DrugFreeAZKids.org understands the importance of communicating with your children. We want to share the necessary tools and information with you for starting these important conversations. Talking with your child about the dangers of drugs can reduce the chance of them using by up to 50 percent. This is why we are bringing you a series of regular blog posts, each focusing on a specific drug. It will cover the drug’s common names, effects and the important details parents should know.
Today’s post in our 411 Drug Series examines cocaine. The Arizona Youth Survey 2014 reports that cocaine use is steady among youth in Arizona. It is important to educate teens about the risks of drugs such as cocaine.
What is it and what does it look like?
Cocaine is a stimulant and is consumed by injecting, smoking, snorting or swallowing.
Other street names?
· Coke
· Flake
· White
· Nose Candy
· Snowbirds
· Snow
· Blow
· Big C
· Pony
· 151
What are the short- and long-term effects?
· Increased blood pressure and heart rate
· Paranoia, anxiety and hallucinations
· Seizures, heart attack and respiratory failure
· Insomnia, irritability and loss of appetite
· Increased risk of exposure to HIV, hepatitis and other infectious diseases (if injected)
· Death
What every parent should know:
Paraphernalia includes razor blades, scales, small mirrors, mini ziplock bags, short straws, surgical tubing, syringes, funnels, pipes and spoons with the stems broken off.
The mission of DrugFreeAZKids.org is to provide parents with the information they need to educate their kids about dangerous substances. In addition to this blog series, we offer other valuable tools, such as webinars and evidence-based workshops to help parents raise healthy, drug-free children.
To learn more about how to prevent drug and alcohol use by teens, visit DrugFreeAZKids.org.
