I Speak of Dreams

Myth: Are Teens Actively Faking ADHD -- Often-- To Get Meds?

I ran across this fear-mongering discussion. The author appears to be a therapy provider on the East Coast of the U.S.:

A student at our school has been having a little trouble [and said].. that a friend heard about adult ADHD on TV. His friend told him that he could get special treatment, like untimed tests and rescheduling of exams if he was diagnosed with ADHD, along with free meds.

My question is do you think a kid can actually fake it well enough to get diagnosed by a doctor? Do you know of any cases where kids have faked ADHD? I would have to think or hope that the tests are thorough enough to weed out fakers.

I expect to see the number of abusers sky rocket especially in the teenage set. There are about 5 to 7 million kids diagnosed with ADD. That number is sure to go up because of information on the internet that encourages and teaches abuse (see below)? It just scares me to think that kids can find information like this on the internet.

So I went looking for the questionnaire.  There's exactly one citation, an 2006 article from Abram Magomedov at eXiledOnline, a somewhat fringe publication.

Santa Clara County Parents, You Should Attend "Alcohol + Vomiting = Call 911."

From the Santa Clara Unified School District

Free Community Event in San Jose.

Presentation will be given in Spanish and English

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010, 6–8pm

Mayfair Community Center 2039 Kammerer Ave. San Jose, CA 95116 (map)

Contact Linda Goldston at 408-920-5862.

Teens and drinking program

Debbie Allen will be speaking at the Mayfair Community Center, 2039 Kammerer Ave., in San Jose. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. There is no charge. For more information, call 408-292-7292.

In light of the recent loss in Gilroy of Sarah Botill in December 2009, Voices United is bringing Debbie Allen, Redding, CA, to speak about the loss of her daughter to alcohol poisoning (binge drinking) in 2008.

From the San Jose Mercury News:

Parent who lost daughter to speak in San Jose about teen drinking

By Linda Goldston

An expert on the perils of teen drinking — a parent who learned the hard way after her 17-year-old daughter died of alcohol poisoning — will speak Tuesday evening in San Jose about the need to educate young people and their parents about danger signs that can lead to death.

After her daughter died in December 2008, Debbie Allen of Redding vowed to dedicate her life to trying to prevent the death of more teenagers from alcohol — especially if there were clear danger signs and no one knew what to do about them.

Her speech is called "Alcohol + Vomiting = 911."

In a December interview with the Mercury News, Allen said most teenagers think vomiting is a normal thing when you drink.

"They don't see it as a big deal, an alarm," she said. "If they're vomiting and fall unconscious, the only way to save them is to get medical attention."

Her daughter, Shelby, died after drinking with two friends late at night. She started throwing up in the night and was unconscious by morning. She died shortly after a call to 911 around 9 a.m.

Some of the circumstances are similar to the death of 15-year-old Sarah Botill in Gilroy in December. Sarah and two friends were drinking at a sleepover to celebrate the birthday of one of them. She, too, started throwing up and went in and out of consciousness. She, too, died shortly after 911 was called around 9 a.m.

But unlike Shelby Allen's case, an autopsy was unable to determine thecause of Sarah's death. A coroner's report said there may have been multiple factors involved in her death, including alcohol, a heart murmur, and the possible aspiration of vomit or water.

"Everyone needs to know the ones who die are just the tip of the iceberg," said Gabrielle Antolovich, executive director of Voices United, a nonprofit group that provides information and resources on substance use and addiction in Silicon Valley.

"How many times has a friend been comatose but you're afraid to call for help?" she said. "We're all still hiding these experiences."

Another speaker will share a family story of a teenager drinking where the woman's mother intervened in time and her sister lived.

After the death of her daughter, Allen formed the Shelby Lyn Allen Alcohol Poisoning Foundation and speaks to groups around the state.

"When you're not educated about how to recognize the signs and you're scared about getting into trouble and you're under the influence, you're afraid to take action," Antolovich said.

From the 2005 blog post "Preventing Binge Drinking in High School", in which the video Tell Me Something I Don't Know on binge drinking and its dangers, was introduced. The video is available from the fraternity Phi Gamma Delta: http://www.phigam.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=291&srcid=281&chid=63

Phi Gamma Delta is pleased to announce the release of an updated version of Tell Me Something I Don’t Know! Released July 1, 2008, the feedback of our audience shaped the update of this award-winning film. While the update did not drastically change contents of the video, it provides a contemporary feel to better relate to today’s students. The new Tell Me Something I Don’t Know also features updated statistics, a new host, and allows viewers to hear from Scott Krueger’s parents.

Since its original release in 2003, educators and students and found the video to be powerful tool in opening dialogue about hazing, alcohol use and abuse and other risky behaviors high school and college students encounter. Phi Gamma Delta has distributed over 5,000 copies of this educational video, and we conservatively estimate that it has reached over 100,000 college and high school students and parents.

Shelby's Rules -- Another Teen Alcohol Death

From 2003 to 2008 I posted often on teen deaths from alcohol poisoning, including a year-end roundup.

The subject didn't fade from importance -- but my available time diminished.

Shelby Lynn Allen, aged 17, died December 20 2008 of alcohol poisoning.  Her parents have started Shelby's Rules.

For [April 2, 2009] Thursday night's series finale of ER, producer John Wells based one storyline on the alcohol poisoning death of his 17-year-old niece Shelby Lynn Allen. "Having this inspired by Shelby's story is going to teach a lot of young people and parents the dangers," said her mother Debbie. "The reality is if you're 5'6" and 107 pounds and you go past 7 or 8 shots, you're in the death zone."

Underage Alcohol Deaths, 2008

In 2007, at least thirty-one young people  died of alcohol toxicity (alcohol poisoning, alcohol overdose).

"There's no place  that's actually keeping data on alcohol deaths"--Thomas Kunstman MD.

In an article called Magnitude of alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages 18–24: changes from 1998 to 2001, by Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter M, Wechsler H. in Annual Review of Public Health. 2005, 26:259-279, the authors used statistical methods:

Estimated number of nontraffic injury deaths of all youth that are alcohol related:
1998         2001 
  991         1151

Estimated number of nontraffic injury deaths of college students that are alcohol related:
1998         2001 
  327           368

Alcohol Overdose Deaths on Campus or Those Under Age
[decedent's name with link], [age], [DoD], [university] [BAC]

The following list is generated by news reports listing cause of death as alcohol related.  I am sure there are more.

1. Brian W. Threet, 20, St. Cloud State, January 5, 2008,  BAC unknown
2. Chaz Lightner, 17,John Marshall High School (W. VA), February 10, 2008, BAC 0.374
3. Jesse Drews , 21, March 24, (WI), March 24, 2008, BAC 0.38
4. John Gunter, 17, White County, Georgia, April 25, 2008, BAC unknown
5. William Kiel Bobbitt, 19, California University of Pennsylvania, May 1, 2008, BAC unknown
6. Andrew I. Anderson, 16, Manako MN,  May 30 2008, BAC unknown

In all cases, my deepest condolences to family and friends.

A young man in Minnesota:

After he watched an ambulance crew carry away a girl he knew earlier this year, he said, he wished he'd had another message dunned into him. If someone you know is breathing irregularly or passes out -- whether the reason appears to be too much drinking, or anything else -- call 911. Don't delay. Don't worry about getting him or her -- or yourself -- into trouble. Don't assume that "sleeping it off" is all that the situation requires.

Middlebury College to Host National GORDIEday Anti-Hazing Events - MarketWatch

Link: Middlebury College to Host National GORDIEday Anti-Hazing Events - MarketWatch.

Middlebury College will host two days of anti-hazing campus events, FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, on October 22 and 23, 2008, in conjunction with National GORDIEday and National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. Presented by The Gordie Foundation, this year's inaugural National GORDIEday will help raise awareness about the dangers of binge drinking and hazing and commemorate the lives of more than 1,700 students who die each year as a result of alcohol-related incidents.

On Wednesday, October 22, at 7:30 p.m. in Dana Auditorium, Middlebury College will host "Hazing: The Fallout," a talk by Travis Apgar, hazing victim and associate dean of students at Cornell University. Apgar travels the country sharing his personal experience with hazing and is active in the movement for change on college campuses. On Thursday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Dana Auditorium, Middlebury will host a free public screening of the documentary film, "HAZE." The film examines the issues surrounding the college drinking culture in America, including the death of college freshman Gordie Bailey who died of alcohol poisoning following a fraternity initiation ceremony at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2004. "HAZE" is presented by The Gordie Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing young people with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, binge drinking, peer pressure and hazing. Produced by Watt Imagination! and Leslie and Michael Lanahan, parents of Gordie Bailey and founders of The Gordie Foundation, "HAZE" includes a special introduction by Robin Wright Penn, actress and national spokesperson for The Gordie Foundation. During the two days of events at Middlebury College, The Gordie Foundation will work with staff and students to register new members for the Middlebury College Circle of Trust Chapter. The Circle of Trust is a peer-to-peer advocacy program created by the foundation to educate about alcohol and hazing, spread Gordie's story, and help promote healthy norms on campus. There are currently more than 100 Circle of Trust chapters across the country. Middlebury College was selected by The Gordie Foundation as an official participant in National GORDIEday. Thousands of students on college and university campuses will participate in National GORDIEday on October 22 to spread awareness of the dangers of alcohol misuse, binge drinking, peer pressure, and hazing. For more information on the National GORDIEday free public programs at Middlebury College, please contact Jyoti Daniere, at 802-443-5580 or visit the Web site at www.middlebury.edu. For more information on The Gordie Foundation, please call 214-823-0235 or visit the Web site at www.gordie.org.

Julia Gonzalez, 16, Alcohol Poisoning

Julia Gonzalez was found dead in a Turlock (CA) park the morning of December 28, 2008.  Her friends denied seeing her drink, but the autopsy revealed a blood-alcohol level incompatible with life.

As always, my condolences to her family and friends.

Andrew I. Anderson, 16, Alcohol-Related Death

May 30, 2008 , Mr. Anderson went out for a night of drinking on with a group of friends, including his two older brothers.  Mr. Anderson fell off a log, and was later found unresponsive.

As always, my condolences to his family and friends.

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2007

William Kiel Bobbitt, 19, Alcohol Poisoning

Mr. Bobbitt, a sophomore at California University of Pennsylvania, was found unresponsive in a friend's apartment on May 1, 2008.

As always, my condolences to his family and friends.

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2007

John Gunter, 17, Alcohol Poisoning

On April 25, 2008, Mr. Gunter and a friend, Billy Moon, told their parents that they were going to an ice-skating rink.  Instead, they went to a home in White County, Georgia. 

Police were summoned to the home early on April 26.  Mr. Gunter was transported to the hospital, while Mr. Moon was released to his parents. At the hospital, Mr. Gunter was put into a medically-induced coma.  He died of the consequences of alcohol poisoning on Thursday, May 1, 2008.

An adult, William Maxton Midgett, 22, has been charged with providing alcohol to minors.  My deep condolences to Mr. Gunter's family and friends.

In 2007, at least thirty-one young people  died of alcohol toxicity (alcohol poisoning, alcohol overdose).

"There's no place  that's actually keeping data on alcohol deaths"--Thomas Kunstman MD.

In an article called Magnitude of alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages 18–24: changes from 1998 to 2001, by Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter M, Wechsler H. in Annual Review of Public Health. 2005, 26:259-279, the authors used statistical methods:

Estimated number of nontraffic injury deaths of all youth that are alcohol related:
1998         2001 
  991         1151

Estimated number of nontraffic injury deaths of college students that are alcohol related:
1998         2001 
  327           368

Kassi Leatherman, 19, Saved from Death by Alcohol Poisoning. But Wait--Her Mother Bought The Booze

Kassie's mother,        Karen Simpson Leatherman, is accused of supplying her daughter's party with 40 six-backs of beer and 5 "bottles of vodka". 

Ms. Leatherman was found in front of her parent's home, near death from alcohol poisoning.  Fortunately, she survived.  There were over forty other underaged teens at the party.

       Karen Simpson Leatherman, 47, was charged with 15 counts of providing        alcohol to minors.