By: Elizabeth Hashagen

As I began my research for this story- I kept a list of facts I came across that I found surpising or interesting.
I figured what I wouldn’t be able to get into the story I could include in my blog-
Then I took a look at the list I’d accumulated and realized this would beone LONG blog if I tried to get it all in-
So- I’ll just share with you some of what I found out
One of the popular presentors on our Island is Dr. Stephen Dewey. He’s an investigator at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.
He tries to put heroin into perspective for those who attend his forum.
Here is how he explains it– “The brain goes crazy,”
“After heroin ingestion, levels of the pleasure-stimulating neurotransmitter dopamine can rise 3,000 percent in the brain before crashing back to normal. To put that figure into perspective, a youth scoring a high mark on a test is biologically rewarded with a dopamine surge of only 10 to 15 percent” he said.
When friends and family were talking ot me about the series that’s the one fact I kept turning to– 3,000 percent.
I mean think about getting good news– and how you can be happy ( or at least I can be happy ) for days after something good happens– and that surge I’m feeling may be only 15%!
Dr. Dewey also adds that the flood of dopamine is so incredibly pleasurable the user will always try to recapture that first high. That’s why the first time you try it you get hooked.
But you have to keep increasing the dosage– because your brain releases less and less of the neurotransmitter with habitual use and addiction develops.
Teens naturally have higher levels of dopamine than adults, which spurs their experimentation with drugs, he said.
I also found this list if recent trends in teens interesting-

• Teens are turning away from street drugs and using prescription drugs to get high. New users of prescription drugs have caught up with new users of marijuana.

• Next to marijuana, the most common illegal drugs teens are using to get high are prescription medications.

• Teens are abusing prescription drugs because they believe the myth that these drugs provide a medically safe high.

• The majority of teens get prescription drugs easily and for free, often from friends or relatives.

• Girls are more likely than boys to intentionally abuse prescription drugs to get high.

• Pain relievers such as OxyContin and Vicodin are the most commonly abused prescription drugs by teens.

• Adolescents are more likely than young adults to become dependent on prescription medication.

{SOURCE: “Teens and Prescription Drugs: An analysis of recent trends on the emerging drug threat.” Study conducted by Office of National Drug Control Policy. February 2007.}

By: Elizabeth Hashagen

It might not be something you want to picture your kids talking about with their friends– and certainly you don’t want to think that your beautiful child would ever have anything to do with heroin–

But right now the scary reality on Long Island is that — Heroin is here!

I figured it might be a good idea to let you know some slang terms for drugs and some things your kids might be saying–

If you find your child using any of these 10 phrases in a not-so-normal fashion, whether on Facebook or in a fishy-sounding text message, you will know what you’re really reading.

1. Pixie sticks

Normally a little dose of sugar. But this treat is really a way to trick those who see it — Drug users use pixie sticks to carry their drugs in so they can have the drug on them and accessible at any time with little or no notice.

2. Baby

This is slang for a minor heroin habit. Many teens may refer to their boyfriend or girlfriend as baby so don’t be alarmed as soon as you see the word. For this one you’re going to have to look a little deeper. See the context of how the word is being used.

3. Brother, Chick

These are code names for heroin. Now it’s certainly common for kids to use these words to refer to friends. But watch out if your child is sending texts like “do you have any brother, im really needing some.” or “how much is your chick, I heard you were good.” If the usage seems wrong– then there may be a problem.

4. Night time

Slang for Heroin withdrawal. Another simple phrase, again it’s all about context. This phrase may signal your child is about to buy heroin and may even point to the source of the drug.

5. Sleep walker

That’s a code for–a heroin addict. If you know your child doesn’t sleep walk or seems to be talking to a friend about someone who does- you might want to strike up a serious conversation.

6. “speed ball”

A mixture of heroin and cocaine or heroin and speed.

7. Bag

Container for drugs; a package of drugs, usually marijuana or heroin; a person’s favorite drug. If your child is buying drugs, you may find bags with phrases on them such as PRADA, 9LIVES, AMERICAN GANGSTER, BLACK LABEL, GOOD LIFE etc. ( Take a look at what the containers look like in our series– they a very similar to wax paper– because heroin sticks to plastic– so you’re not looking for the same type of container that cocaine or pot might be bagged in)

8. Cook

To mix heroin with water and dissolve it, preparing it for injection. Now this is tricky because there are many opinions about what heroin smells like when it is cooked. Some say it has a faint smell of vinegar and is not easily detectable but others say it smells like a skunk and is very detectable.

9. Nod

The effect that heroin has on someone. Heroin users often can be seen “nodding out” with eyes closed and their head on their chest. A teen that is always sleepy could just be tired, but it may be time for a talk to find out more.

10. Give Wings

To inject someone with heroin or teach them how to inject themselves. The energy drink Red Bull is also said to “give you wings”. So no need to panic, but if you see or hear that phrase– just know there are multiple meanings out there.

Mo Men

2 friends of mine–Henry & Phil–are growing a mustache to raise awareness. And they’re not alone.

When I first saw Henry’s facial hair, I made some silly comment, and he countered with some facts on Movember (no that’s not a typo).

It’s the move to encourage men to grow moustaches for the month of November and for women to like it (at least for one month).

Mo is slang for moustache.

The campaign is out there to raise the public’s awareness of prostate and testicular cancer. It all started in 2003 in Australia. Now the event has become a worldwide phenomenon and has raised $47 million to support education and research, including support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Men can register to join the campaign at www.Movember.com

You might have missed the start day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t join in on the Movement

HOW IT WORKS:

CREATE a new look by grooming your moustache

MOTIVATE your friends and family to donate and support your growing efforts

CELEBRATE your journey at the moustache themed end of Movember Gala Parté

After a month of pink (breast cancer awareness), a little facial hair doesn’t seem too much to ask. Prostate cancer will be diagnosed in one of six men during their lifetime. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer afflicting men ages 18 to 35.

By Elizabeth Hashagen

Sometimes my friends or even my husband have been known to make fun of me when it’s picture taking time.
But having taken quite a few shots- I’ve learned a few tricks that help you look a bit better, and noticed what makes you look not so nice.
I’ve shared my “secrets” with my friends.. and now when we take a group picture.. we all do it.. (hence the comments from the peanut gallery of husbands )
But after years of now perfecting our picture techniques– we’re pretty happy with the way the shots come out!
So I thought hey- why not share the info I’ve acquried…and I found some actual experts who weigh in on the topic too…

My 1st rule is to ask the person taking the picture to hold the camera above eye level. Of course this works best with someone you know not the random person sitting next to you at dinner.. but if you ask the waitor then he is standing while you’re sitting and –ta da!
If the cameras pointing down you won’t hate your chin or neck ( so much anyway) And I find that your face looks thinner- you know the camera adds weight so why not fight back right? If you look at the pros.. you’ll notice the photographer is standing on a laddeer during the photo shoots.
Look at the ladies from Desperate House Wives at the 2005 Emmy’s. They are thin and fabulous but this angle from below does a few of them no justice…because there belly is the focus of the shot

You’ve no doubt seen this one over and over again on the red carpet– create space between your body and your arm! ( Look at Eva Longoria in the above photo, she is doing it here) If you put your hand on your waist you seem more shapely. It keeps your upper arm flab from flattening out kind of like thighs do when you sit on a couch. If you saw our story with Christie Brinkley today you notice she did this the whole time with a cowboy hat.

Another secret if you’re standing turn partially sideways to the camera. (You can see Long Island native Natalie Portman posing sideways, note the arm is out) Try putting one foot in front of the other. Point your toe to the camera and place your weight on your back foot. You might need to practice this a bit in private first– especially when you’re wearing heels— you don’t want to look awkward. Christie rocked this one for the camera in the Hamptons too..

I also try to get everyone to laugh right before- A real giggle smile looks so much better than saying ” cheeese” with your teeth clenched and the side of your cheek spasming as you try to hold this frozen smile.

And last but not least- don’t slouch- or huddle together for the group shot- with everyone slightly bending
For some reason we bend down when there’s no need.
Try pulling shoulders back, chest forward and gently tuck in your belly.

So some of you may be laughing ( like my hubby) and some of you may already be planning for your next shot- Hope it a keeper