chemical concoction, also undetectable, popularly known around high schools as "spice".   You've most recently heard about Miley Cyrus' Youtube video abusing salvia.  And according to NBC's Today Show in a Jan. 12 interview with the father of a boyhood friend of Tucson shooter, Jared Loughner, the disturbed young man was a user of salvia.

Law enforcement agencies, usually behind the curve when it comes to designer drugs, are just waking up to these dangerous gateways to teen addiction.  Fifteen states have outlawed salvia sales, but in most states, it's perfectly legal, and "spice" ingredients are readily and legally available on the Internet too.  Legal substances or illegal substances, the consequences of young people abusing these substances range from unfortunate to tragic.

Here's a sampling of what young people are experiencing by abusing these all too legal substances:

SALVIA

• One saw the floor moving like waves, couldn't walk, had to lay down
• One went catatonic and started drooling
• Another saw the faces of his friends on all the oranges of an orange tree
• Another thought the commercial he was watching was coming out of the TV at him, flipped the couch over and hid

"SPICE"

• One reported severe chest pain
• One reported pain while urinating
• Another felt high but very stupid and confused

Dr. Jerry Weichman, a licensed psychologist, is an adolescent specialist, author, speaker and parenting expert. His clinical practice at Hoag Neurosciences Institute in Newport Beach provides a window on contemporary teen and pre-teen behavior.  "Dr. Jerry" as his adolescent patients call him, is a young Ph.D. who really relates to teens, speaks their lingo and has felt their pain.  Their parents call him "The Decoder" because he explains the challenges teens face every day, facilitating practical family problem solving.  

"Today's teens need to be armed with a 'tool box' of coping mechanisms and practical solutions for the challenges they all face.  Success is learning to use these tools to achieve self-acceptance," said Jerry Weichman, Ph.D.

Dr. Weichman grew up without a right foot and had to learn to walk with a prosthetic leg.  Being teased, developing body image issues, having social acceptance problems in school, experiencing lack of motivation, academic problems and severe depression forced him to transform himself in high school.  He overcame all these challenges, ultimately received academic and athletic honors in high school, played Division I football in college and earned his Ph.D. by the age of 26.  Dr. Jerry can speak on:

• Warning signs of teen substance abuse
• Decreasing age of substance users and abusers
• How users become pushers
• Where they hide it and how to find it
• Substance Abuse, Violence, Cyber Bullies, Sexting, Teen Depression, Eating Disorders, Anxiety, Academic Performance, Body Image Issues, Relationships, Sex, Social Dramas and more.