A Dangerous Addiction Among Youth, By Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust

A Dangerous Addiction Among Youth, By Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust

Note: The following column will run this week in the Roslyn News and other Anton Media newspapers.

Despite the economic woes brought on by the pandemic, one type of store is popping up in increasing numbers in neighborhoods all across Long Island: smoke shops, which carry everything from cigarettes and e-cigarettes to pipes and bongs. 

These stores are taking advantage of the growth in popularity of vaping, which involves inhaling and exhaling an aerosol (or vapor) produced by an e-cigarette, vape pen or other smoking device, some of which resemble flash drives or other everyday objects. You may have heard vaping referred to as JUULing, since the brand JUUL has become so ubiquitous. 

Many e-cigs are clearly designed to appeal to young people, with flavors such as strawberry, gummi bear and cotton candy. In 2020, 83% of youth e-cigarette consumers used flavored e-cigarettes. (New York is seeking a ban on the sale of these flavored products, but an appellate court placed a hold on the ban this September.)

Today, there are approximately 3.6 million middle and high schoolers who are regular users of e-cigarettes, and the numbers have been growing. Studies show that from 2017 to 2019, the percentage of teens who said they vaped in the past 12 months doubled: from 7.5% to 16.5% among eighth graders; from 15.8% to 30.7% among 10th graders; and from 18.8% to 35.3% among 12th graders.

Alarming Health Impacts

Although many tweens and teens are sold on the idea that vaping is far less dangerous than smoking regular cigarettes, the research strongly suggests otherwise. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent and young adult brain development. In addition, a variety of toxic chemical additives are often in the mix, including ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs; diacetyl, also damaging to the lungs; and heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead. 

So what is a parent to do? First, let your kids know that e-cigarettes are not safe alternatives to cigarettes. The studies increasingly show that they can cause:

  • Damage to the brain, heart and lungs
  • Cancerous tumor development
  • Preterm deliveries and stillbirths in pregnant women
  • Harmful effects on brain and lung development when use occurs during fetal development or adolescence

When you approach the conversation, instead of lecturing, ask an open-ended question, such as “Have you heard about vaping?” and “Is it popular at school?” Offer honest, science-based information, geared toward your child’s or teen’s age—and start these conversations when your kids are young. 

Make your reasons for not wanting your child to vape clear. Many of them have no idea that e-cigarettes have nicotine and are highly addictive, since marketers have told them it’s safe and “cool” to vape. You may want to rehearse a situation where they might be asked to try vaping, letting them practice saying, “No thanks, I don’t smoke” in a direct, clear fashion.

If your tween or teen has already started vaping, don’t punish or shame them. Explore online programs like “Truth Initiative,” which offers a free smoking cessation program called “This is Quitting,” or call the American Lung Association at 800-LUNGUSA for more resources. 

Finally, be a positive role model and don’t smoke. Your behavior matters far more than you might imagine.

Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust is the Director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s Leeds Place, which operates an Adolescent Outpatient Chemical Dependency Treatment Program. If your child or teen is having problems with vaping, drugs or alcohol, call the Guidance Center at (516) 626-1971 for help.

ADHD

ADHD

ADHD, or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder which often begins in childhood. Symptoms of ADHD can include trouble focusing, impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, frequent daydreaming and fidgeting. ADHD symptoms can last through adulthood, though symptoms related to hyperactivity tend to decrease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 6 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2016. The rate of ADHD diagnoses for boys is twice that of girls.

 

There is no single test that can diagnose ADHD. A diagnosis requires a comprehensive evaluation, which can be performed by a licensed clinician with expertise in ADHD.

 

ADHD can be managed and treated through behavioral treatment, medication or a combination of the two. According to the CDC, about three in four children with ADHD in the United States receive treatment. Of these, almost half received behavioral treatment, and more than half were taking ADHD medication. School support has been strong, with almost 9 out of 10 children with ADHD receiving accommodations. Additionally, many children diagnosed with ADHD also have other disorders, including behavioral/conduct problems, anxiety, depression or autism spectrum disorder.

 

North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center offers comprehensive diagnostic assessments by highly qualified teams of caring psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and mental health counselors with special expertise in diagnosing and treating children. Our Learning to Learn Center offers specialized screening, diagnosis and tutoring for children suspected of having learning and attention deficit problems and developmental disorders. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

 

Related programs and services:

Learning to Learn Center

Diagnostic Services

 

Read more on our blog:

The ABCs of ADHD

 

Sources:

CDC: What is ADHD?

CDC: Data and Statistics About ADHD

Alcohol – Substance Use

Alcohol and Substance Use

Alcohol and substance use have direct connections to mental health, especially for children and teenagers. Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana are the most common substances used by teenagers. Substance use can affect the brain development of children and teenagers, which can have lasting effects into adulthood. Substance use is also associated with risky or unsafe behaviors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the younger someone is when they begin using these substances, the higher the chances are that they will continue to use these substances or become addicted in adulthood.

 

Substance use is more likely among teenagers who have mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression. Additionally, substance use can aggravate the symptoms of these disorders. The Child Mind Institute reports that these substances can temporarily alleviate the symptoms of these disorders since they affect the brain regions involved in the disorders, but it also leads the teenagers to feel even worse without the substances.

 

Drug and alcohol treatment and prevention services are provided for adolescents, young children ages 6-24, and their families at the Guidance Center’s Leeds Place – Serving Young People in Westbury. Substance use services include counseling youths who are alcohol and drug users, children who live in families with a parent who is suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction and youths who have co-occurring chemical dependency and mental health problems. Prevention services are also offered to local school districts. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

 

Related programs and services:

Adolescent Outpatient Chemical Dependency Treatment

 

Read more in our blog:

How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs

Kratom: A Drug Parents Should Know About

How Kids are Affected by the Drug Epidemic

 

Sources:

Child Mind Institute: Mental Health Disorders and Teen Substance Use

CDC: Teen Substance Use & Risks

Anxiety

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders go beyond typical fears and worries that children or teenagers experience while growing up. The five major types of anxiety disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder. Though symptoms vary with each type of anxiety disorder, children who suffer from anxiety tend to experience fear, nervousness, shyness and avoidance.

 

According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly one-third of adolescents ages 13 to 18 years old will experience an anxiety disorder. Rates of anxiety in children and teenagers have been on the rise in recent years, but research has shown that they are not receiving the treatment that they need. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable. The most common treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and SSRI medications, such as prescribed antidepressants.

 

At all three sites of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, mental health services are offered for children from birth through age 24 and their families. These services include comprehensive evaluation, an individually tailored treatment plan that may include any combination of individual, family and group therapy, and, when indicated, medication management from a psychiatrist. All treatment plans require family consent and participation. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

 

Read more in our blog:

Helping Your Children Manage Stress

The Facts About OCD

Soothing Your Anxious Child

 

Sources:

CDC: Anxiety and Depression in Children

HHS: What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?

ADAA: Children and Teens

NIMH: Anxiety Disorder Statistics

Autism

Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a developmental disability that contributes to challenges in socializing, communication and behavior. Children and teenagers with ASD may communicate, interact, behave and learn in different ways than is typical of most children and teenagers. ASD is a diagnostic term used for conditions that were previously diagnosed separately: pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 54 children have been identified with ASD in the United States. ASD is four times more common in boys than it is in girls.

 

Research has indicated that the autism population faces a higher mortality risk than the general population, with drowning among the leading causes of death. Additionally, children with ASD face higher rates of bullying from peers, as well as sexual abuse, compared to the general population.

 

There is no single diagnostic test for ASD. Medical professionals can make a diagnosis based upon behavior. A diagnosis of ASD by the age of two is typically reliable, but some children may not receive a final diagnosis until they are older. Though there is no single cure for ASD, many intervention treatments services have been demonstrated as effective in improving the development of a child diagnosed with ASD. Early intervention is crucial.

 

Families with young children with ASD may benefit from early childhood services at the Marks Family Right from the Start 0-3+ Center (RFTS) in Manhasset. RFTS offers parent education as well as therapeutic and support services for young children. North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center also offers the Grandparent Advocates Supporting Autistic Kids (GASAK) program, a monthly meeting of grandparents to support, inform and advocate for families with autistic children.  For more information about our services for both young children and for teens, please call us at 516-626-1971.

 

Related programs:

Grandparent Advocates Supporting Autistics Kids (GASAK)

 

Read more in our blog:

Autism Awareness

Support for Grandparents

 

Sources:

CDC: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

NAA: Autism & Safety Facts