Visit nearly any convenience store and you'll find energy shots on the check-out counter. A subtle hint, perhaps? Maybe they're hoping that anyone who feels a bit run down will grab a few ounces of "energy" in a bottle.

Energy shots were a natural follow-up to the energy drink craze. After all, why not get your boost from 2 ounces instead of 8? The first energy shot showed up on the market in 2004; within the next year, sales of these shots are expected to reach $700 million.

But what you find in these drinks isn't really energy at all. While the ingredients vary, most include some combination of amino acids, vitamins and caffeine -- with caffeine being the ingredient that really gives you that sudden jolt. Unfortunately, too much caffeine can also make you feel anxious or jittery, and it can lead to insomnia. And when used with other stimulants (such as prescription medication for ADHD) or alcohol, these shots can be downright dangerous.

If you're feeling run down, a quick boost from a stimulant isn't the answer. You're better off getting your nutrition and long-lasting energy from healthful foods and a consistent exercise routine.

What can soothe your stomach, cool your skin and and awaken your senses? Hint: It grows in your garden and tastes great.

Recognizing that your child is using drugs is sometimes not that easy. Teenagers getting high on cold medicines, cough syrups, and similar items has increased. Also teenagers raid the medicine cabinets of their family and the family members of their friends in search of quick and easy ways to experiment with drugs. Maintaining a healthy open relationship with your child is important in helping them make the right choice not to use drugs.

One drug on the street that is hugely popular and becoming more widespread is Methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a strong physical and mental stimulant available in both prescription and street forms. It is relatively easy to synthesize which has contributed to its widespread use. Street names for the drug are speed, meth, crystal, crank, tina, and sometimes confusingly called ice. Health risks and problems associated with methamphetamine use are agitation, inability to concentrate, cardiovascular stress, heart attack & hypertensive crisis, stroke, overheating, poor sleep, sleep deprivation, bad driving, poor diet, paranoia, risky sexual behavior, neurotoxicity and death.

Get to know the subtle drug behavior warning signs as well as the obvious signs of drug use.
Changes in friends, declining grades, negative changes in schoolwork, or missing school more frequently, increased secrecy about possessions or activities, use of incense, room deodorant, or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors, subtle changes in conversations with friends, (examples are more secretive and using "coded" language), change in clothing choices with a new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use, increase in borrowing or asking for money, shoplifting, evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, needles, evidence of use of inhalant products (such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, common household products, and rags and paper bags are sometimes used as accessories), bottles of eye drops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils, new use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol, and missing prescription drugs, especially narcotics and mood stabilizers from your medicine cabinets.

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