Children · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Internet Good/Bad · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

What Every Parent Needs To Know About Only Fans!!!!!

Only Fans has some celebrity pages but there is more hardcore pornography on the site than regular content.


I’m sure you’ve heard the news about kids being expelled from school because the parents have an Only Fans sticker on their vehicle, the sticker is so big it covers the entire back window. One woman not only had the sticker but was advertising her page. 


These parents are advertising a porn site at school and they know their kid will be expelled from school. How would you feel if your child was exposed to a porn site at school? I bet you would blow a stack!


The schools have told parents with the sticker to park on the street but they refuse. The school needs to call Social Services to visit the parents, if they determine that the kid is in an unhealthy environment they will take custody of the kid. The school needs to take photos of the license plate and the sticker to show Social Services. No telling what a visit from Child Services will find.


I don’t play around when it comes to kids, I go for the throat.


The kids are innocent. Can you imagine the stress, anger, and mental health of the kids? I want to know how many kids have committed suicide after being expelled. To kids, their world has crashed down on them. That’s my homework for today. 


I can’t imagine a parent more interested in making money instead of the student’s education and the stress it causes. Today alone I’ve read two stories about kids being expelled for what their parents are doing.


What is wrong here?


One kid was expelled because he was looking up people on Only Fans on a school computer. In this case, the kid made a very bad decision and knew better. The school said they would reconsider having him back but not right now. That kid should be kicked out. In this case, it was a private Christian school with strict rules and the parents signed a document saying they would comply with the rules, which includes the student’s behavior. 


They will go as far as showing up to pick up their kid, the parents are warned and the next day come back with the Only Fans stickers still on there and will continue to come back and their kid gets expelled from school. What is wrong with this picture? What kind of example are they teaching their kids.


I think it’s time to punish the parents, not the kids. There are many options like banning them from entering the school campus, having off-duty police at the entrance of the campus who will keep them from entering, a restraining order, and going to the police to report pornography and advertising to underage kids. I would also look to see if they can be charged for trespassing. When the police hear pornography and kids they will be very interested. I would also look to see if the parent can be charged for trespassing.


I would also call Child Services so the parents clearly understand they could lose custody if they continue. Harsh? Hell Yes! 


That’s what it is going to take.  We can’t let our kids be expelled from school because their parents are self-centered. The kid’s education and mental health will suffer. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPud8KhQqZU


The information in the video is on YouTube. I have not vetted the video as accurate information but that should not stop you from watching, it’s eye-opening. I had no idea who they were, I’ve seen the stickers but never went to their website until yesterday. 

Even though the site says over 18, there are many ways kids are getting membership, including using their parent’s credit card or fake documents.


When I went to the site, on the first page it showed people having sex, it was hardcore pornography. They get paid based on how many people visit their page and it costs to look at their site, every time. The same goes for any page you look at. Some go as far as offering a membership to their site for a monthly fee. 


I would not want my kid to be exposed to pornography until they leave home and they can make their own decisions. If they are old enough they already know about porn from their friends. 

Parents who will not take the Only Fans sticker off the car or park off campus, are selfish and don’t care if their kid gets kicked out of school. What kind of logic is that? I

A letter needs to be sent to all parents saying if your vehicle has an Only Fans sticker you must park off the school campus and park on the street. The parents already know but use stronger language and tell them that if continue there are serious consequences. No exceptions. Many schools have this problem and need to punish the parent, not the kid. 


I don’t know what can be done but I want to find out more. The link is to a story about a kid who committed suicide because other students were showing him photos of his mother. 

My cognitive impairment is worse, today, if something doesn’t flow or half of a sentence is missing, be gentle with me. 

Melinda


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Celebrate Life · Children · Daily Writing Prompt · Fun · Memories

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite cartoon?

Choosing one is a difficult task because there were so many great cartoons when I was little. The one that sticks with my is Popeye, eating his spinch for strenght and declaring “I am what I am”. My memory of every episode doesn’t come to mind but Popeye had a positive attitude and always pitched in to make things right.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Celebrate Life · Children · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Mental Health

Book Review for Sometimes by Joann Howeth

I want to thank Trigger Publishing Editor Andrea Marchiano for sharing Sometimes by Joann Howeth. I have enjoyed and learned so much from children’s books. Parents today have a choice of what tools they use to raise their children. There are no children’s books like the ones from Trigger, you must check out their complete selection of children’s and teen’s books. 

These are great books for Grandparents to have around so they can reinforce the way you’re trying to help your child. 

Blurb

Sometimes, life can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, we cling to things that we should let go of. And sometimes, those who are closest to us are the ones who hurt us the most. Despite what others may tell us, during these times, the best thing we can do is talk.

In this honest and poignant story, Joann Howeth reminds us of what can happen behind closed doors and, in doing so, encourages kids to tell their own stories to ensure they get the support they need. A must-have for every library, classroom, and therapist’s office, this book will reassure struggling children that they are not alone and help them find a safe and healthy outlet for their troubles.

My Thoughts

This is the most serious children’s book I’ve read and think all children need to read this book because it shows them that sometimes you have to tell your secrets to someone you can trust. This book will help children struggling with divorce, lack of money, or other struggles that go on behind closed doors. One very important piece of information is missing, it’s her name. This goes along with her secret. 

She has many secrets that she keeps to herself and the pressure it puts on her is heavy. Her Dad is gone and her mother is in a bad place, it could be from mental health issues or she just can’t make ends meet. Often times when she goes to the refrigerator there is no milk, or when she wants to wash her hair there is no shampoo and the house is stacked full and running over including the moldy dishes. 

She is not allowed to participate in school activities or go to barbecues and is isolated from friends because she doesn’t want anyone to know her secrets.  

She feels so alone and embarrassed and her mother has said no one can come into their house. She has no friends except the neighbor who is kind to her. Her room is filled with items her mother has collected and it crowds out her sleeping space, sometimes she sleeps in a chair or will sit on the stoop.

Her neighbor has a good idea of what is going on and she offers her a string cheese, an apple, and a hug on the way home from school. One day she realized her neighbor knew what was going on and asked her not to tell. Her trusted friend, Mrs. McGeorger said sometimes you have to share with someone. 

This is happening today much more than we know it and we can’t judge or blame the children. I had many secrets growing up, I was abused and my step-father was an alcoholic. I didn’t want any friends to come to my house for fear of getting a glimpse of what was truly happening. I didn’t trust anyone, that was a heavy burden for a child to carry around every day. 

This book is for parents, grandparents, therapists, and schools, all children need exposure to what can happen behind closed doors, it may help a child come forward or at least make them less judgemental. I love this book, it was hard to swallow but I could relate so clearly and know there are plenty of children that have secrets. 

Trigger Publishing

TriggerHub.org is the first mental health organization of its kind. We are bringing mental health recovery and balance to millions of people worldwide through the power of our books.

We have built a first-class resource of curated books produced and published in-house to create a unique collection of mental health recovery titles unrivaled in quality and selection. We work with experts, psychologists, doctors, and coaches to produce our books, but we also work with real people looking to share their stories to reach out to others and provide hope, understanding, and compassion. These brave authors also aim to raise awareness of mental health’s “human” face and its impact on everyday lives. 

Melinda

Looking for the Light

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Children · Communicating · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Helping Your Adolescent Build Self-Confidence

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

Self-confidence is a can-do attitude that empowers determination and effort. 

For the adolescent, confidencecan often be hard to come by. 

During childhood, the girl or boy may have felt relatively self-assured in the smaller, simpler, and sheltered world of home and family. But with the onset of adolescence (around ages 9 to 13), developmental insecurity begins. Now the teenager separates from childhood and parents to start the daunting coming-of-age passage through the larger world toward young adult independence – to young womanhood or young manhood. 

Growing up keeps introducing more changes and challenges in the teenager’s path, creating fresh cause for self-doubt. “I can’t keep up!” “I won’t fit in!” “I’ll never learn!” “How will I get it done?” Parents may not always appreciate how, when youthful confidence is lacking, adolescence requires acts of courage to proceed. “Some days just showing up at school can feel scary to do!”

Coping with lack of confidence

How to help a young person cope with lack of confidence? By way of example, consider the common case of social shyness in middle school that can keep a young person more alone than she or he would like to be. 

The child who had playmates in elementary school can become more socially intimidated in the push and shove of middle school when physical self-consciousness from puberty and social competition for belonging and fitting in can make making friends harder to do. As young people vie for standing, there can also be more social cruelty – teasing, rumoring, bullyingexcluding, and ganging up – to assert and defend social place. 

As I was once told on lonely eighth-grader authority: “With all the meanness going around, middle school can be a good time not to have a lot of friends.” At the same time, she had a fervent desire to have a more socially satisfying high school experience. But how to accomplish this change when lack of confidence from shyness was holding her back? 

I suggested that like all feelings, shyness can be very a good informant about one’s unhappy state, but it can also be a very bad advisor about how to relieve it. For example: “I’m not confident mixing with people, so I’ll feel better if I just keep to myself.” Following this emotional advice only makes shyness worse. 

While it’s true that feelings can motivate actions; it’s also true that actions can alter feelings. So the prescription for the shy middle school student lacking social confidence was to put on an act. “Pretend to be more outgoing, and you’ll build confidence as you increasingly practice behaving that way.” 

Empowering confidence

Worth parents listening for and affirming are adolescent statements of confidence. These express a can-do attitude and they come in many forms, a few of which are stated below. 

“I can earn money.”

“I can make friends.”

“I can lift my spirits.”

“I can perform well.”

“I can finish what I start.”

“I can compete to do my best.”

“I can sustain important effort.” 

 “I can solve problems that arise.”

“I can speak up when I have need.”

“I can make myself do what needs doing.”

“I can keep agreements to myself and others.” 

“I can work with people to help get things done.”

One job of parents is to encourage practices that enable their adolescents to make these and other kinds of self-affirming statements. 

Confidence matters. It can inspire determination, empower effort, and support a sense of effectiveness: “I’m going to give it a shot.” Lack of confidence can reduce motivation, discourage effort, and lower self-esteem: “There’s no point in trying.” 

Within the family, parents need to keep a tease-free, sarcasm-free, embarrassment-free home. Why? Because such belittling, like criticism, can injure confidence at a vulnerable age when believing in oneself becomes harder to do. So, no put-downs allowed.

Caution

All this said, supporting confidence in adolescents is not enough. Teaching adolescents how to direct it must also be done. After all, while human confidence can create much good, it can also inflict a great deal of harm. As history unhappily instructs, people who are very confident that they are right can commit a lot of wrong. So, by instruction and example, imparting ethical and responsible conduct matters even more. 

Melinda

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Carl Pickhardt Ph.D. is a psychologist in private counseling and public lecturing practice in Austin, Texas. His latest book is WHO STOLE MY CHILD? Parenting through four stages of adolescence.

Online:Website: Carl Pickhardt Ph.D.

Celebrate Life · Children · Daily Writing Prompt · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?

It isn’t so much of changing my mind as it is changing a mindset. Most girls are raised to believe they will grow up and be a mommy just like theirs with a family and that’s not reality. I wasn’t pushed hard growing up about having babies, it was an unsaid given and when I got married there was no pressure from my family on when we were going to start a family. Unlike some of my friends.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

10 years later I was unmarried, without children and diagnosed with Cervical Cancer, because Ovarian Cancer ran on both sides of my family, a total hysterectomy was recommended, and that’s what I did. We have to make decisions based on what is right for us, our health, our life, not others or other’s expectations of us or women.

Children are great, they are a blessing and a gift of God but not every women wants or can have children and their lives are just as fulfilling.

Melinda

Loooking for the Light

Children · Communicating · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Mental Health

Researchers: Parents can help their children to face anxiety

Behavioral science expert gives some ways to help your child beat separation anxiety

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – According to the National Institutes of Health, the numbers of kids and adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions have been steadily on the rise. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches the child coping skills, and medication may help. But for some kids and their families, there is little relief. Now, researchers are studying a new method that helps parents help their children.

Bedtime for some families can become a struggle. But when the goodnight routine for Nicole Murphy’s son began to stretch for up to three hours, she knew she needed help with his separation anxiety.

“His little mind was always racing nonstop. So, it was kind of hard for him to shut that off, I think,” Nicole explained.

Eli Lebowitz, Ph.D., Psychologist, Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center, and his colleagues, developed a method of training parents to support anxious children. It’s called SPACE, or supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions. Parents go through training to help their child face anxiety. Lebowitz says the first step is to show support and not downplay what their child is feeling.

“I get it. This is really hard, but I know you can handle it,” shared Dr. Lebowitz.

Lebowitz said parents also learn to help their children by not accommodating them. For example, a parent who would limit visitors for a child who gets anxious around strangers, or speaks for a child who gets nervous speaking, learns not to take those steps. In a study of 124 kids and their parents, the Yale researchers examined whether SPACE intervention was effective in treating children’s anxiety.

“Even though the children never met directly with the therapist and all the work was done through the parents, we found that SPACE was just as effective as CBT in treating childhood anxiety disorders,” stated Dr. Lebowitz.

The Murphy’s used the techniques learned through SPACE to coach their son through bedtime. Within a few weeks, he was falling asleep in 30 minutes.

“For us, it was like life-changing, honestly,” smiled Nicolle.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Children · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Depression Awareness Month

This awareness month is critical for all ages, even the youngest of children can feel depression and even though you may think they should blow it off, it’s not that easy and you can alienate them from talking to you again. Today life is so hard on kids, from an early age they are judged for the way they look, and who their friends are, for any reason because there are so many who don’t know who to communicate with and are haters. Kids also mimic their parents, if your child is having problems, look at your own behavior.

Young girls are fed to believe that these so-called influencers are real perfect-looking people who are pumping the greatest products they have to have. It never crosses their mind that the person is not an influencer, they are made up to look like the girls want to be and they are selling a product they make money on. They don’t get it or don’t want to. They are bullied for being a certain weight or not looking like someone else’s unrealistic standards.

Mix in real life as they get older and a deeper depression may present itself, it could be short-term term or it could be from unresolved issues, one you may not even know about. The key is to get your children the help they need at every step. As they age, professional help may be the answer. Don’t let stigma keep your child from getting the help they need.

As for adults, life can get messy, people can hurt you deeply, someone you trusted can betray you and family can hurt the worst. Some people may be more predisposed to depression whereas others may be situational driven. Adults have their own stigma and don’t seek out help, some men don’t think they need help and some just don’t know where to turn because the answer is not their parents. This is where a therapist comes in, therapy can be short-term just to get over a hump or more long-term because you have many buried issues that need to be addressed.

October is Depression Education and Awareness Month | Newsroom ...

October is recognized as Depression Awareness Month each year. The purpose is to increase understanding, decrease stereotypes, and help educate on how depression and other mental health issues impact people.

Awareness months give people affected by a specific condition a chance to share their stories. The goal is to help increase the overall understanding of depression or other conditions and help overcome stereotypes.

Depression is a common mental health concern in America and throughout the world. Far more than just “feeling sad,” depression negatively impacts how a person feels, thinks, and acts. It can cause disruption to school, work, and personal interests.

Misconceptions and misunderstandings of depression contribute to continuing stigmas about people living with the condition, the reasons it occurs, and their willingness to seek care.

In a 2018 study, researchers conducted a survey to assess the public’s knowledge of depression and the severity of the stigma surrounding it. Key findings included:

  • 30% reported believing a “weak personality” causes depression
  • 58.9% reported believing that pharmaceutical interventions or medications are not an effective treatment
  • over 70% reported understanding the importance of rest and that a person may appear happier than they actually are when living with depression

Depression can wear you out at the exact time you need all of your strength to fight. Trying to cope is extremely tiring — and it’s often difficult to know when others are suffering. That’s why, during October, we observe National Depression Education & Awareness Month. This important holiday helps teach us about the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for depression. It also lets all of us know that seeking help — either from a counselor, a trusted friend, or your community — is a sign of hope and strength.

Signs of Depression to look for

  1. Feeling sad, hopeless, or empty.
  2. Losing interest in activities that you used to enjoy.
  3. Changes in appetite, weight loss, or weight gain.
  4. Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much.
  5. Feeling tired and lacking energy.
  6. Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things.
  7. Feeling irritable or restless.
  8. Thoughts of death or suicide.
  9. Withdrawing from social activities and isolating themselves from others.
  10. Difficulty performing daily activities and taking care of themselves.
  11. Feeling guilty or worthless.
  12. Changes in behavior, such as increased substance use or reckless behavior.
  13. Unexplained physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches.

This is not an exhaustive list but it’s a good start to start looking for when you or your child it not themselves. It’s sometimes hard to see depression in yourself and you need someone you trust to give you feedback and it can be hard to hear. Work to have an open mind.

Melinda

References:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/depression-awareness-month

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Children · Chronic Illness · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Mental Health

Managing Fibromyalgia In Children

Welcome to Remedy, a blog by U.S. Pain Foundation. Remedy aims to provide people with the support they need to thrive despite chronic pain. It features the information about promising treatments, tips and strategies for self-management, resources for coping with the emotional and social effects of pain, unique perspectives from patients, clinicians, and caregivers–and much more. To submit an article idea, email contact@uspainfoundation.org.

If your child feels tired and achy, you may not worry initially. After all, there’s nothing urgent about what seems to be mild, general discomfort. However, if your child is constantly in pain, exhausted, having trouble sleeping, and experiencing intense moods, he/she may have fibromyalgia.

This condition is fairly common in adults, but parents and clinicians may overlook the possibility of juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome — that is, fibromyalgia in children.

JUVENILE FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by pain and fatigue. According to experts, children will often describe this pain as “stiffness, tightness, tenderness, burning or aching.” This pain can last for months and is often accompanied by other symptoms that affect a child’s overall well-being, energy level, and emotional health, including:

  • Tender spots on muscles
  • Difficulty sleeping and fatigue
  • Aches, including stomachaches and headaches
  • Lack of focus or memory
  • Anxiety and depression

If your child is experiencing these symptoms, you should see a doctor. There’s not one test to confirm it, so he/she will go through a range of tests to rule out other conditions.

Unfortunately, there is no one “cure” for fibromyalgia, which can be frustrating for patients, especially children. If left untreated, symptoms can lead to issues at school or making friends. Many parents describe this as a “vicious cycle” where symptoms continue to feed the condition.

Experts still aren’t sure what causes fibromyalgia or how it develops in the body. Some believe that mixed-up pain signals in the brain cause greater pain chemicals and/or overactive pain receptors. Others think it might be triggered, in part, by an emotional event like an illness, injury or psychological stress. But even if the cause involves emotions, the pain is still real.

HOW CHILDREN CAN COPE WITH FIBROMYALGIA

It’s important to create a support team and get your child’s primary care doctor, pain specialist, psychologist, physical therapist, and teachers on board. The more people are aware of your child’s condition, the more they can help him/her cope with symptoms at home and school. You may also want to look for pain support groups near you, for both your child and you as a parent.

Your doctor can help you decide whether medication, such as anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, or nerve pain medications, may be right for your child. He or she also may recommend therapies like injections or topical creams. In conjunction with these interventions, your doctor will probably prescribe treatments like physical therapy and behavioral changes, which are crucial to long-term management of fibromyalgia.

Let’s go over some nonpharmacological strategies for coping with fibromyalgia.

FIVE STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED SYMPTOMS

Although fibromyalgia may disrupt your child’s life, affecting school and friendships, you may be able to improve your child’s quality of life with these natural therapies and changes. Of course, there’s no cure for fibromyalgia, but by managing symptoms, you can help your child get back to some sense of normalcy.

  1. Get moving!

Exercise can be incredibly valuable for managing your child’s fibromyalgia symptoms. Exercise can relieve muscle stiffness and tire out the body physically so that your child can fall asleep more easily. In particular, pool exercises have been shown to help patients because the warm water can have a soothing effect on pain and also promote blood circulation.

Consider signing up your child for swim class to get regular exercise that is both fun and good for symptoms. Start with limited intervals of exercise at first, and slowly increase them as symptoms allow. Aquatic physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for patients whose fibromyalgia is too severe for regular pool activities.

  1. Incorporate meditation methods

While your child may not be interested in meditation, try to incorporate some of the practices in your child’s daily life. After playtime, encourage your child to take a moment to relax and reset. In addition, teach your child how to use relaxing breathing exercises when he/she feels overwhelmed during school or before bed.

Studies show that meditation can help reduce fibromyalgia patients’ stiffness, anxiety and depression. In the least, promoting a stress-free environment and creating a sense of relaxation will help your child feel less anxious.

  1. Say goodnight to fibromyalgia

Your child’s sleep routine is essential for improving fibromyalgia symptoms. Chart out the best routine for your child together. Make sure he/she goes to bed at the same time every day and start “sleep-ready” habits an hour before bed. This routine could include a break from screen time, reading a story together, listening to a relaxing song and/or taking a hot bath. Promoting a relaxing environment will help your child get to sleep.

Make sure you’re not giving your child food late at night, especially items with any caffeine or sugar. Also, be sure take away tablets and cell phones. The blue light can wake up your child instead of helping him/her get sleepy. Sufficient sleep is essential to managing pain.

  1. Change your child’s diet for success

Some experts recommend following an anti-inflammatory diet to prevent aches and pains. In general, an anti-inflammatory diet is based on the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fish, fish, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil.

Update your child’s lunch to include a handful of nuts, or add an apple for a snack. Anytime you can add fruits and vegetables to his/her diet, do it! This boost of nutrients will fuel your child for success. Try to limit junk food as well, which has no value and could actually inflame your child’s pains.

  1. Schedule your child for a physical therapy session

Your child could benefit from seeing a physical therapist or chiropractor near you. Recent studies show how physical therapy or chiropractic can have a positive impact on fibromyalgia patients. Finding the right physical therapist is important. Call in advance to ensure they have experience with fibromyalgia and/or with children. Specific exercises in physical therapy can help to improve your child’s core strength and incorporate techniques to soothe muscle aches and pain. Similarly, regular massage therapy sessions with an experienced masseuse can improve your child’s exercise, sleep and mood.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

A fibromyalgia diagnosis can be challenging, but doesn’t have to take over your child’s life. It’s a good idea to talk to an expert to come up with the most effective care plan for your child, one that ideally includes a diverse range of strategies, like those listed above. Together, you can talk about your child’s specific issues and needs, and figure out the best way to improve symptoms.

About Dr. Brent Wells

Dr. Brent Wells is a graduate of the University of Nevada where he earned his bachelor of science degree before moving on to complete his doctorate from Western States Chiropractic College. He founded Better Health Chiropractic and Physical Rehab in Anchorage in 1998. He became passionate about being in the chiropractic field after his own experiences with hurried, unprofessional healthcare providers. The goal for Dr. Wells is to treat his patients with care and compassion while providing them with a better quality of life through his professional treatment.

Melinda

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Children · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical

FDA Investigates Serious Side Effects Of Codeine In Children’s Cough And Cold Medicine

The post is from 2015 and is still relevant today. All chilldren’s health is critical and the FDA is the only place to find factual and the most recent medical information. The FDA’s Medwatch site is where all the warnings are listed and includes more than medications.

FDA MedWatch – Codeine Cough-and-Cold Medicines in Children: Drug Safety Communication – FDA Evaluating Potential Risk of Serious Side Effects
07/01/2015

Codeine Cough-and-Cold Medicines in Children: Drug Safety Communication – FDA Evaluating Potential Risk of Serious Side Effects
AUDIENCE: Family Practice, Pediatrics, Surgery, Patient

ISSUE: FDA is investigating the safety of using codeine-containing medicines to treat coughs and colds in children under 18 years because of the potential for serious side effects, including slowed or difficult breathing.

Children, especially those who already have breathing problems, may be more susceptible to these serious side effects. In 2013, FDA warned against using codeine in children who recently had surgery to remove their tonsils and/or adenoids.

In April 2015, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that codeine must not be used to treat cough and cold in children under 12 years, and that codeine is not recommended in children and adolescents between 12 and 18 years who have breathing problems, including those with asthma and other chronic breathing problems.

FDA will continue to evaluate this safety issue and will consider the EMA recommendations. Final conclusions and recommendations will be communicated when the FDA review is complete.

BACKGROUND: Codeine is a specific type of narcotic medicine called an opioid that is used to treat mild to moderate pain and also to reduce coughing. It is usually combined with other medications in prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) cough-and-cold medicines.

RECOMMENDATION: Parents and caregivers who notice any signs of slow or shallow breathing, difficult or noisy breathing, confusion, or unusual sleepiness in their child should stop giving their child codeine and seek medical attention immediately by taking their child to the emergency room or calling 911. Parents and caregivers should always read the product label to find out if a medicine contains codeine and talk with their child’s health care professional or a pharmacist if they have any questions or concerns. Health care professionals should continue to follow the recommendations in the drug labels and use caution when prescribing or recommending codeine-containing cough-and-cold medicines to children.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

Complete and submit the report Online: http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report
Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178
Read the MedWatch safety alert, including links to the Drug Safety Communication and previous MedWatch alerts, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts

Melinda

Children · Communicating · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Sexual Assault · Trauma

Why Children Stay Silent Following Sexual Violence

Kristin’s video is invaluable because children are scared, confused and if it’s a parent or someone in the family the Childs emotions are even heighten. I know from experience.

Melinda