Young drug users

Another serious concern is that young drug users may not be able to distinguish Rohypnol from other potentially harmful drugs. The DEA has received reports of benzodiazepines other than Rohypnol being passed off by drug dealers as Rohypnol pills. One such substitute Rivotril, a benzodiazepine sold in Mexico for the treatment of epilepsy. In the United States, this drug is known as Klonopin (clonazepam). 

Hall CH, Cassidy J. Young drug users adopt bad trip anesthetic. Independent 1992 2 1. 

Specific projects targeting new young drug users are found in all Member States. As these users often experience health, educational, criminal and social problems, many different services are involved and cooperation among them is vital. Early detection of patterns of new drug use and new risk groups is also essential. 

In families where the drug user is an older adolescent or young adult, there is frequently over-involvement with the user and opposite sex parent. This is particularly true of the male user and his mother. 

Early onset of drug abuse is associated with early sexual activity, crime, and educational failure. Young amphetamine users risk exploitation by adults and are more likely to become involved in criminal or violent behavior and prostitution—having to resort to sex for survival. Consequently, they are also more likely to become infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases and by tuberculosis or other bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Chronic amphetamine abusers are also more at risk for mental and emotional disorders including anxiety, phobias, and depression. They are at higher risk of suicide. 

Many personality theories have been examined by researchers in relation to teen marijuana use. In one study, to categorize the personality differences between adolescent drug users and non-users, researchers created a scale of conventionality-unconventionality. In one study, the basic personality traits of young adolescents were categorized before their use of any drugs. Based on their personality traits, the adolescents were put into one of two groups unconventional and conventional. Predictions were then made on who would use drugs (unconventional personality) and who would not (conventional personality). 

Intravenous administration of pure heroin did not cause a leukoencephalopathy in a patient in whom inhalation had caused it (22), and toxicity in these cases may have been due to the heating of the heroin. This might have implications for young heroin users who, because of the known increased risk of HIV infection, prefer to chase (smoke) the drug, rather than to inject it intravenously. 

Martyres RF, Clode D, Burns JM. Seeking drugs or seeking help Escalating doctor shopping by young heroin users before fatal overdose. Med J Aust 2004 130(5) 211 t. 

Intravenous (IV) drug users may inject cocaine or methamphetamine, but the majority are heroin addicts. They may be young or old,... 

Risk behaviours that may transmit infection are of concern. High-risk groups include young injectors not exposed to earlier education campaigns women, who tend to share injecting equipment more than men heroin injectors who also use cocaine and imprisoned drug users. 

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