Fast Facts

Teen Suicide...

For young people between the ages of 15-24 suicide is the third leading cause of death. It is the fourth leading cause of death for children between the ages of 10-14. The risk of suicide increases dramatically when kids and teens have access to firearms at home, and nearly 60% of all suicides in the United States are committed with a gun.There has been a dramatic increase in teen suicides in recent years (rates have tripled since 1970). This may be caused by increased feelings of stress, pressure to succeed in school, self-doubt, changing family dynamics, pressure to fit in socially, moving to a new community, increased sexual feelings to include sexual identity issues, etc.

Warning Signs...

  • Change in eating and sleeping habits
  • Withdrawal from friends, family and favorite activities
  • Violent actions, rebellious behavior, and running away
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Unusual neglect of personal hygiene and appearance
  • Marked personality change
  • Persistant boredom, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in the quality of schoolwork
  • Frequent complaints about physical symptoms, often relating to emotions, such as stomach aches, headaches, fatigue, etc...
  • Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
  • Not tolerating praise or rewards.

    A teen who is thinking about commit suicide may also:

  • Complain of being "rotten inside"
  • Give verbal hints with statements such as: "I won't be a problem for you much longer" "nothing matters" "it's no use" or "I won't see you again"
  • Put his or her affairs in order--for example, give away personal possessions, clean his/ her room, throw away important belongings etc...
  • Become suddenly cheerful after a period of depression or sadness

Factors that Increase the Risk...

  • the presence of psychological disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and/or alcohol/substance abuse (some 95% of people who die by suicide have a psychological disorder at the time of the suicide)
  • feelings of hopelessness and helplessness; a family history of suicide
  • a lack of or weak support system; dealing with homosexuality in an family or community or school that is hostile or unsupportive; having suffered sexual or physical abuse.

What to Do...

Talk about it. Most of the time, people who are considering suicide are willing to discuss it if someone asks them out of concern and care. Don't be reluctant to ask the question in fear of "planting a seed." This is a myth. By talking about it you may make him/her feel less alone and more cared about and help to see that there are other solutions besides death.

Listen without being judgemental. If there is immediate danger stay with the child. Always tell someone who can help. If it is a friend, tell a responsible adult such as parents, the SAFE Coordinator or counselor at your school, an administrator or teacher or the School Resource Officer (SRO). But, be sure to tell someone immediately. Even if sworn to secrecy you must tell. If this is your child that is thinking about suicide, get help immediately. Your child's doctor can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Your local mental health association or school SAFE Coordinator or counselor can also provide referrals. In an emergency, you can call 911 or Lifeline of Central Florida at 407.425.2624.

Marijuana...

  • THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main active ingedient
  • THC is absorbed into the lungs, through the bloodstream and into the brain
  • THC alters the brain and impairs judgement
  • TCH effects pleasure, memory, thought, concentration and more
  • frequent use can lead to depression, anxiety, personality changes and increased heart rate
  • marijuana contains 50-70% more cancer causing carcinogens than tobacco

Dating Violence...

  • In Orange County, 11.8% of students reported being victims.
  • 40% of teenage girls (14-17) know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.
  • one in two rape victims are under 18 years old
  • one in six rape victims is under 12 years old
  • 96% of teens report emotional and psychological abuse in their dating relationships.

Know the early warning signs that you're in a dating situation or relationship that could have the potential to become violent.

  • Your boyfriend or girlfriend pressures you, soon after you begin dating, to make the relationship very serious, or presses you to have sex.
  • Your boyfriend or girlfriend becomes extremely jealous and possessive, and thinks these destructive displays of emotion are signs of love.
  • Your boyfriend or girlfriend tries to control you and to forcefully make all decisions where the two of you are concerned, refusing to take your views or desires seriously. He/she may also try to keep you from spending time with close friends or family.
  • Your boyfriend or girlfriend verbally and emotionally abuses you by doing such things as yelling at you, swearing at you, manipulating you, spreading false and degrading rumors about you, and trying to make you feel guilty.
  • Your boyfriend or girlfriend drinks too much or uses drugs and then later blames the alcohol and drugs for his/her behavior.
  • Your boyfriend or girlfriend threatens physical violence.
  • Your boyfriend or girlfriend has abused a previous boyfriend or girlfriend or accepts and defends the use of violence by others.

If you're in a dating relationship that in any way feels uncomfortable, awkward, tense or even frightening, trust your feelings and get out of it. It could become, or may already be, abusive.

Always remember: You have every right to say no. No boyfriend or girlfriend has the right to tell you what you can or should do, what you can or should wear, or what kind of friends you should have.

Methamphetamine is a powerful and addictive stimulant...

commonly known as speed, meth, chalk, Christina and Tina. When smoked it is often referred to as ice,crystal, crank and glass. It is easily made with inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients with a chemical structure similar to amphetamine, but with more pronounced effects on the central nervous system. These effects can last from 6 to 8 hours. The user experiences an initial rush that is often followed by high agitation which can lead to violent behavior.

Deaths caused by methamphetamine use most often involve the combined use of other substances including alcohol. Short-term effects can include: agitation, decreased appetite, eupohoria, and/or hyperthermia. Long-term effects can include: paranoia, hallucinations, mood disturbances, stroke, weight loss or anorexia. Signs that a person may be using methamphetamines are: agitation, excited speech, loss of appetite, increased physical activity, dilated pupils, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, episodes of sudden violent behavior, intense paranoia, hallucinations, insomnia, compulsive behavior such as grooming and cleaning.

 

Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among teens...

Here are some fast facts about alcohol:

  • mixing alcohol with medications or other drugs is extremely dangerous and can lead to accidental death;
  • one 120z. beer has about the same amount of alcohol as one shot of liquor, a glass of wine or a wine cooler;
  • one drink can make you fail a breath test.

A recent survey of students found that:

  • 52% of eighth graders (and 80% of high-school seniors) have used alcohol at some time;
  • 25% of eighth graders (and 62% of high-school seniors) have been drunk.1

Teens who drink regularly also often put themselves at risk in other ways.

Over 90% of the teens who drink regularly also do other things that can put them or those around them at risk for harm.2 Such behaviors include using illegal drugs, fighting, carrying weapons, and having unsafe sex.

One national survey found that of the teens who reported drinking regularly (at least once a week) in the past month:

  • 49% had used marijuana in the last month,
  • 21% used other illegal drugs (such as cocaine) in the last month,
  • 50% had been in a physical fight in the past year,
  • 16% had carried a weapon to school in the past month,
  • 9% had attempted suicide in the past year, and
  • 27% had engaged in risky sex.3

The younger teens are when they begin to drink, the greater the risk for addiction.
People who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to be dependent on alcohol as adults than those who wait until age 21. More than 40% of those who start drinking at age 14 or younger become dependent on alcohol as adults.4

Learn to recognize the signs of a drinking problem in a friend (or yourself).
If a friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:

  • getting drunk on a regular basis
  • lying about how much alcohol he or she is using or hiding alcohol,
  • believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun
  • having frequent hangovers
  • feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal
  • having "blackouts" -- forgetting what he or she did while drinking
  • having problems at school or getting in trouble with the law.
  • giving up activities he or she used to do, such as playing sports or doing homework, and shunning friends who don't drink.

If you recognize these signs in a friend or yourself, professional help may be necessary. Don't try to handle this on your own. Talk with an adult, such as your school SAFE Coordinator or school counselor, your parents or a trusted family member, a teacher, your clergy, or a professional at a mental health center. Your SAFE Coordinator can make appropriate referrals for help. You may also call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686 for information and referrals

1. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future Study, 2000 Data From In-School Surveys of 8th, 10th, and 12th Grade Students.

2. Lindberg, D.L., Boggess, S., Williams, S. (2000). Multiple Threats: The Co-Occurrence of Teen Health Risk Behaviors, Table 4. The Urban Institute.

3. Lindberg, D.L., Boggess, S., Williams, S. (2000). Multiple Threats: The Co-Occurrence of Teen Health Risk Behaviors, Table 5. The Urban Institute.

4. Grant, B.F. (1998). The impact of a family history of alcoholism on the relationship between age of onset of alcohol use and DSM-IV alcohol dependence: Results from the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey, Alcohol Health and Research World, 22.

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Rick Frederick