I never heard of the dangers of cough syrup until I learned that my neighbor was getting high from it. I found out that cough syrup is not only used to suppress coughs, but some people, including teenagers, take large doses of cough syrup to get high. These “syrup heads,” as they are sometimes called, will drink an entire bottle of cough syrup like Robitussin, which is often called “robo-dosing” or “robo-tripping.” Other times people will swallow many cough suppressant pills sometimes called “skittles.” The fact is that since 2000 there has been a four-fold increase in cough suppressant abuse by teenagers, according to poison control experts. Continue reading
Goin’ Down: Busting the Myths of Oral Sex
“If you have oral sex, are you really having sex?” This is one of the most common and controversial questions about sex. Many people think that if you are having oral sex, you’re “not really having sex.” But, let’s face it, oral sex is having sex. Considered taboo by some and casual by others, oral sex is an issue that most people don’t know a lot about, and are embarrassed to talk about. But, according to a study conducted by the University of Georgia, a whopping 75 percent of teens had or are having oral sex. That’s a huge number of people who are doing something they don’t really know a lot about. That said, let’s talk about oral sex so you can educate yourself, know the risks of oral sex, and then decide if it’s right for you. Continue reading
Night Life: Teens Who Sneak Out of the House
You think you know, but you have no idea. Where are your children? Did they tell you that they went to a supervised sleepover at �Susie�s� house? Are you sure? Do you have �Susie�s� phone number and address? Who�s �Susie�? Or is your child asleep, tucked in tightly, underneath the warm blankets? Well, you think you have the answers to all these questions, while your child is probably jumping face first out of his or her bedroom window. Many of us do it. Parents say �NO, you�re not going to any party!� So, we jump out of the window, while unsuspecting parents are asleep. Or maybe they say, �You�re way too young to start dating, I won�t have it!� So, we get dropped off at a friend�s house, and minutes later our date rolls around the corner, driving like a maniac. It�s a weekend ritual, just as routine as getting up late every morning. Continue reading