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Sandra Yi reportingIsabel Burke/Director, The Health Network: "IF YOUR KID IS AN EDGY KIND OF KID OR A KID WHO WILL TRY SOMETHING, YOU REALLY BETTER WORRY."
When it comes to teens and drug use, experts say they've discovered a disturbing new trend. Those experts say the kids using so called club drugs are younger and fearless. Club drugs were one of the topics today at this year's Utah gang conference.
Here's a sobering fact: Experts say if your kid is doing drugs, chances are he or she isn't doing them at school or at a party, but right in your home. Experts call it a nationwide phenomenon. More teens using so-called 'club drugs' - and using them earlier. Statistics show the average age of kids trying ecstacy now is only 13 and a half years old, compared to 17 or 18 only 8 years ago.
Isabel Burk/Director, The Health Network: "THEY'RE YOUNGER, THEY'RE NOT SCARED OF ANYTHING. THEY'RE MIXING AND MATCHING NOT JUST DRUGS, BUT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES."
Experts say club drugs like ecstacy appeal to teens who are looking for excitement and risks. They say the pill form and bright colors also make the drug seem harmless.
Lt. Andy Burton/Commander, Metro Gang Unit: "KIDS HERE ARE PROBABLY MORE APT TO TAKE A PILL VERSUS SMOKE A JOINT OR INJECT SOMETHING."
Cops in Utah say they have busted fewer parties with drugs this winter than they did last year at the same time. They hope it means drug use is going down, but they wonder if more teens are just getting better at hiding the drugs.
Lt. Andy Burton/Commander, Metro Gant Unit: "HOWEVER, IT'S STILL OUT THERE AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO SELL THIS FOR BUSINESS AND PERPETRATE IT, THEY'RE GOING TO PARTIES AND TRYING TO MAKE THE SALES OF THE DRUGS AND WE DO STILL FIND IT ON OCCASSION."
Experts say what's worse, is kids put themselves at risk when they use.
Isabel Burk/Director, The Health Network: "THEY COULD BE RAPED, THEY COULD BE ROBBED, THEY COULD BE ASSAULTED. THEY EVEN COULD BE KIDNAPPED AND PARENTS DONT' THINK ABOUT THAT, THAT DRUGS MAKE YOUR KIDS LESS LIKELY TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES."
Burk says parents need to get involved. She says - they should talk to their kids about drugs when they're as young as 5.
Isabel Burk/Director, The Health Network: "I WANT PARENTS TO KNOW THEY SHOULD TALK TO THEIR KIDS ABOUT DRUGS BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T, THAT MESSAGE IS THE KIDS MUST THINK IT'S OK, BECAUSE MOM AND DAD AREN'T TALKING ABOUT IT."¤0 ]] C1.5 G 0 [[
Experts say meth is the fastest growing drug among teens.
They say in a few years, that drug could be ecstacy.
