It seems that today’s kids constantly invent new trends, most of which can be scary and dangerous, such as the newest one- drinking vanilla extract.

Namely, minors at a high school in Atlanta, Georgia, were caught buying typical baking ingredients like bourbon vanilla extract and using them to get drunk, and the consumption of this drink made one student ended up in the emergency room.

These kids add the extract to their morning cup of coffee, and a small bottle of it is about 35 percent or 70 proof, which is a little less than a typical vodka bottle.

School officials reported that high schoolers were walking over to a nearby Trader Joe’s grocery store to buy the bourbon vanilla extract, and then went to the Starbucks across the street to pour a large quantity of extract into a cup of coffee. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, children were making the cocktail to get a buzz during the school day.

This drink made the Grady High School share a warning and photo of Trader Joe’s Pure Bourbon Vanilla Extract in a letter to parents, in order to raise their awareness about the dangers of the product, since it contains 35% .

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time children are caught using baking ingredients as a way to alter their state of mind.  It was reported that high schoolers also snorted cacao powder and smoked nutmeg.

Can we stop such activities? Apparently, it is more important for parents to deepen their relationships with their children, and make sure they are based on support, respect, honesty, and trust.

Teens would be attracted by the “forbidden fruit effect”, so parents should speak with them about all the things that can happen during these years and lead to negative consequences, instead of simply telling them “no.”

Eric Meyers, an expert on youth online behavior, claims that the decision-making skills and social behavior of children are often moderated due to their underdeveloped prefrontal cortex. He said that he sees this can be a double-edged sword, since it draws more people to the controversy as participants as much as it dissuades people from engaging in it.

If you are a parent, try to have an open dialogue with your child in order to understand the motive, and reveal all the possible outcomes of their behavior, to help them make reasonable decisions.

Sources:
theheartysoul.com
dearly.com