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Weekly Adolescent Substance Abuse Seminars Offer Education and Help

2008-12-16T09:14:36-08:00

Lately your teen has been acting more distant than usual. You never know what mood he’ll be in, and he doesn’t want to talk about his classes or activities. He’s been sleeping more than usual, and seems forgetful and distracted. Is this just normal adolescent behavior or a sign of something more serious?

That’s the question that confuses many parents of adolescents with substance abuse problems. While finding drug paraphernalia among your child’s things is an obvious sign of substance abuse, many other warning signs mirror typical adolescent behavior, such as:

Mood swings or depression
Dishonesty and secretiveness
Deflecting questions about activities or money
Anger, irritability or defensiveness
Short-term memory loss
Money missing in the home
Suspicious phone calls or seemingly nonsensical text messages
Unexplained weight loss, red eyes, poor hygiene
Missing school or not coming home after school
Trouble in school or with the police

Often, warning signs go undetected for a long time; research has shown that, on average, a drug problem exists for seven years before a family recognizes it and seeks help. If parents are too quick to write off these behaviors as “normal” without considering the possibility of a deeper problem, they may not realize their child has an addiction until it causes serious health, financial, or legal consequences.

Moreover, sometimes parents know that their son or daughter experiments with alcohol or drugs and misjudge or even deny the severity of the situation. Many parents experimented themselves when they were teens, and believe it is basically a harmless rite of passage. However, marijuana today is ten to twenty times stronger than it was years ago, and alcohol and drug abuse is rampant on high school and college campuses.

Also, research has found more evidence of a hereditary factor in addiction; if there is a history of drug or alcohol addiction in the family, the likelihood is four times greater than average that recreational alcohol or drug use will become a full-blown addiction in adulthood.

Scripps Treatment Program can help

Helping parents understand adolescent alcohol or substance abuse is the goal of the informational adolescent intervention seminars offered by the Scripps Treatment Program located on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. These free weekly seminars are open to all parents and others interested in learning more about the widespread problem of adolescent addiction.

Whether a child has a problem or not, all parents can benefit from learning about addiction and understanding what their children are exposed to on a daily basis — because no matter what school your children attend or how “good” your neighborhood is, drugs and alcohol are readily available.

Along with alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and crystal meth, the list of the most popular drugs among adolescents reads like a pharmacy inventory: Oxycontin, Vicodin, Xanax, and Valium, along with over-the-counter cold medicine and household products used as inhalants, which can be deadly the first time they’re used. Kids get drugs at school or on the street, steal alcohol or prescription medications from their parents, take a quick trip across the border, and pay friends or strangers to buy alcohol.

About the substance abuse seminars

In addition to helping parents identify a substance abuse problem, intervention seminars —held every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. — help determine whether a child needs treatment and what kind. For example, Scripps Treatment Program conducts an Intensive Outpatient Program for some teens, while others may need residential treatment.

Many people mistakenly believe that the only way to get a child into treatment is to have a transport company show up in the middle of the night and drag the child out of bed into a treatment program in the middle of nowhere. The intervention program at Scripps Treatment Program combines family intervention and professional intervention, recommending transport only if necessary. We offer the adolescent the opportunity to get help or consider the consequences if they don’t. And, we guide parents through the often murky waters of getting the child into a treatment program.

Too often, families let denial, shame or embarrassment hold them back from getting the help they need. The fact is, even parents who do everything “right” when raising their kids cannot always prevent their child from being exposed to drugs or alcohol at school, friends’ homes, parties and so on. Families need to know they did not create this problem, they cannot control it and they cannot cure it. What they can do is facilitate the opportunity for their child to learn the tools to living a substance-free life.

The bottom line: If your gut tells you something is not right with your child’s behavior, trust it. Get the information and assistance you need to take action.

Article by Nancy Knott, CADC-I, a board-registered interventionist. The Scripps Treatment Program at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla offers free informational seminars on adolescent interventions every week. For more information, please call 1-800-382-4357.

Media Contact: Lisa Ohmstede
Phone: 858-626-7142
E-mail: ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org

Scripps Doctors Study Novel New Device to Diagnose Irregular Heart Beat

2012-05-09T16:46:31-07:00

A study conducted at Scripps Health has found that a novel new heart monitoring device helped emergency room patients avoid unnecessary follow-up care. Scripps Health electrophysiologist Steven Higgins, MD, presented findings of the study, titled “Prevalence of Arrhythmias in Emergency Department Patients Discharged Using a Novel Ambulatory Cardiac Monitor,” today at the Heart Rhythm Society’s 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston.

The study focused on the use of Zio Patch, a single-use ambulatory cardiac monitor that looks similar to a 2- by 5-inch adhesive bandage and sticks to a patient’s chest. The device can continuously monitor their heart rhythm for up to 14 days.

“The availability of this new heart monitor is exciting as it improves patient care. The patch is applied and when recording is done, the patient simply drops it in the envelope and returns it through the mail — it’s like the Netflix of heart care,” said Dr. Higgins, chairman of the department of cardiology at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and a lead investigator. “Because they are infrequent, heart rhythm problems are often difficult to diagnose, even though they can be quite serious. The Zio Patch is a new digital advance that will allow us to better diagnose challenging cases so we can provide our patients the best care.”

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla was the only hospital in Southern California to participate in the study. Other study locations included Stanford Hospital and Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas.

The study followed 285 patients who had presented to emergency departments across the country with symptoms possibly related to arrhythmias, such as fainting, palpitations, dizziness and others. Patients received the unencumbering, wire-free Zio Patch prior to being discharged from the emergency room and were instructed to wear the patch until it no longer adhered to their skin – up to 14 days duration. Devices were mailed back to iRhythm Technologies, Inc., the Zio Patch’s developer and service provider, using a pre-paid postage envelope, for analysis and reporting of results to the patient’s physician.

The researchers found that 59 percent of the symptomatic patients who presented to the emergency rooms did not have arrhythmia and may not require any further work-up. “Thus, the new device has the potential to save the health care system millions of dollars,” said Higgins. “We were also surprised to learn that there was 100 percent compliance by the patient with the process, which is an amazing finding for an emergency department study.”

Monitoring leads to possible lifesaving procedure

One patient who benefited from the Zio Patch is La Jolla resident Kenneth Curzon, who fainted while at work in March. Curzon continuously wore the Zio Patch for two weeks and then mailed it back to iRhythm, where the information was downloaded and formatted into a report for Dr. Higgins to review.

The recording showed Curzon was experiencing prolonged pauses in his heart rhythm of over three seconds as well as other episodes of rapid heart beats. On April 6, he received an implantable cardiac defibrillator to correct the problem and was back to his management job within five days.

“The Zio Patch allowed me to diagnose and determine the most appropriate therapy for Ken,” said Higgins.

“I like to think of the whole experience as an adventure,” Curzon said. “Most of the time I didn’t even realize I was wearing a heart monitor, and when I peeled it off, I just put it in an envelope and sent it off in the mail. It was a very simple process.”

Zio Patch vs. Holter monitor

In addition, Dr. Eric Topol is leading a new related study at Scripps Green Hospital examining whether the Zio Patch does a better job of detecting heart arrhythmias than the Holter monitor, which has been the gold standard for rhythm monitoring since the early 1960s.

The portable Holter monitor collects its data through a series of wired electrodes that adhere to the chest. Because the device can be difficult to wear and can get in the way of normal activities such as showering, exercising and sleeping, continuous use of the monitor is typically limited to one or two days. In contrast, the Zio Patch is a small, unobtrusive device that is indicated for up to 14 days of wear, and allows the patient to exercise and shower on their normal schedule, without the hassle of a bulky monitor and multiple wires.

“This is a great opportunity to compare these two side by side for use in diagnosing important heart rhythm disturbances,” said Dr. Topol, a cardiologist who directs the Scripps Translational Science Institute and serves as Chief Academic Officer of Scripps Health. “We are trying to determine if the Zio Patch will have an increased diagnostic yield.”

The study is currently enrolling about 150 Scripps Green and Scripps Clinic adult patients who have been seen by their doctors for arrhythmia. Each of the participants will wear a Holter monitor and a Patch for up to 48 hours and then continue wearing the Zio Patch for up to 14 days. More information about the study is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Dr. Topol and his research associates will compare the data gathered from each device and report their findings later this year.

Arrhythmias affect millions of Americans each year and, if left untreated, may lead to serious consequences including stroke or sudden cardiac death.

Both studies are an extension of Scripps Health’s leadership in heart care and research. Scripps is currently building the $456 million Prebys Cardiovascular Institute, a center for innovation that will bring together top researchers, physicians and staff. The institute will incorporate leading-edge wireless technologies and individualized medicine for the best in patient care when it opens in 2015. Annually, more than 55,000 patients receive their cardiovascular care from Scripps, making it San Diego County’s largest heart care provider. Scripps is the region’s only cardiovascular program consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country.

About Scripps Health

Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif.

Scripps to Host Cancer Survivors Day Celebrations in June

2012-05-08T13:03:08-07:00

Scripps Cancer Center will host free public celebrations throughout the month of June for local cancer survivors, their families, friends and the community at large at each of its four hospitals across San Diego County, in conjunction with the 25th annual National Cancer Survivors Day.

The programs are open to all residents who have a history of cancer (and their guests), regardless of where patients received their treatment. Events will include presentations on the latest advancements in cancer treatments, inspirational stories of survival, refreshments and opportunities to connect with caregivers and fellow survivors. More information on events is available by calling 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Scripps Green Hospital – Sunday, June 10, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Valerie Timken Amphitheater, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, Calif. 92037. Register by calling 858-554-8533.

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla – Tuesday, June 12, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Schaetzel Center, 9888 Genesee Ave., La Jolla, Calif. 92037. Register by calling 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas – Saturday, June 23, 10 a.m. to noon. Scripps Encinitas Conference Center, 354 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, Calif. 92024. Register by calling 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Scripps Mercy Hospital – Saturday, June 30, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Our Lady’s Chapel, 4077 Fifth Ave., San Diego, Calif. 92103. Register by calling 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Cancer care at Scripps is provided through Scripps Cancer Center, a nationally recognized leader in cancer care, providing comprehensive care at Scripps’ four hospitals and various Scripps Clinic locations. With more than 300 affiliated physicians, Scripps Cancer Center seeks to provide the best possible treatment and cutting-edge research trials for patients by coordinating medical expertise in the areas of clinical cancer care, community outreach and clinical, translational and basic research.

Scripps is the only cancer care provider in San Diego to earn network accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. Scripps Polster Breast Care Center at Scripps La Jolla, the Breast Care Center at Scripps Green Hospital and the breast care programs at Scripps Encinitas and Scripps Mercy Chula Vista have earned accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer Centers (NAPBC). The radiation oncology department at Scripps Green Hospital has earned accreditation in radiation therapy from the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the American College of Radiology (ACR).

New Pap Guidelines: Is The Annual Exam Gone?

2012-04-09T11:15:15-07:00

Cervical cancer was once the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American women. In the 1930s, more American women died of cervical cancer than any other kind of cancer, including breast or lung. But in 1943, a new method for cervical screening was introduced. The Babeș-Papanicolaou test (named after physicians who pioneered the method), also called a “Pap smear” or “Pap test,” became the most successful cancer screening in history. Today, according to the American Cancer Society, there are fewer than 4,000 annual deaths due to cervical cancer, mostly among women who have never been screened.

Until now, physicians recommended that women receive an annual pap test, starting sometime in the teens. So when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a set of new guidelines for cervical cancer screening on March 15, 2012, it introduced a significant change to women’s health care routines. Now, the guidelines suggest screening should begin no earlier than age 21, and for most women over the age of 30, the tests can be safely spaced three years apart. Similar guidelines released by the American Cancer Society on March 14 support that approach.

Overscreening Causes Harm

“In the case of pap tests, it turns out that more was not better,” explains Lily Tsai, MD, a Scripps gynecologist. “In recent years, as we have come to understand the natural history of HPV infection, we’ve seen convincing evidence that over-screening can cause harm to patients, both physical and psychological.”

Nearly all cervical cancers are the result of infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV)—a fact that was not established until recently. But not all HPV infections will cause cervical cancer. “It turns out that most people fight off HPV infections naturally without intervention,” Dr. Tsai says. “So annual Paps were identifying abnormal cells at a very early stage of infection or were non-diagnostic, leading anxious patients and providers to treat them more aggressively than was necessary.”

The most common diagnostic procedure for suspicious pap results is a colposcopy, or magnified examination of the cervix. If abnormal areas are visualized, additional studies such as cervical biopsy or endocervical curettage may be performed and examined in the lab for precancerous changes. A confirmed high level abnormality often leads to a cone biopsy of the cervix to remove affected tissue.

“Treatments are not always benign. An unnecessary cone biopsy, for example, may increase one’s chance of a weaker cervix, potentially leading to problems in pregnancy” says Dr. Tsai. Plus the anxiety caused by an abnormal pap test is also significant.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended spacing these screenings for appropriate women three years apart in 2009, and the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) issued similar guidelines in 2006. The recently released guidelines are now in alignment with those developed by experts in the specialty.

Women Should Not Skip Annual Pelvic Exams

This does not mean, however, that women can skip their annual gynecological examination. “Pap tests are not the only reason to have an annual exam,” Dr. Tsai emphasizes. “Women still need to be examined yearly, either by their gynecologist or their primary care physician, for the remainder of the pelvic exam and breast exam.

The new guidelines suggest:

For women with no other risk factors, pap tests should start at age 21.
Between the ages of 21 and 30, cervical cell screening should take place at three-year intervals, with no screening for HPV.
After age 30, women should have a combined cervical smear and HPV test every five years or pap test alone every 3 years.
After the age of 65, women who have had previous normal results may discontinue pap tests.
If a woman has had serious cervical pre-cancer, she should continue being screened for 20 years after that diagnosis, even if she is past 65.
Women with additional risk factors (including previous abnormal Pap tests, exposure to diethylstilbestrol [DES] in utero, or a compromised immune system), pap tests should be more frequent.
If a woman has had a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix for benign reasons, there is no need for a Pap test.

Find an OB-GYN

If you need to find a gynecologist for regular pelvic exams, Scripps can help. Call 1-800-SCRIPPS (1-800-727-4777) to get a physician referral from a member of our call center or visit our doctor finder.

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Band Over Bypass Helps Patients Who Have Regained Weight After Bariatric Surgery

2012-04-04T10:40:55-07:00

Band Over Bypass Revision Surgery Helps Patients Lose Weight—Again

Singer Carnie Wilson, a founding member of pop group Wilson Phillips, has been open about her struggle with obesity for more than a decade, including a much-publicized decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery in 2000. In the years following surgery, Wilson had two children and, according to reports, regained more than 70 percent of her initial weight loss.

Band over bypass revision surgery is a new option available for patients who have previously had gastric bypass surgery that failed to result in significant weight loss, or for patients like Wilson, who have regained the weight they initially lost after bypass surgery.

“Although it’s uncommon, bariatric surgery patients can regain weight following an initially successful gastric bypass,” said Dr. Sunil Bhoyrul, a bariatric surgeon at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and a pioneer of the technique. “Over time, the stomach pouch created by the original bypass can dilate and cause patients to lose their sense of fullness,” he says, which leads to increased food intake and weight gain.

With band over bypass revision surgery, a gastric band is placed around the stomach pouch, then tightened to create physical restriction and restore the feeling of being full after a meal. Dr. Bhoyrul recently presented his technique to an audience of several hundred bariatric surgeons at an international conference in Hamburg, Germany.

Many times obesity surgeons like Dr. Bhoyrul will stitch the band in place to prevent slipping or movement that might cause the band to fail. Less invasive than a gastric bypass, the band over bypass procedure allows many patients to go home on the day of surgery.

Dr. Bhoyrul is medical director of the bariatric surgery program at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

Ten Signs Your Teen May Be Using Drugs

2012-03-30T14:21:14-07:00

Ten Signs Your Teen May Be Using Drugs

You’ve caught your high school student smoking marijuana. He swears it is the first time he’s tried it, and it won’t happen again. Is this just an adolescent “rite of passage”—or something far more serious?

“The drugs of choice among adolescents today are far different and much more powerful than those with which their parents may have experimented with as teenagers,” says Nancy Knott, MA, a Scripps substance abuse counselor and interventionist. “And the consequences of using them can be far more destructive, and even deadly.”

Drugs are more plentiful—and powerful—than ever before

The drugs of choice among adolescents today are far different and much more powerful than those parents experimented with as teenagers. Alcohol, marijuana and MDMA (“ecstasy”) are at the top of the list of the most popular drugs among adolescents. Prescription medications such as Oxycontin and Vicodin, along with over-the-counter cold medicines, are simply recreational drugs for some adolescents. Heroin began making a comeback several years ago and is now reaching epidemic proportions in some areas of the country.

Teen substance abuse is a significant problem. According to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2009, 24 percent of high school students reported episodic heavy or binge drinking, and 10 percent reported driving a vehicle during the past 30 days after drinking alcohol. A 2010 survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), reported daily use of marijuana had increased among high school students from 2009 to 2010; among 12th graders, usage was at its highest point since the early 1980s

With increasing heroin use come other concerns. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports the purity of heroin in the U.S. increased from an average of approximately 7 percent a couple of decades ago to approximately 69 percent today. The increased purity, together with a decreased street price, are likely responsible for the growing number of young heroin users, who can snort the drug rather than inject it. Eventually, they may graduate to injecting the drug as their bodies become conditioned to its effects and they need stronger doses to get high.

How to recognize a problem before it’s too late

Adolescent substance abuse can lead to number of other significant problems. Users are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as unprotected sex or driving while under the influence.

How can you tell if your child is using drugs or alcohol? Finding drug paraphernalia is an obvious sign of substance abuse, but many other warning signs mirror typical adolescent behavior, such as:

Mood swings or depression
Dishonesty and secretiveness
Anger, irritability or defensiveness
Short-term memory loss
Money missing in the home
Suspicious phone calls or seemingly nonsensical text messages
Unexplained weight loss, red eyes, poor hygiene
Missing school or not coming home after school
Associating with a new group of friends you barely know
Trouble in school or with the police

Often, these warning signs go undetected for years. When parents write off such behaviors as “normal” without considering the possibility of a deeper problem, they miss the opportunity to recognize substance abuse until child has an addiction until it causes serious health, financial, or legal consequences.

Learn more

On April 20, 2012 at 7 pm on the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla campus, Knott will present The State of Our Youth, a free presentation on adolescent substance abuse.

If you suspect your child may have a problem, help is available. To attend the event, register at 858-626-4403. Or, to contact qualified adolescent substance abuse counselor, call the Scripps Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center at 858-626-4300.

New Test May Predict the Possibility of a Heart Attack

2012-03-19T14:31:25-07:00

New findings from a landmark research study led by Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) – a collaborative program between Scripps Health and The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) – shows a promising new blood test may be useful in helping doctors predict who is at risk for an imminent heart attack.

Results of the study, titled “Characterization of Circulating Endothelial Cells in Acute Myocardial Infarction,” were published this week in Science Translational Medicine. The study concludes that circulating endothelial cells (CEC) from heart attack patients were abnormally large and misshapen and often appeared with multiple nuclei, which indicates that CECs are promising biomarkers for the prediction of acute ongoing arterial plaque rupture.

The unique appearance of circulating endothelial cells in heart attack patients (right) may make them predictors of imminent heart problems.

“The ability to diagnose an imminent heart attack has long been considered the holy grail of cardiovascular medicine,” said Dr. Eric Topol, the study’s principal investigator and director of STSI. “This has been a tremendous collaboration of two institutions on the research side, three health care systems in San Diego, and a life science industry leader, which has resulted in an important discovery that may help to change the future of cardiovascular medicine.”

CEC counts and cell features dramatically altered in heart attack patients

The study involved 50 patients who presented to emergency rooms with heart attacks at four acute care hospitals in San Diego. Using different cell isolation platforms, including the Veridex CellSearch System, the researchers found that CEC counts and the cell structural features were dramatically altered in the heart attack population when compared to the healthy control group.

“We are pleased to have collaborated on this important investigational study, said Mark Connelly, PhD, Director, Cellular Research, Veridex. “CellSearch has proven to be a powerful tool for oncology research and the care of metastatic cancer patients. This study highlights the value of accurate rare cell capture and analysis in areas beyond oncology.”

The study was co-authored by physicians and scientists from Scripps Health; STSI; TSRI; Veridex, LLC (a Johnson & Johnson company); Palomar Health; and SharpHealthCare. Funding came from a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

“When Palomar Health was approached to participate in a research study involving this population, we were quick to recognize the potential value of this work,” said Palomar Health Director of Interventional Services Paul Patchen, RN. “We were honored to have been able to contribute to this groundbreaking research that may have significant benefit not only to our patients and community but to all patients with coronary artery disease.”

The findings are significant, as more than 2.5 million U.S. individuals experience a heart attack or ischemic stroke, most commonly the result of obstructive coronary artery disease, according to Paddy Barrett, MD, lead investigator at STSI. If the arteries get abruptly and completely occluded by the buildup of fatty cholesterol, it will cause a massive heart attack that will likely lead to a sudden death, as was the case involving former NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert.

Test may be developed for widespread use soon

“With some additional validation, the hope is to have this test developed for commercial use in the next year or two,” said Raghava Gollapudi, MD, who was the principal investigator from Sharp HealthCare. “This would be an ideal test to perform in an emergency room to determine if a patient is on the cusp of a heart attack or about to experience one in the next couple of weeks. Right now we can only test to detect if a patient is currently experiencing or has recently experienced a heart attack.”

This study is an extension of Scripps Health’s leadership in heart care and research. Scripps is currently building the $456 million Prebys Cardiovascular Institute, a center for innovation that will bring together top researchers, physicians and staff. The institute will incorporate leading-edge wireless technologies and individualized medicine for the best in patient care when it opens in 2015.

Annually, more than 55,000 patients receive their cardiovascular care from Scripps, making it San Diego County’s largest heart care provider. Scripps is the region’s only cardiovascular program consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country.

About The Scripps Research Institute

The Scripps Research Institute is one of the world’s largest independent, non-profit biomedical research organizations. Scripps Research is internationally recognized for its discoveries in immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and vaccine development, as well as for its insights into autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious disease. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, the institute also includes a campus in Jupiter, Florida.

About Scripps Health

Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif.

Herion Addiction on the Rise in San Diego

2012-03-12T17:31:18-07:00

Heroin use among young adults in San Diego County is skyrocketing, according to statistics compiled by the county’s Health & Human Services Agency. Drug counselors say they have seen a big increase in heroin abuse in adults ages 18 to 25. Nancy Knott from the Scripps Treatment Center talks to 10 News about this alarming trend and how help is available.

As seen on KGTV

Addiction Expert Notes Rising Heroin Use

2012-02-28T14:35:13-08:00

It’s been almost two years since the FDA approved a new time-release design of Oxycontin to prevent illegal misuse and abuse of the pain relieving drug. But the new version is causing San Diego authorities new stress. They’re seeing an alarming rise in people switching to heroin as a potentially deadly substitute. Nancy Knott, treatment counselor at the Scripps Treatment Program discusses this alarming trend with CBS Channel 8.

As seen on KFMB-TV

Bath Salts: The Newest Designer Drug

2012-02-14T12:49:52-08:00

By Nancy Knott, M.A., Scripps Health

Imagine someone using meth, cocaine, LSD and ecstasy (MDMA) at the same time, and you’ll get an idea of the effects of the latest synthetic or “designer” drug to become popular with adolescents and young adults: bath salts.

Don’t let the name fool you. These aren’t the fragrant granules you sprinkle in bath water to soothe tension. Sold as “bath salts” or “plant food” to evade drug laws, these products are actually synthetic versions of cathinone, a naturally occurring amphetamine that comes from the leaves of the Catha edulis plant. Among the amphetamine-like derivatives commonly found in bath salts are pyrovalerone, methylone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and mephedrone. When smoked, injected, snorted, or mixed with food or drink, they act like stimulants in the brain. Like amphetamines, they can produce effects similar to that of several powerful street drugs—including methamphetamines (meth), cocaine and ecstasy—combined. Users have described feelings of increased energy, euphoria, heightened libido, and empathy.

However, the risks far outweigh any perceived benefit. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, bath salts have been linked to an alarming number of ER visits across the country, and poison centers have reported increasing numbers of calls related to these products. In addition to the elevated blood pressure and heart rate often linked to stimulant drugs, bath salts have been shown to cause agitation, increased blood pressure, rapid heart rate, chest pains, hallucinations and paranoia. Mephedrone in particular is associated with a high risk for overdose.

Another concern is suicidal behavior. There have been reports of several suicides linked to MDPV use, even several days after the drug has worn off.

Because these products are relatively new on the streets, there is limited knowledge about their short and long-term consequences. Currently, no tests are available to detect these drugs, so emergency medical personnel must rely on users to self-report whether they have taken them.

Given the significant risks and dangers of bath salts, why have they been able to be sold and purchased legally? It’s all about labeling. Because the product labels state that they are “not for human consumption,” they avoid being subject to drug laws, even though they are clearly intended for that use. These products are widely (and legally) available online, in drug paraphernalia stores and even in many convenience stores under a variety of names, such as “Ivory Wave,” “Purple Wave,” “Red Dove,” “Blue Silk,” “Zoom,” “Bloom,” “Cloud Nine,” “Ocean Snow,” “Lunar Wave,” “Vanilla Sky,” and “White Lightning.”

In October of 2011, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) exercised its emergency scheduling authority to control three of the synthetic stimulants commonly used in bath salts: mephedrone, MDPV, and methylone. This temporary action made possessing and selling these chemicals or products that contain them illegal in the United States, and will remain in effect for at least one year. Further studies will be conducted to determine whether these chemicals should be permanently controlled.
However, this shouldn’t be considered a final solution to the problem. One of the greatest challenges to law enforcement is that drug makers continually create new combinations of chemicals for these substances, so that as soon as one is outlawed, a new version becomes available.

The more parents know about these ever-changing designer drugs, the more they can recognize the signs of use and take action. Scripps Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, located on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, offers free, educational intervention seminars every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Parents and family members can learn about the current drugs of choice, signs and symptoms, and resources available if they suspect their child may be using drugs.

Nancy Knott, M.A., is an interventionist and counselor with Scripps Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center. “To Your Health” is brought to you by the physicians and staff of Scripps. For more information or a physician referral, please call 1-800-SCRIPPS.