| In February 2004 a 16-year-old girl in
| |
| | is a sample of the lasting damage even
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| Connecticut went to a house party with
| |
| | one ecstasy pill can cause:* Severe
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| some friends. She took a powdered form of
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| | dehydration* Seizures* Strokes*
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| the popular drug known as ecstasy with
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| | Dramatic increases in body
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| her friends, went into seizures and later
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| | temperature (death by overheating is not
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| died. In April 2004, a 14-year-old girl
| |
| | unusual)* Muscle breakdown*
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| in California took ecstasy at a sleepover
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| | Kidney failure* Liver and heart
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| with two friends and died the next day
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| | failure* Damage to hormornal systems*
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| from an overdose.These stories are not
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| | Potential brain damage with repeated
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| rare-in fact, 2.6 million teens report
| |
| | useWould You Know if Your Child Were
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| having experimented with ecstasy in 2003
| |
| | Using Ecstasy?Here are 17 warning signs
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| and hundreds of teens have died taking
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| | that your child could be using ecstasy:*
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| such drugs, according to the Substance
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| | Dehydration* Clenching of the jaw and/or
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| Abuse and Mental Health Services
| |
| | grinding teeth* A sore jaw* Unusual
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| Administration (SAMHSA). Ecstasy is used
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| | displays of affection* Pronounced mood
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| by kids in their early to late teens and
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| | swings* Loss of inhibitions* Transfixion
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| early 20s because it promotes a euphoric
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| | on sights and sounds* Chills or sweating*
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| feeling by releasing a chemical in the
| |
| | Muscle tension* Nausea* Confusion*
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| brain called serotonin (the same chemical
| |
| | Difficulty concentrating;* Tremors* Sleep
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| that, when lacking, is linked to
| |
| | problems* Severe anxiety* Panic attacks*
|
| depression).This drug, chemical name 3-4
| |
| | DepressionIf you suspect that your child
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| methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA,
| |
| | may be using this drug, see the box at
|
| is different from other illegal drugs in
| |
| | right for 17 warning signs, it's
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| that many kids mistakenly believe it is
| |
| | important to talk to him immediately. If
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| safe. Common among white, middle- and
| |
| | your child is young and tried a drug one
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| upper-class kids, ecstasy-also called the
| |
| | time, you may be able to deal with the
|
| hug drug, beans, Adam, XTC and the love
| |
| | drug use on your own, however, if your
|
| drug-is thought of as a safe way to get
| |
| | child is older or you suspect he is a
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| an intensely pleasant, high
| |
| | regular user, there are professional
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| feeling.Ecstasy pills can be brightly
| |
| | social workers, nurses, drug counselors,
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| colored and often contain cartoon
| |
| | psychologists and psychiatrists who can
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| characters and fun logos that appeal to
| |
| | help.Ask your child's school, your family
|
| kids.It combines both stimulant and
| |
| | physician or a community health center
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| hallucinogenic properties that allow kids
| |
| | for a referral of where to get help.
|
| to stay awake and full of energy, which
| |
| | SAMHSA, of the U.S. Department of Health
|
| is why it's a popular drug at raves
| |
| | and Human Services, also has an online
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| (all-night dance parties) and dance
| |
| | substance abuse treatment facility
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| clubs. The aspirin-sized pills are geared
| |
| | locator at as well as many other online
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| toward kids and even contain cartoon
| |
| | resources to help keep your kids
|
| logos and shapes like crowns and
| |
| | drug-free: course, speaking openly with
|
| hearts.It does appear that kids and
| |
| | your children about the dangers of drug
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| parents are waking up to the real dangers
| |
| | use well before they reach their teenage
|
| of this drug, as the 2003 National Survey
| |
| | years is one of the best preventive
|
| on Drug Use and Health found that among
| |
| | measures you can take.Ecstasy's Future
|
| youths aged 12 to 17, 41 percent fewer
| |
| | Looks DimThere is hope on the horizon for
|
| said they had used ecstasy in the past
| |
| | limiting the harm this "trendy" drug
|
| month. However, many kids are still
| |
| | inflicts. In March 2004, the alleged
|
| experimenting:* 3.3 percent of kids
| |
| | leader of an international Ecstasy ring
|
| 12-17 have tried it* 15 percent of
| |
| | that supplied 15 percent of the U.S.
|
| those aged 18-25 have tried it* One
| |
| | ecstasy market was arrested along with
|
| in nine teenagers has tried itDespite
| |
| | more than 130 defendants in 16 cities
|
| these high numbers, close to half of
| |
| | across the United States. The
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| parents (41 percent) have never talked to
| |
| | investigation, dubbed Operation Candy
|
| their kids about ecstasy, according to
| |
| | Box, was geared toward removing this
|
| SAMHSA, but 90 percent believe it's an
| |
| | dangerous drug from the U.S. market.Karen
|
| extremely risky drug to use.Ecstasy's
| |
| | P. Tandy, U.S. Drug Enforcement
|
| Damaging EffectsBeware if Your Child
| |
| | Administration (DEA) administrator said,
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| Suddenly Starts Carrying These Items
| |
| | "For the first time in all law
|
| Associated With EcstasyThe following
| |
| | enforcement, DEA has measured the impact
|
| paraphernalia are often carried by
| |
| | of this operation, revealing that
|
| ecstasy users, either to stimulate
| |
| | Operation Candy Box decimated the U.S.
|
| senses, hide pills or relieve jaw
| |
| | MDMA market-dramatically reducing MDMA
|
| clenching:* Pacifiers* Lollipops* Candy
| |
| | availability, slashing its purity, and
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| necklaces* Glow sticks and/or glowing
| |
| | raising its price."From the FREE
|
| jewelry* A child-like backpack*
| |
| | e-newsletter, the Web's #1 most read
|
| Mentholated rub* Surgical-type masksMany
| |
| | newsletter with original articles in all
|
| kids are drawn to the short-term "good
| |
| | 6 areas of life leading to complete
|
| feelings" that ecstasy creates, but here
| |
| | wellness.
|
