Health & Fitness
Teens Using Nutmeg to Get High… Really?
Adolescent Counseling Services, a member of Project Safety Net, highlights a new trend among some teens. Nutmeg is being smoked, swallowed and sniffed by teens.
Project Safety Net is a coalition of youth-serving organizations and individuals from all over the city. Adolescent Counseling Services has been a partner with Project Safety Net since its founding in 2009 and a partner with the community for years.
The mission of ACS is to empower teens and their families in our community to realize their emotional and social potential through counseling and preventive education. ACS partners with PAUSD to bring on campus counseling services to our secondary schools. As part of their work they provide information and education to the community in the form of articles, events and blogs.
An article by Connie Mayer, LMFT, Director of Outpatient Counseling Services in their latest E-News highlights a new trend among some teens.
Find out what's happening in Palo Altowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Teens Using Nutmeg to Get High
Today's household contains many common products that teens can experiment with to receive a quick, easy, and inexpensive "high". Every day at ACS I hear stories of the newest ways teens and adults are attempting to change their state of consciousness. The invention of YouTube and Facebook can show teens how to obtain these products and use them.
Find out what's happening in Palo Altowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
One of the latest to come to our attention at ACS is the cooking spice nutmeg. Nutmeg or Nutmeg oil is derived from plants belonging to the genus Meristic. Nutmeg is the seed of the plant. This spice is smoked, swallowed and sniffed. The side effects of Nutmeg can be very unpleasant and highly toxic if taken in large quantities leading to poisoning, hospitalization or even death in some rare cases. Some of the side effects are nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations, hallucinations, body aches, and depression.
It's difficult for parents to know what teens are doing when we aren't there to supervise them but there are warning signs that parents can watch for in their teens
- Drop in grades across the board
- Sudden change in social group
- Lack of interest in activities
- Isolation in room
- Hygiene changes
- Changes in sleeping, eating and other daily routines
If your teen displays several of these behaviors or red flags it would be helpful to talk to a professional about his or her mental health.
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Check out this upcoming event:
Teenage Substance Use
November 10, 2011
7pm - 8:30pm
PAC Cafeteria at Menlo-Atherton High School
You’ll find ACS’s Teen Talk blog (acsteens.wordpress.com) to be a wealth of information and advice.
We are so happy to have ACS as a partner.
If you have questions or want to get involved in the Project Safety Net or the Palo Alto Developmental Assets Initiative, contact us at devassetspaloalto@gmail.com.
