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Man Charged With Manslaughter for Teen Girl’s Heroin Overdose Death

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Last month, a 14-year-old girl overdosed on heroin and died a few days later. It was her first time using the drug, according to the Alaska Native News, and now one 26-year-old man named Sean Warner who may have played a part in helping the young girl may be facing charges.

Currently, Warner has been charged with evidence tampering, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and giving a controlled substance to a minor for the young girl’s heroin overdose and may also be charged with manslaughter as well. He is also facing charges for theft from an earlier, unrelated case.

According to witnesses, Warner picked up the 14-year-old girl and brought her to his house with the intention that they all get high on heroin. One of the witnesses said that he tried to talk the teen out of trying the drug, explaining to her how dangerous it could be and how devastating addiction is.

Witnesses also described how Warner tried to inject the teen in his bathroom multiple times without success and ultimately took her into his bedroom where he had her lay on the bed. He used a tourniquet but because her arm was so small, he still had a hard time and it took many attempts to get the heroin into her arm.

Unfortunately, the teen was found unconscious and laying in her own vomit the following morning. Evidence suggests that a text was sent to one of the girl’s friends asking him to come and get the girl, but that friend was unable to do so because he was at work and unable to leave. That friend advised that calling 911 was the best plan, but Warner and the other witnesses did not do this. Instead, Warner allegedly gave her a tab of Suboxone, a drug designed to help people avoid withdrawal symptoms during heroin detox. This didn’t help and the teen ended up going into convulsions – it wasn’t until later that day, in the afternoon, that Warner called 911 for emergency medical assistance for the girl.

At the hospital, it was found that the girl had more than just heroin in her system – she also had methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine in her bloodstream as well. The heroin overdose, however, likely caused the brain and heart damage she experienced, and she was placed on a respirator as a result where she spent six days without regaining consciousness.

If you would like information about how to help your teen avoid a drug overdose or stop abusing drugs and alcohol, contact us at Newport Academy today.

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3 Risk Factors for Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Saturday, January 21st, 2012

One of the biggest questions that parents of teenagers ask about drugs and alcohol is how they can prevent their teens from developing an addiction in the first place. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are a number of factors that can put a teenager at a higher risk of developing a problem with drugs and alcohol – but there are also correlating protective factors for each of these that parents and others in the teen’s life can implement to protect the child.

Risk Factors for Teen Drug Abuse

There are a number of different factors that can lead a teenager to abuse drugs and alcohol, ultimately developing a lifelong drug dependence. However, what constitutes a risk factor for one child may not endanger another child. Everyone is unique, at different stages of their lives, and their reaction to various issues at a given time based upon other experiences and personality traits will be the ultimate determinant when it comes to the development of drug and alcohol addiction. According to NIH, some risk factors include:

Early aggressive behavior. This risk factor is usually seen in early childhood and is an individual rather than an environmental issue.
Little parental supervision. When parents aren’t around or available to provide children with support during their early years, they often turn to other influences for guidance – those influences aren’t always the most positive.
Peer drug and alcohol abuse. If kids have friends who abuse drugs and alcohol, it is more likely that they will try these substances and use them regularly.
Availability of drugs. If kids and teens are offered drugs or find that they are readily accessible, they are more likely to abuse them.
Low income. Living in poverty or in very low-income circumstances is statistically shown to be a risk factor, but this is usually a factor only when other risk factors are present as well.

Protective Factors

Parents who see one or more risk factors for drug abuse and addiction in the lives of their teen need not panic. For each one, there are protective factors that can be implemented to help teens avoid the pitfalls of drug dependence. For example, early childhood aggression can be addressed by parental and teacher support. Parents can make more of an effort to be active in their children’s lives even if they have to work and make sure that their kids are not left to raise themselves. Knowing the friends your teenager is hanging out with can help ensure that they are choosing positive peers. Helping them to learn how to handle the inevitable peer and environmental pressures as they arise will give them the tools they need to make positive choices on their own.

If your teen is already experimenting with drug and alcohol abuse, you can help them turn it around with early intervention and treatment. Contact us at Newport Academy to learn more about your options in care.

Posted in Kids and Drugs, Teen Drug Use | No Comments »

Teen Steroid Abuse: What Parents Should Know, Part II

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

In our last post, we explored the basics of steroid abuse including what the drugs are, how they’re used, and their effects on teens who use them regularly. Here is some more information about anabolic steroids and teen abuse of the substances that parents may find valuable:

Serious Consequences of Abuse

In addition to the physical changes that occur due to chronic steroid abuse, addiction and even death can result from untreated steroid use. Steroids can cause extreme stress to major organs, including the heart, and can directly or indirectly cause a fatal heart attack or stroke. Cardiovascular disease, too, becomes a risk and a weakened immune system can mean that teens who abuse the drug open themselves up to a number of different ailments.

Those who inject the drug are at increased for other diseases as well, including hepatitis C and HIV, when they share needles with others. These issues are both life threatening, as well.

Steroid Addiction

Addiction is defined as the continued use of a substance despite the negative consequences of use. In addition to health problems caused by the ongoing abuse of steroids, the drug can also cause problems at home, with friends, at work or school, and create or exacerbate social or mental health issues among teens. Parents may see their teens struggle financially, lose positive relationships with peers, become more combative and rebellious at home, lose their jobs, get kicked off sports teams for abuse of steroids, and lose ground at school.

Teenagers who continue to abuse steroids despite all the problems that occur as a result may have an issue with addiction, and when that happens, it’s time for them to enroll in an addiction treatment program that will help them put down the drug for good.

Teen Treatment

Steroid addiction treatment must offer three important things if it is going to be effective for teenagers. These include:

Psychological addiction treatment. Treating dependence means medical care that addresses the physical effects of steroid abuse as well as psychotherapeutic treatment to address the self-esteem and social issues that may have compelled your teen to the self-destructive behavior in the first place.
Positive nutrition and sports training. Teen athletes who abuse steroids primarily for their athletic uses will benefit from learning how to build muscle and their athletic ability naturally.
Teen-specific care. Rehabilitation that speaks specifically to the needs of teenagers (as opposed to adults) will best help your teen to learn coping skills for the issues he or she faces on a daily basis.

Contact us at Newport Academy today to learn more about your options for enrolling your teen in steroid abuse and addiction treatment. Call now.

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