Today’s Young Ones May Exhibit Negative Effects Of Pandemic Years From Now

In coming years, the pandemic will be long forgotten, yet, it may have a profoundly negative effect on many children who are experiencing anxiety caused by the pandemic today. Fear is not something that many children know how to deal with. In fact, most people have a difficult time expressing, understanding and eliminating the emotional feelings of fear in the physical body. This is one reason parents and those in health care must be hyper-vigilant to the signs that the pandemic may be having subtle emotional effects on the mental health of children.

Psychological Effects Of Pandemic Are Likely To Be Seen In Some Of Today’s Children Long After The Pandemic Has Been Forgotten

Even during normal times, adolescence is when most mental illnesses begin to show up. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 1 in 6 children in the U.S. aged 6 -17 experience a mental health disorder each year. Adolescents don’t understand their depression or anxiety, which makes it compelling to reach out for whatever makes them feel better. It’s safe to say that the fear of catching a deadly virus, which has made some children afraid to be around other people can be deeply anxiety provoking.

Mental Illness Often Contributes To Drug Use

Mental illness is very often a contributing factor to the tendency toward drug use. NAMI confirms that “substance use disorders, defined as the repeated misuse of alcohol and/or drugs, often occur simultaneously in individuals with mental illness, usually to cope with overwhelming symptoms.”  NAMI further notes that 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions

To further complicate matters, very often the things that make them feel better are in the medicine and liquor cabinets in their own homes.

Be Alert For Common Symptoms Of Drug Use And Mental Illness

The fact is that substance use disorders and mental illness often go hand-in-hand. The combination of the two illnesses has its own term, according to NAMI. It is called dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorders. And either disorder can develop first. Some signs to be alert to in your child include, but are not limited to the following:

• Withdrawal from friends and family

• Sudden changes in behavior

• Engaging in risky behaviors

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Early Prevention And Treatment May Help Prevent Later Opioid Use

One of the most important things you can do as parents if you notice any of the signs that your child may be using drugs or developing mental illness is to seek treatment right away. The reason being, according to a recent study published at JAMAnetwork.com, “childhood tobacco use and chronic depression may be associated with impaired reward system functioning, which may increase young adults’ vulnerability to opioid-associated euphoria. Preventing and treating early substance use and childhood mental illness may help prevent later opioid use.” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2773983?guestAccessKey=b3324492-a593-4805-98c6-269a2c30e7b0&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jamapsyc&utm_term=4691924617&utm_campaign=partnership&linkId=115201871

Set An Example For Your Children

As parents, the best way to teach our children is by example. For instance, instead of teaching your children that there’s a pill for every pain, explore the use of other ways to manage pain. Chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, mindfulness and other modalities will steer children away from the belief that drugs are the answer to every problem. Once the brain’s reward system is broken it may be too late. I bring up the treatment of pain because it is only a matter of time until your child has a sports injury, car accident, tooth pulled or fall, and the ER or urgent care may prescribe an opioid for pain. With the underlying mental health issues described in this report, the last thing we should introduce is any opioid medication.

Early detection of potential issues is important. Especially in light of the past year and a half of heightened precautions and not knowing how much longer we will be living in a guarded state. Children are super vulnerable and sensitive. Let’s do everything we can to protect our children from suffering needlessly in the future as a result of conditions that exist today. Be vigilant and diligent in your children’s behavior.

Children Are At Risk Of Being As Emotionally Damaged As Soldiers Returning From War

By Dr. John Rosa

You may think the title of this piece sounds ludicrous. Let me explain. Children between the ages of 6 and 17 years of age are in a state of constant neurological development. They can easily be negatively impacted by severe trauma or repetitive micro traumas. If you take into consideration the events of 2020 alone, without having a clue what is going to unfold this year, you may quickly understand.

For starters, the year began with an invisible monster in the form of the COVID-19 virus. Following that, the civil unrest and political upheaval that occurred was deeply disturbing. The west coast of the U.S. was on fire and the gulf coast was underwater. These events were enough to wreak havoc on the most solid adult, let alone children who are not equipped to understand or make sense of the world around them.

These are the kinds of unnerving events that often lead some young children into tobacco use and depressive disorders. According to an article in Clinical Pain Advisor, “Tobacco use and depression in childhood are key risk factors associated with young adult opioid use.” These behaviors lead to impaired reward system functioning and according to research, “may increase young adults’ vulnerability to opioid-associated euphoria.” https://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/home/topics/opioid-addiction/impaired-reward-system-functioning-may-increase-the-vulnerability-of-young-adults-to-opioid-associated-euphoria/

According to the study cited in the Clinical Pain Advisor article, “Opioid mortality of young adults has skyrocketed. Although prescription practices have changed, no effective solution for the current epidemic of promising preventive measures against future opioid crises is in sight.” The studies findings suggest “strong opportunities for early prevention and intervention including in primary care settings.” https://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/home/topics/opioid-addiction/impaired-reward-system-functioning-may-increase-the-vulnerability-of-young-adults-to-opioid-associated-euphoria/

With these facts in mind, it is imperative that the primary care system pays laser-focused attention to what could turn out to be a lost generation. A generation of children whose behavior is reflective of having been in a war-torn environment results in post-traumatic stress disorder and is nothing short of devastating. Let’s do everything we can to help our children.

How To Get Away With Mass Serial Murder And Make Billions

By Dr. John Rosa

I am aware there is a popular show that streams on Netflix called How To Get Away With Murder, in which a successful attorney teaches a university-level law course. Well, how about a show about a family that plays a leading role in the deaths of roughly 150 people every day?

The death toll began in the late 1990s and by 2017, the annual death toll directly linked to this family was a mere 70,237.

The family I’m talking about is the real-life Sackler family, the Purdue Pharma makers and marketers of the opioid oxycontin. Facing 2,600 different lawsuits, this family got off free and clear and are still allowed to make pills that supposedly help those addicted to oxycontin while making even more money in the process.

So, how to do it…First of all, make a highly addictive pill. Next, misdirect the entire medical community, be very clear when telling them that your pills are not addictive. Then blame the people who are addicted to your product. Pronounce that all of the people dying from opioids “were already addicts and that this wouldn’t happen to people (patients) who were not already addicted to drugs.” And, very importantly direct all of the blame to the people in your very own “marketing department.” Claim ignorance. Deny vehemently that you had any idea what they were doing.

Here’s the most important step, when you know you’re close to getting caught – 2,600 lawsuits are a fairly clear indication that someone’s coming after you — declare bankruptcy and move all of your company’s money overseas and into the accounts of individual family members.

Oh, and one more thing, you must maintain an absolutely remorseless demeanor. If you’d rather not wait for the show to be made and come to Netflix, you can read about the real life story here: https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/11/04/purdue-pharma-pleads-guilty.aspx

Chiropractic Treatment Plays Important Role In Suicide Prevention  

By Dr. John Rosa

Suicide prevention is just one more among a long list of benefits chiropractic care provides. This news has been recently revealed based on research conducted among U.S. Army service members returning from deployment. The motivation for the study was based on the fact that suicide among our returned service men and women has been going up steadily. For instance, between 2001 and 2014, studies show that “U.S. adult civilian suicides increased 23%, while Veteran suicides increased 32%.”

It is a well-known fact that many people returning from military deployment experience physical and mental health issues, which can include chronic pain, post-treatment alcohol use disorder, drug addiction, depression, thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or any combination. The results of the new study were published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine and concludes that “receiving treatment that is not drug-based can reduce the likelihood of such outcomes in veterans with chronic pain.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31659663/

The authors of the study compared 142,539 U.S. Army service members with chronic pain who received nonpharmacological treatments (NPT) with those who did not in order to see if there was a reduction in long-term pain-related adverse outcomes. Almost 25% of the participants received chiropractic care, while physical therapy was conducted on 32% of the participants.

According to the findings, United States Army service members who received nondrug therapy had a “significantly lower” risk of:

  • alcohol or drug use disorders
  • accidental poisoning with opioids, related narcotics, barbiturates, or sedatives
  • thoughts of suicide
  • self-inflicted injuries, including suicide attempts

Whether you are a veteran of any branch of the U.S. military or not, chiropractic care offers the same life-saving benefits to anyone experiencing chronic pain. So, please, keep your chiropractor’s telephone number handy as you never know when it can save a life.

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Reprints A Letter To Parents From The Director Of The National Institute On Drug Abuse

addiction

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker, writes about the need to continuously talk to children about the opioid epidemic and to educate them about the dangers in order to prevent more children from becoming another death statistic.

ROCKVILLE, MD. September 30, 2019: Dr. John Rosa, dynamic speaker, national opioid crises expert, and co-author of The Recipe for Success with Jack Canfield, posted a new article on his website entitled, “A Plea To Parents To Educate Children About Opioids,” in which Dr. Rosa talks about the overwhelming pressures children face today and the temptation to “numb out.”

Dr. Rosa states, “When I was a teenager, my parents warned me about the dangers of drinking alcohol before I was 21.” He continues, “They warned me about using marijuana and other drugs. The greatest concern of parents back then was that their kid would become an alcoholic or, through the use of marijuana, would eventually become a heroin addict. Heroin was the deadliest drug and has been until the late 1990’s with the introduction of Oxycontin.”

According to Dr. Rosa, “I constantly appeal to parents to safeguard their children by talking to them about the opioid epidemic and educating them as thoroughly as possible.” He points out that, “Children today are faced with greater stresses than at any other time in history. Social pressures, peer pressure, educational expectations, sexual identity crises and more bombard today’s children. The confusion can be overwhelming if not addressed and the temptation to numb out can be powerful.”

“The proliferation of illegally made drugs – laced with deadly fentanyl – that look like the real deal are flooding the streets,” says Dr. Rosa. He adds, “Children of every age are taking these drugs and overdosing on a daily basis. I am making every effort I can to help parents help their children resist temptation to experiment with any kind of drug.”

“To that end,” writes Dr. Rosa, “I am posting a letter from the Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse directed to parents posted on their website. Sometimes,” he says, “one voice is not enough. We have to hear warnings from multiple authorities before we take them to heart. Hopefully, you can prevent your children from becoming one of the 150 people who die every day from opioids.”

Read the entire article at https://drjohnrosa.com/another-plea-to-parents-to-educate-children-about-opioids/

About Dr. John P. Rosa

Dr. Rosa is the Owner/manager of 14 health clinics in the Baltimore/Washington DC metro areas concentrating on musculoskeletal injuries of acute, subacute and chronic nature. He oversees the Integrative Medicine practice group which includes general medicine, Chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and behavioral medicine that sees over 60,000 patient visits per year.

Active in sports medicine with consulting/treating college, professional and Olympic athletes. Creator of 24/7 RnR (Relief and aiding Recovery) an FDA approved analgesic cream. Founder of Accessible Wellness Solutions – an onsite corporate wellness program offering consulting, lectures and clinic management.

Leader in Chiropractic

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years and serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board.

Opioid Crisis Expert:

  • White House Surrogate/Consultant
  • Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
  • State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
  • Corporate and professional organization consultant
  • Currently forming the Opioid Abuse Prevention Institute

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

  • Board service to Maryland University of Integrative Health
  • Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
  • Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and
  • behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
  • Expert/Speaker – educating primary care, urgent care and hospital medical staff on the
  • Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain patients

Another Plea To Parents To Educate Children About Opioids

By Dr. John Rosa

opioids

When I was a teenager, my parents warned me about the dangers of drinking alcohol before I was 21.

They warned me about using marijuana and other drugs. The greatest concern of parents back then was that their kid would become an alcoholic or, through the use of marijuana, would eventually become a heroin addict. Heroin was the deadliest drug and has been until the late 1990’s with the introduction of Oxycontin.

I constantly appeal to parents to safeguard their children by talking to them about the opioid epidemic and educating them as thoroughly as possible. Children today are faced with greater stress than at any other time in history. Social pressures, peer pressure, educational expectations, sexual identity crises and more bombard today’s children. The confusion can be overwhelming if not addressed and the temptation to numb out can be powerful.

Illegal Drugs Are Running Rampant

The proliferation of illegally made drugs – laced with deadly fentanyl – that look like the real deal are flooding the streets. Children of every age are taking these drugs and overdosing on a daily basis. I am making every effort I can to help parents help their children resist the temptation to experiment with any kind of drug.

To that end, I am posting a letter from the Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse directed to parents posted on their website. Sometimes, one voice is not enough. We have to hear warnings from multiple authorities before we take them to heart. Hopefully, you can prevent your children from becoming one of the 150 people who die every day from opioids.

Dear Parents:

You have probably heard a lot about the opioid crisis in the news lately. But what are opioids, and what do they have to do with you as the parent of a teenager?

If your child has had a sports injury, dental work, or surgery, it is possible that he or she was prescribed a pain reliever that contained an opioid. Opioids can be very effective at reducing severe pain in the short term, such as after surgery, but they can be very addictive, especially if they are misused.

Children and adolescents are at greater risk than adults of becoming addicted when exposed to drugs. Particularly when used in treating children or adolescents, opioids should only be taken to manage severe pain, when no other pain medicine works, and for the shortest time necessary—and most importantly, only while under the careful watch of a trained health care provider.

In addition to opioids prescribed for treating pain, there are powerful opioids sold on the street and used solely to get high, including heroin and illicit fentanyl. These are also highly addictive. All opioids—particularly when misused to get high, when combined with other drugs like alcohol or tranquilizers, or when used for pain without proper medical supervision—can result in deadly overdoses.

While opioid misuse in teens has been going down, the rate of opioid misuse increases significantly after the age of 18, so it is critical to talk with teens early and frequently to protect them from experimenting with opioids as they transition into adulthood. Talking to your kids about drugs may not be easy, but it is important.

Here at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), we developed this guide to help parents talk with their kids. We also have a companion book, Opioid Facts for Teens, that you can share. Sometimes, just beginning the conversation is the hardest part. I hope these booklets can help.

Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/opioids-facts-parents-need-to-know/letter-to-parents