Teen Medicine Abuse Persistent, Study Finds

Good news and bad news.

Good news -- drug use of illegal drugs among teens is down.

Bad news -- abuse of medical drugs is way up.

Could this have anything to do with direct-to-consumer TV marketing of pharmaceutica

By Christopher Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 21, 2006; 2:34 PM

Federal officials are concerned that teenagers are abusing prescription medications and over-the-counter cold remedies even as their overall illegal drug use continued a decade-long decline in 2006, according to a government survey released today.

While illegal drug use by teenagers has fallen 23 percent since 2001, their use of prescription narcotics, tranquilizers and other medicines remains at relatively high levels, government investigators said.

What's more, researchers for the first time asked whether teens were using cough or cold medicines to get high and found reason for concern there, too. Such over-the-counter medicines often contain the cough suppressant dextromethorphan, which alters mood and consciousness when consumed in high doses and can cause brain damage or even death, officials said.

About 1 in 14 12th graders, or 7 percent, said they had taken such medicines to get high in the last year. Among eight graders, the figure was 1 in 25, about 4 percent. >> continued

Appalling Statistics

UN condemns sexual exploitation of children in Kenya's coast

Child sex tourism and sexual exploitation of children in Kenya have reached alarming high levels, according to a study conducted by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched in Nairobi Tuesday.

The report indicates that about 15,000 children or 30 percent of 12-18 year old girls in four districts in the Kenyan coast -- Mombasa, Kilifi, Malindi and Kwale -- are engaged in casual sex- for-cash.

The study -- The Extent and Effect of Sex Tourism and Sexual Exploitation of Children on the Kenyan Coast -- shows that Kenyan men are the worst culprits in sexual exploitation of children, making up 38 percent of the clients of children.>> continued

Metro Hall Welcomes Human Rights Celebration

Toronto, 10 December 2006: Youth for Human Rights Canada along with the City of Toronto sponsored a special event marking Human Rights Day in Toronto. The afternoon commemoration held at Metro Hall on Sunday had twenty human rights groups involved including the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology. Singer/song writer and YHRI national spokesperson Sarah Melody hosted the afternoon and former Toronto Argonaut Orlando Bowen along with prominent Toronto human rights activist Charles Roach provided keynote addressses. Montreal's The Sound of Reason provided entertainment with their inspirational human rights lyrics.

Human Rights

A bright and successful future for children has everything to do with ensuring their human rights are respected. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights laid out 30 fundamental human rights. Each of these rights has been portrayed in a video. See them at youthforhumanrights.org.

Gender bias 'increases poverty'

Written By:Muthoni Kariuki/Agencies , Posted: Mon, Dec 11, 2006

Caption: Children of women-headed households eat better food, Unicef says

Inequality at home between men and women leads to poorer health for the children and greater poverty for the family, says a new study.

The UN children's agency, Unicef, found that where women are excluded from family decisions, children are more likely to be under-nourished.

There would be 13m fewer malnourished children in South Asia if women had an equal say in the family, Unicef said.

Unicef surveyed family decision-making in 30 countries around the world.

Their chief finding is that equality between men and women is essential to lowering poverty and improving health, especially of children, in developing countries. >> continued

A World that is Safe for Kids

Christmas is coming and one way to look at it is the magnificence of Jesus as a child.

As a Scientologist I believe a child is not a "new being" but rather someone who has just returned to start a new life in a new body.

L. Ron Hubbard has quite a bit to say on the subject, and how to help a child adjust to the new lifetime he/she has just entered.

Imagine, if you can't recall, starting off in this tiny body that can't even sit up or eat by itself, not to mention not being able to express himself or assert his himself.

And yet just a few days before he/she was an adult man or woman with his own things, his knowledge of everything he'd learned that lifetime and all his friends and family. All of that gone!

The book Child Dianetics is a must-read for any parent or teacher. It contains very effective techniques for helping kids get off on the right foot!

Having your cake and eating it too...

Drug Free Marshals Get the Word Out

Colorado Drug-Free Marshals cheering 'Drug-Free Is The Way To Be!' and having fun at the Lights of December Parade.

Provided by: Susan Gaut

Drug Free Marshals Get the Word Out:

"Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs"

• Anti-drug education campaign launched

The Church of Scientology's Drug Free Marshals marched in the Boulder Lights of December Parade, Saturday December 2nd, advising all onlookers to "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs." The Marshals were greeted with support and cheers as they handed out anti-drug education booklets about a variety of abused drugs.

The Drug Free Marshals program has been a part of the church's drug education and prevention program for over ten years and is geared toward prevention by encouraging children to pledge to live drug-free lives and help others to do the same.

This year, the Church of Scientology launched a drug education program called "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs" to get the facts about the harmful effects of drugs into the hands of people of all ages. The church has published a new series of booklets which address society's most abused drugs including marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, LSD, heroin and ecstasy as well as prescription drugs which are illegally sold on the streets such as painkillers and Ritalin (often referred to as "kiddie cocaine"). Each booklet documents the short and long term effects of the drug, street names, personal stories and the specifics about addiction and why the user becomes more and more hooked.

"Drugs destroy millions of lives every year," said Mike Benetatos, local "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs" Campaign Coordinator. "When a person is armed with the facts about drugs and what drugs do to one's body and mind, they can make an informed decision on drugs. Getting the truth about drugs known is our main mission."

The "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs" drug education series is available to schools and community groups for their use and includes 10 educational booklets and an activities manual to help groups get started. Volunteers working with this program are also available to deliver drug education lectures and help in any way they can.

To learn more about the "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs" program in Colorado, contact Susan Gaut at (303) 789-7668 or Susan_Gaut@yahoo.com