Pubdate: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 Source: Wisconsin State Journal (WI) Copyright: 2006 Madison Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/506 Author: Shabina S. Khatri, Detroit Free Press MANY TEENS ARE TURNING TO WEB AS DRUG ENCYCLOPEDIA Over The Past Decade, The Number Of Sites Glorifying Drug Use Has Surged. Four years ago, curiosity about marijuana brought an Idaho teenager named Nick to a popular online drug encyclopedia. Now 18 and in a rehabilitation program, Nick said he became obsessed with the Web site's offerings -- particularly the vaults filled with information about hundreds of mind-altering chemicals, herbs and plants. The site, which the journal Pediatrics reported receives 250,000 clicks daily, also has thousands of posts from users, mostly twentysomethings, about their substance experiences. "I was so fascinated," said Nick, whose last name is not being published because the drug charges he faced were juvenile charges. He added that the information emboldened him to experiment with many substances. "The fear, the taboo of using ecstasy and crack -- you really start to doubt that fear when someone tells you there's a healthier way. I would never have done a lot of the drugs I did if it wasn't for that Web site." An increasing number of teen users are turning to the Web to feed or develop their habits, say counselors, drug abuse prevention experts and those in law enforcement. There has been little research into how the Internet enables teens to find new -- and cheap -- ways to get high, but all 12 of the adolescents in rehabilitation programs questioned for a study published last year said information they found online guided how they experimented with drugs. Experts say it's another danger of unmonitored and unfettered access to the Internet for teens, with the same simple solution -- parents keeping a closer eye on what their kids do online. Over the past decade, the number of Web sites glorifying drug usage, providing step-by-step recipes for homemade highs and pushing products through questionable online storefronts has increased exponentially. And tech-savvy teens, undetected by their less-informed parents, are flocking to these sites, using them to score drugs, swap stories and further their habits. One study found only 6 percent of Web sites selling prescription drugs require prescriptions, making "these drugs as easy to buy over the Internet as candy," said Bo Deitl, chairman of Beau Dietl and Associates, which did the analysis with the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. It's not just access to drugs that's troublesome -- misinformation also plays a role. "To me, that's the bigger danger," said Brian Spitsbergen, director of youth assistance for Growth Works, a Plymouth, Mich.-based agency that helps those with chemical dependency. "You can find Web pages that tell you how to make ... name it, recipes for methamphetamine to hallucinogens to anything else. It's all over the place. But the recipes may be poison. You find a recipe for meth . that may be instant death." To address the problem, the Office of National Drug Control Policy published an open letter to parents last month with tips on monitoring teens' digital activities. "Technology has created an environment for kids where they can really stay under the surface -- right under adults' noses," Spitsbergen said. Now, he added, finding drug dealers can be as easy as logging onto MySpace.com -- and obtaining the drugs as simple as sending a text message. "Anytime you want drugs, it's a call or a click away," said Nick, who used to go through 3,600 minutes monthly on his cell phone. Though keeping up with technology may seem daunting, experts advocate simple strategies for parents to stay abreast of teens' activities. Among them: checking cell phone records, Internet chat buddy lists and Web page view histories. "The job of parents is to know where their kids are whether it's in the real world or the virtual world," said Jennifer DeVallance, a representative from the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "It's a matter of safety." Keeping Kids Safe Computers record a history of recent Web sites viewed, which can be used to detect where your teen has surfed. Generally, you can view this history by clicking on "My Computer" from the desktop; selecting the "C" drive; selecting either "History" or "Windows" and then selecting "Temporary Internet Files." Web Monitoring Tips Limit your teen's time spent online, and put computers in a common area of the house so you can more easily monitor use. Know the people who are listed in your teen's electronic phone book and check the cell phone manual to learn how to review stored pictures, recent calls and text messages. If a strange number appears on the monthly bill, ask about it. Visit your teen's Web site or personal blog. Review your teen's profile, pictures, video and music uploads. Also check out the links that your teen includes on his or her page. Check out the network, as well, and what type of information is on your teen's friends' sites. Remind your teens that the Internet is a public space and anyone, including college admissions offices, potential employers and even predators, can see what they're posting online. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine