What is drug use?

Drug use, or misuse, includes

• Using illegal substances, such as
  • Anabolic steroids
  • Club drugs
  • Cocaine
  • Heroin
  • Inhalants
  • Marijuana
  • Methamphetamines
• Misusing prescription medicines, including opioids. This means taking the medicines in a different way than the health care provider prescribed. This includes
  • Taking a medicine that was prescribed for someone else
  • Taking a larger dose than you are supposed to
  • Using the medicine in a different way than you are supposed to. For example, instead of swallowing your tablets, you might crush and then snort or inject them.
  • Using the medicine for another purpose, such as getting high
• Misusing over-the-counter medicines, including using them for another purpose and using them in a different way than you are supposed to.

Why are drugs especially dangerous for young people?

Young people's brains are growing and developing until they are their mid-20's. This is especially true of the prefrontal cortex, which is used to make decisions. Taking drugs when young can interfere with developmental processes occurring in the brain. It can also affect their decision-making. They may be more likely to do risky things, such as unsafe sex and dangerous driving.

The earlier young people start using drugs, the greater their chances of continuing to use them and become addicted later in life.Taking drugs when you are young can contribute to the development of adult health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders.

Which drugs most commonly used by young people?

The drugs that are most commonly used by young people are alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Recently, more young people have started vaping tobacco and marijuana. There is still a lot we don't know about the dangers of vaping. Some people have unexpectedly gotten very ill or have even died after vaping. Because of this, young people should stay away from vaping.

Why do young people take drugs?

There are many different reasons why a young person may take drugs, including

• To fit in. Young people may do drugs because they want to be accepted by friends or peers who are doing drugs.
• To feel good. Abused drugs can produce feelings of pleasure.
• To feel better. Some young people suffer from depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, and physical pain. They may do drugs to try to get some relief.
• To do better in academics or sports. Some young people may take stimulants for studying or anabolic steroids to improve their athletic performance.
• To experiment. Young people often want to try new experiences, especially ones that they think are thrilling or daring.

Which young people are at risk for drug use?

Different factors may raise a young person's risk for drug use, including

• Stressful early life experiences, such child abuse, child sexual abuse, and other forms of trauma
• Genetics
• Prenatal exposure to alcohol or other drugs
• Lack of parental supervision or monitoring
• Having peers and/or friends who use drugs

What are the signs that a young person has a drug problem?

• Changing friends a lot
• Spending a lot of time alone
• Losing interest in favorite things
• Not taking care of themselves - for example, not taking showers, changing clothes, or brushing their teeth
• Being really tired and sad
• Eating more or eating less than usual
• Being very energetic, talking fast, or saying things that don't make sense
• Being in a bad mood
• Quickly changing between feeling bad and feeling good
• Missing important appointments
• Having problems at school - missing class, getting bad grades
• Having problems in personal or family relationships
• Lying and stealing
• Memory lapses, poor concentration, lack of coordination, slurred speech, etc.

Can drug use in young people be prevented?

Drug use and addiction are preventable. Prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media may prevent or reduce drug use and addiction. These programs include education and outreach to help people understand the risks of drug use.

You can help prevent your children from using drugs through

• Good communication with your children
• Encouragement, so your children can build confidence and a strong sense of self. It also helps parents promote cooperation and reduce conflict.
• Teaching your children problem-solving skills
• Setting limits, to teach your children self-control and responsibility, provide safe boundaries, and show them that you care
• Supervision, which helps parents recognize developing problems, promote safety, and stay involved
• Knowing your children's friends

The teen years are often a time to explore and learn more about themselves as they approach adulthood. Often, this involves experimenting and testing their boundaries. The desire to do something new or risky is a normal part of teen development.

Teens who perceive little risk in using drugs are more likely to use drugs. Teens may also use drugs or alcohol to:

• Relieve boredom
• Feel good
• Forget their troubles and relax
• Satisfy their curiosity
• Ease their pain
• Feel grown up
• Show their independence
• Belong to a specific group

What are the Risk Factors and Protective Factors for Drug Use?

Many factors influence a child’s likelihood to use illegal substances or develop a substance abuse disorder. Effective drug prevention focuses on reducing the risk factors and strengthening the protective factors that are most closely related to substance abuse.

Risk factors are circumstances or events that increase a child’s use and abuse of drugs. The more risk factors present, the more likely a child may be to use drugs and develop problems. Risk factors for drug use include:

• Low grades or failure in school
• Victim of bullying or cyberbullying
• Low self esteem
• Permissive parenting
• Parent or older sibling drug/alcohol use
• Living in a community with a high tolerance for smoking, drinking, or drug use among youth
• Attending a school without strict rules for tobacco, alcohol, or drugs and inconsistent enforcement for breaking those rules
• Belief that there is little risk in using a drug.

Protective Factors

Protective factors are those characteristics that can reduce a person's risk for substance abuse or addiction. Protective factors that may decrease the risk of drug use include:

• Strong bond with a parent or caregiver
• High self esteem
• Parent or caregiver who talks regularly with their child about drugs
• Active in faith-based organizations, school, athletic, or community activities
• Spending time around positive role models
• Living in a community that offers youths activities where drugs and alcohol are not tolerated
• Attending a school with an effective alcohol and drug education program and a non-tolerance policy for alcohol and drugs
• Belief that using drugs may be harmful or risky

As a parent you can control many of the risk and protective factors in your home. Remember that parents and caregivers are the most important role models in children’s lives.

According to a study, young people who hadn’t used drugs up until their senior year in high school are more likely to use marijuana once they start college than their peers who don’t go to college.

Here are a few ways you can prevent your young loved one from using any drug before they head off to school and while they are in college.

Be Honest and Direct

Sitting down and having a direct, open and honest conversation about drugs, temptation and addiction before her or she goes to college is one of the best ways to prevent their future use. Though it may be uncomfortable, you may want to discuss your own past drug use or one of your family members’ struggles with use and addiction.

Give Them Praise

Do you have an awesome teen? Good grades, sweet, compassionate, well-rounded, and drug free? Celebrate them! A little bit of positive reinforcement can go a long way. You never know; you may become your teen’s inner voice that gives them the strength to reject drugs when he or she is offered them.

Make Sure They Know the Legal Consequences of Using Drugs

It’s not about scaring them— it’s just about being real. Getting caught with drugs, especially if it’s a significant amount, could land your teen in serious trouble with the law or cause them to lose their financial aid. To do this, you can search for news stories about young people getting caught up with drugs and having to face the consequences and casually bring it up to your teen. For example, “Did you hear about that teen in Virginia? He’s facing seven years behind bars for giving a girl a pill at a party that ending up killing her. That just isn’t worth it.”

Make Sure They Know the Life-long Consequences of Addiction

Being addicted to drugs can ruin a promising young person’s life – and it’s important your child knows that. Just while watching the news with your teen you are probably likely to see a story about how bad the drug addiction crisis is getting in the U.S. Discuss the pitfalls of addiction with them then. In addition, watching documentaries like “Chasing the Dragon” which shows the reality of youth drug addiction, could also serve as a good conversation starter. Once again, it’s not about scaring them – but keeping it real.

Volunteer at a Substance Abuse Treatment Center or a Homeless Shelter

Seeing addiction live and up close could be a life-changing experience for your teen. By volunteering at a local substance abuse treatment center, he or she can also talk to people in recovery and learn from their experience to keep them from potentially going down the road to addiction.

Do Your Homework

Before you talk to your teen about anything, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of studying first. Check out the latest research (Monitoring the Future is a great source) to find out what drugs are popular for people in your child’s age range so you can target your message. You also may want to reach out to substance abuse professionals on your child’s college campus to find out what drugs may be popular at the school.

Learn more about drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Make One-On-One Time

Make it a priority to spend one-on-one time with your young loved one. During that quality time, your teen is more likely to open up to you about what’s going on in his or her life, however mundane. You can use this opportunity to understand them better and to form a stronger bond. In the future, when your child is away in college and facing tough decisions, he or she will be more likely to confide in you and put more weight in your advice.

Keep Your Cool

Rolled eyes, heavy sighs, temporary deafness – you may experience all of these reactions from your teen when you try to talk to him or her about the dangers of drug use. Whatever you do, don’t lose your temper. Just try a different approach next time you want to bring up the topic.

Connect with Other Parents

More than likely the parents of your teenager’s friends will have the same concerns you have as they are entering college and leaving home for the first time. You may want to share ideas with them and find out how they are speaking to their teen about drug use.

Give Them the Facts

Lastly, giving your teen the straight facts by themselves could be enough to set him or her on the right path. Most drugs (illicit prescription drugs, synthetic marijuana, heroin, cocaine, etc.) can be deadly – the statistics are out there. In addition, using marijuana has many negative effects on the brain and body.

As a parent or caregiver, you know that talking to your teens about drug use can be tricky. Promoting zero tolerance and the health consequences associated with using drugs is key.

Consider these four do's and don'ts for talking to your teens about drugs, and then get the conversation started:

1. DO explain the dangers using language they understand.
   DON'T react in anger -- even if your child makes a statement that shocks you.
2. DO explain why you do not want them to use drugs.
   For example, explain that drugs can mess up their concentration, memory, and motor skills and can lead to poor grades.
   DON'Texpect all conversations with your children to be perfect. They won't be.
3. DO be there when your child wants to talk, no matter the time of day or night or other demands on your time.
   DON'T assume your kids know how to handle temptation. In fact, you may want to consider role-playing with your teen to educate them about real-life risks and alternatives to temptations so they can make healthy decisions.
4. DO praise your children when they deserve it. This builds their self-esteem and makes them naturally feel good.
   DON'T make stuff up. If your child asks a question you can't answer, promise to find the answer so you can learn together. Then follow up.

You probably know it’s important to get enough sleep. But you may be surprised to learn exactly how important it is.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says teens should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep a day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most teens get less than that.

Researchers are learning more all the time about how getting less sleep can affect teens’ health. In fact, a growing number of studies have shown a possible link between teens missing out on sleep and having a higher risk of using drugs.

Drug-related risks

Researchers also studied data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (with nearly 68,000 surveys completed by high school students over a period of 8 years). The data showed that teens who reported getting 6 hours of sleep a night were about three times as likely to start using drugs as teens who got 8 or 9 hours of sleep a night. And the less sleep teens got, the greater that risk became.

When we talk about drug use and education, the conversation often turns towards prevention and treatment for teens and adults.

But the effect of drug use on young children under the age of five can’t be overlooked. In addition to a rising number of children entering foster care each year due to drug-addicted parents, the unintentional exposure to prescription medication led to an increase in poison control center calls in recent years, according to the recently released “Childhood Poisoning: Safeguarding Young Children from Addictive Substances” report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

“The number of opioid exposures in children aged 5 and younger increased by 93.2 percent from 2000 to 2009,” the report said. This is also the time period when the number of opioid prescriptions jumped nationwide.

The good news is that since then the overall numbers have decreased during the past few years (due to better childproof packaging and consumer education).

However, between 2013 and 2015, exposures to fentanyl, oxycodone, and buprenorphine among young children have increased. See their report for more statistics.

“In general, young children are very susceptible to the effects of opioids, which are among the most toxic substances to young children and can be lethal in small doses,” the report says.

Symptoms of opioid exposure include agitation, coma, convulsions, nausea, seizure, slow breathing and more, according to the report.

Marijuana

Unfortunately, accidental exposures to marijuana among young children have increased since 2012 – just as laws around the drug have changed in states across the nation. Marijuana edibles, in states that have legalized the drug for recreational use, are behind many of the incidents. Many edibles look like regular candy and can be enticing for young ones. But they can be more dangerous to children because of their high levels of THC.

Symptoms of marijuana exposure include: abdominal pain, agitation, slow heartbeat, fever, coma, nausea/vomiting, stupor, tremor and more, according to the report.

Protecting Your Kids

You can take steps to protect your young children from unintentionally ingesting your medication. Here are a few tips from the CDC article “Put Your Medicines Up and Away and Out of Sight.”

1. Put medication away after use (out of reach and out of sight at all times).
2. Make sure the safety cap is secure and locked.
3. Talk to your kids about medication safety.
4. Make sure any visitors to your home keep their medications away and out of sight as well.
5. Be prepared in the event your young child does ingest medicine. You can reach a poison control center at 800.222.1222.

Drugs at Your Child’s School?

Yes, likely. Youth are using, buying, and selling drugs right on school campuses and at school events in middle schools and secondary schools.

Fact

A national survey showed that almost 20% of the students had been offered, sold or given an illegal drug by someone on school property. (Centers for Disease Control, Youth Behavioral Survey, 2017).

The use, possession, distribution or sale of tobacco, drugs or drug paraphernalia is very hazardous to the students and faculty at a school.

Fact

A study in 2012 showed that students who use marijuana in school had lower grades, lower classroom participation, poor attendance, and were disciplined more than non-users. (Finn, Kristin. Marijuana Use at School and Achievement-Linked Behaviors. The High School Journal. Vol. 95.No. 3, Spring 2012.)

Concerned parents should contact their local school district and ask the following questions:

• What is the extent of alcohol and drug use at the school?
• What are the school district’s policies on student use, possession, distribution or sale of tobacco, alcohol and drugs?
• How many students have been suspended or expelled from the school campus or at a school event for using, buying, or selling drugs? Are they required to attend a drug education class or get referred for a drug assessment? How is local law enforcement involved?
• Is there an alcohol/drug counselor at school or trained school nurse to interview the youth who has been caught using drugs? What is the process for intervention, referral to treatment and recovery?
• Does your child’s school have a health curriculum that includes the risk and harm associated with alcohol and other drug use?
• Does the school have a no alcohol and drug use policy that is enforced?
• Are alcohol and drug-free activities provided by the school during prom night and after sports events?

Make sure you have a copy of the school's drug policy and procedures and go over it with your child. Find out the school's statistics with drug use and what drugs are popular, what's covered in health classes, and whether the information is repeated again in upper grades.

Research shows that there is a definite link between teen substance abuse and how well you do in school. Teens who abuse drugs have lower grades, a higher rate of absence from school and other activities, and an increased potential for dropping out of school.

Although we all know or hear stories about people who use drugs and still get great grades, this is not typical. Most people who use drugs regularly don’t consistently do well in school.

Studies show that marijuana, for example, affects your attention, memory, and ability to learn. Its effects can last for days or weeks after the drug wears off. So, if you are smoking marijuana daily, you are not functioning at your best.

Students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school. One recent marijuana study showed that heavy marijuana use in your teen years and continued into adulthood can reduce your IQ up to as much as 8 points.

High school dropout rates have also risen as a result of substance abuse.

A study of teens in 12th grade (16-18 years of age) who dropped out of school before graduation are more likely than their peers to be users of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and other illicit drugs.

Illicit drug use among dropouts was higher than for those in school (31.4 percent vs. 18.2 percent). Dropouts were more likely to be current marijuana users than those in school (27.3 percent vs. 15.3 percent) and non-medical users of prescription drugs (9.5 percent vs. 5.1 percent).

Teens who smoke, drink alcohol, binge drink or use marijuana or other drugs are more likely than non-users to drop out of school and less likely than non-users to graduate from high school, attend college or obtain a college degree.

Research has shown that marijuana’s negative effects on attention, memory, and learning can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off, depending on the person’s history with the drug. Consequently, someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at a reduced intellectual level most or all of the time. Considerable evidence suggests that students who smoke marijuana have poorer educational outcomes than their nonsmoking peers. For example, a review of 48 relevant studies found marijuana use to be associated with reduced educational attainment (i.e., reduced chances of graduating). A recent analysis using data from three large studies in Australia and New Zealand found that adolescents who used marijuana regularly were significantly less likely than their non-using peers to finish high school or obtain a degree. They also had a much higher chance of developing dependence, using other drugs, and attempting suicide. Several studies have also linked heavy marijuana use to lower income, greater welfare dependence, unemployment, criminal behavior, and lower life satisfaction.

To what degree marijuana use is directly causal in these associations remains an open question requiring further research. It is possible that other factors independently predispose people to both marijuana use and various negative life outcomes such as school dropout. That said, people report a perceived influence of their marijuana use on poor outcomes on a variety of life satisfaction and achievement measures. One study, for example, compared people involved with current and former long-term, heavy use of marijuana with a control group who reported smoking marijuana at least once in their lives but not more than 50 times. All participants had similar education and income backgrounds, but significant differences were found in their educational attainment: Fewer of those who engaged in heavy cannabis use completed college, and more had yearly household incomes of less than $30,000. When asked how marijuana affected their cognitive abilities, career achievements, social lives, and physical and mental health, the majority of those who used heavily reported that marijuana had negative effects in all these areas of their lives.

Studies have also suggested specific links between marijuana use and adverse consequences in the workplace, such as increased risk for injury or accidents. One study among postal workers found that employees who tested positive for marijuana on a pre-employment urine drug test had 55% more industrial accidents, 85% more injuries, and 75% greater absenteeism compared with those who tested negative for marijuana use.

While you might have talked to your kids at length about the dangers of drug use, it’s still normal for most teen or pre-teens to want to fit in with their peers.

Having a genuine relationship with your teen is a key component of any drug prevention strategy. But here are a few other ways you can help your child withstand the peer pressure to use drugs.

Act it Out

Starting at an early age, role playing (acting out the realistic situations your child may encounter) can be a useful way for your child to develop the skills needed to resist peer pressure. Knowing what to say and how to say it beforehand (kind of like having an internal script) can make refusing drugs easier for your teen.

Drug-free Majority

Many teens have the misconception that most of their peers do drugs. But according to a recent survey, that’s not true at all. It’s important that your teen is aware of this. In fact, most teen drug use has dipped in recent years.

Encourage Your Teen’s Talent

Whether it’s dance, music, sports or martial arts – make sure you encourage whatever activities your teen may be interested in. This could mean: transporting him or her to and from the activity, getting them private lessons, helping them to set goals, etc. Such activities can become a source of positive self-esteem for your teen and make them less susceptible to negative peer pressure.

Drug Use and Consequences

Educate your teen about the ugly, and at times, deadly consequences of becoming addicted to drugs. Learning the facts can make him or her more grounded in their decision to be drug-free.

When it comes to teens and drug use, social media can play a huge role.

Through different hashtags (#s) they can be exposed to offers from dealers to buy drugs through various social sites.

It is never too late for parents to get acquainted with the various social apps (applications), and the slang terms many of them use to communicate while texting and using social media.

Some popular ones include:

• Instagram (app where users share photos and videos)
• Snapchat (app where users can create and share photos, videos. The content is meant to disappear after the person views them)
• TikTok (a social network where users can create and share videos)
• Tumblr (users can post photos, videos, gifs and more in a microblogging format)
• Twitch (app where users can livestream themselves playing video games and interact with viewers)
• YouTube (users can create and watch videos)

Did you know?

• These apps are free to download from app stores.
• Kids are often one step ahead of their parents in the latest privacy settings, allowing them to block you from viewing their activity, be on private, and hide their friends lists
• On average, teens spend more than 7 hours a day in front of a screen (outside of schoolwork)

How do you help a child develop skills to make good choices? Ensure they use their online privileges wisely? Avoid inappropriate behavior or inaccurate information?

1. Talk to your teen about the implications of their actions when using the internet and social media.

2. Monitor what they do online and on the phone by learning about the websites and mobile apps they use.

3. Block inappropriate content by using parental control features to monitor and manage your teen’s computer use. Buy parental control software that allows you to view recorded computer, smartphone and tablet activity from the internet.

4. Learn about the slang and emojis that kids use while texting on their phones, posting on social media, or DMing (direct messaging) other users.

Check out a few popular emojis people use when communicating about drugs via text.

We all know that the emotional damage bullying has on a child can last well into their adulthood. But now, a recent study has also cast a light on the connection between bullying and future drug use.

Between 2004 and 2011, researchers from the American Academy of Pediatrics followed almost 5,000 students from Alabama, Texas and California. During the study, they interviewed the students when they were in fifth grade, seventh grade and 10th grade. Researchers concluded that students who were bullied when they were in the fifth grade were more likely to use marijuana, alcohol and tobacco by the time they reached 10th grade.

Learn more about different kinds of bullying, signs, and ways you can prevent it from happening below.

Kinds of Bullying

Many times, playful teasing or “horsing around” doesn’t lead to any serious issues and shouldn’t concern adults. It is the aggressive, and most importantly, unwanted interactions between kids that experts call bullying.

Here’s how stopbullying.gov outlines the different categories of bullying:

In-person

Verbal bullying includes saying or writing mean things. This could be name-calling, mean-spirited teasing, threats and more. Social bullying (or relational bullying) is an attempt to hurt someone’s reputation or relationships. It involves public embarrassment, spreading rumors and more. Physical bullying involves hurting someone’s body or things. It is punching, kicking, slapping, pushing, taking or destroying someone’s things and more.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying takes place online. It includes mean or harassing text messages as well as rumors, embarrassing pictures or videos posted on social networking sites like Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.

Signs

So when should you suspect your child is being bullied? Experts point to a few signs that could indicate trouble. They include: lost or destroyed possessions, unexplained cuts or bruises, a sudden change in friend group and/or personality, an unwillingness to be alone around peers (on the bus or in the bathroom), a sudden drop in grades and more.

How to Prevent Bullying

Here are a few ways parents and caregivers can try to prevent their young loved ones from being bullied:

1. Communicate – Make sure you check in with your child every day. Ask them about what happened during their school day. You want to make sure they know they can always come to you if they have a problem. Also, be sure to discuss bullying (in general).
2. Show Them How to Act –Modelling good behavior goes a long way. When your child sees you treating other people with respect and kindness, they are likely to do the same.
3. Be involved – Keep an open line of communication with your child’s teachers and the school counselor (introduce yourself and provide your contact info at the beginning of the year), attend “Back to School” night and other school events, and get to know the parents of your child’s classmates if possible.
4. Encourage school activities – According to studies, students who participate in extracurricular activities (sports-related or not) are less likely to be bullied. Such activities provide a consistent base of friends and can help build your child’s confidence.

Stopping the bullying that happens in elementary school plays an essential part in preventing potential drug use in later years.

Whether at a bar, at a party, or even at a “friend’s” home – drug-facilitated sexual assault can happen to anyone at any time. For this reason, it’s important that the young people in your life understand the danger and are aware of the facts to protect themselves from becoming victims.

What Drugs are Most Often Used for Drug-facilitated Sexual Assault?

Although there are many substances that can cause you to pass out or lose control, certain drugs are referred to as “sexual assault” (or "date-rape") drugs because sexual predators often use them to get control over their victims. These drugs include gamma hydroxybutric acid (GHB), Rohypnol, ketamine, and Ecstasy. Drinking a beverage spiked with one or more of these drugs can take away a person’s ability to fight back and memory.

A person who sexually assaults another person uses these drugs because they’re easy to slip into a drink. They’re tasteless, odorless, and colorless. Also, these drugs act fast and leave your system quickly, so if the assault isn’t reported right away, it may be too late to test for the drugs. And the drugs aren’t part of a routine screening, so unless the doctor knows to test for these specific drugs, they won’t show up in the results. All of this makes it difficult to conduct a criminal investigation.

Because these drugs can affect a victims' memory, they may not remember the details or even be able to identify the person who assaulted them. In some cases, victims don’t know what happened until much later.

What Should Your Teen Look Out For?

Before a night out, give your teen the following tips to ensure they have a fun and safe time:

• Don’t drink from a can or bottle that you didn’t open yourself
• Don’t take a drink from a punch bowl
• Don’t drink from a container that’s being passed around
• If someone offers you a drink from the bar at a club or party, don’t take it. Instead, go to the bar to order your own drink, watch it being poured, and carry the drink yourself.
• Don’t leave your drink unattended while talking, dancing, using the restroom, or making a phone call
• If you realize that your drink has been left unattended, throw it out and get a new one
• Don’t drink anything that has an unusual taste or appearance, like a salty taste or unexplained residue
• Don’t mix drugs and alcohol. Even over-the-counter drugs like cold medicine can react with alcohol and other substances in negative ways.
• Watch out for your friends and ask them to watch out for you. Have a plan to periodically check up on each other.
• If your friend appears very intoxicated, gets sick after drinking a beverage, passes out and is difficult to wake up, seems to have trouble breathing, or behaves in unusual ways, do what you need to do to make sure your friend is safe. Call 911 if necessary.

More Information About 'Date Rape' Drugs

How can you tell if your child is using drugs or alcohol?

Teens are known to have mood swings. However, some behavior may indicate more serious issues, such as abuse of drugs and alcohol. Here are some of the warning signs of drug use.

Problems at school

• Frequently forgetting homework.
• Missing classes or skipping school.
• Disinterest in school or school activities.
• A drop in grades.

Physical signs

• Lack of energy and motivation.
• Red eyes and cheeks or difficulty focusing - alcohol use.
• Red eyes and constricted pupils - marijuana use.
• A strange burn on your child’s mouth or fingers – smoking something (possibly heroin) through a metal or glass pipe.
• Chronic nosebleeds – cocaine abuse.

Neglected appearance

• Lack of interest in clothing, grooming, or appearance is not normal. Teenagers are usually very concerned about how they look.

Changes in behavior

• Teenagers enjoy privacy, but be aware of excessive attempts to be alone.
• Exaggerated efforts not to allow family members into their rooms.
• Not letting you know where they go with friends, or whom they go with.
• Breaking curfew without a good excuse.
• Changes in relationships with family.

Changes in friends

• No longer is friends with childhood friends.
• Seems interested in hanging out with older kids.
• Acts secretive about spending time with new friends.

Money issues

• Sudden requests for money without a good reason.
• Money stolen from your wallet or from safe places at home.
• Items gone from your home. (May be sold to buy drugs.)

Specific smells

• Odor of marijuana, cigarettes, or alcohol on teen’s breath, on clothing, in the bedroom, or in the car.

Drug paraphernalia

• Finding items in your child’s room, backpack, or car related to drug use.

All parents strive to have an open and honest relationship with their teens. However, if your young loved one is dealing with drug addiction, they often become secretive, and as parents you may find answers in their rooms or vehicles. For those facing this serious issue, here are a few common places your teen could be hiding drugs.

Alarm Clocks

Alarm clocks are a pretty common item in the rooms of many teens. But you may want to take a closer look at them if you suspect your teen is using drugs. Some of the digital clocks can be used to hide illicit drugs; specifically small baggies in the battery compartment alongside the batteries.

Graphing Calculator

You usually wouldn’t be suspicious of your teen keeping his or her graphing calculator close, but if you suspect them of addiction, you may have to be. Just like with alarm clocks, a small amount of drugs can be hidden inside of the battery compartment.

Highlighter

Here’s another common school supply that could be used as a hiding place. Believe it or not, teens have used the inside of highlighter caps to hide small amounts of drugs.

Shoes

Teens can hide baggies of drugs inside of their shoes (sometimes pushed up into the toes of the shoe to keep it out of sight).

Candy containers / Wrappers

Since a lot of the edible drugs – such as ecstasy or some of the marijuana edibles— look like candy anyway, they can be easily camouflaged inside of a candy wrapper or another kind of candy container.

Posters

If you suspect your teen is using, you might want to run your fingers over that poster in his or her bedroom. Teens trying to hide something can flatten their small drug-filled baggies and tape them behind the posters hanging on their walls.

Heating Vent

Teens can tape their drug-filled baggies inside of the heating vent in his or her room.

Teddy Bears

If your teen is still holding on to his or her adored childhood teddy bear, you may want to consider this. The inside seams of the stuffed animal can be used to hide small amounts of drugs.

Car Interior

If your teen has his or her own vehicle, there is unfortunately a plethora of places they can hide drugs. Inside of glove compartments, taped underneath the seats, taped behind the steering wheel, and the trunk are just a few places.

Game Consoles

PlayStation, Wii, Xboxes – all of them have small spaces where teens could hide drugs.

Discovering that your child could be using substances stirs up a lot of emotion. The best way to find out what’s going on, and to begin helping, is to start talking.

Learn how to have a conversation instead of a confrontation.

Set the stage

Take a deep breath and set yourself up for success by creating a safe, open and comfortable space to talk.

• Don’t start a conversation when your child is intoxicated or under the influence. Hold off until everyone has a clear head.
• Get on their level, literally. If your child is sitting, you want to be sitting as well.
• Turn off phones and step away from other distractions. Avoid interruptions while you’re talking.
• Think about your goals for the conversation. Consider writing them down to review how effective the conversation was later.
• Try to put any panic or anger aside. If you’re anxious, find a way calm yourself beforehand, like taking a walk or speaking with a friend for emotional support.

Remain calm

As angry or frustrated as you feel, keep reminding yourself to speak and listen from a place of love, support and concern.

• Try to stay as calm and relaxed as possible throughout the conversation.
• Avoid overreacting to what has already happened. Instead, focus on what you want for your child in the future.
• Watch your voice. You may want to scream and yell, but it’s important to maintain the calm and avoid pushing your child away.
• Body language counts. Try a relaxed, open posture and avoid large gestures or crossed arms.
• Listen as much as you talk. Be sure it’s a back-and-forth, not a lecture.
• Try to not take criticism personally or get defensive. Let it be an opportunity for further discussion.
• Focus completely on your child. Try to see things from their point of view which will help you better sympathize.
• Recognize when you don’t have the energy to be a good listener and agree to restart the conversation (as long as it isn’t dire) at a later, better time.

Start talking

You’ve collected your thoughts and steeled your nerves, but how do you actually start talking? And more importantly, get your child to talk too?

• Express how much you care. Explain that the reason you’re talking and asking questions is because you want them to be healthy, safe and happy.
• Let your child know you value their honesty and are willing to listen without judgment.
• Ask open-ended questions. These are questions that elicit more than just “yes” or “no.”
• Let them know you’re listening. Reflect back what you’re hearing by rephrasing and asking for input — “Did I get everything? — or with nonverbal cues like nodding and smiling.
• Offer empathy and compassion. Demonstrate understanding and show your child you get it.
• Clearly state any evidence you’ve found, e.g., “Your grades have dropped, and I found empty beer cans in your car.”
• Give lots of praise and positive feedback, e.g., “I’ve noticed what a good friend and role model you are.” Teens and young adults need to know you can still see beyond the things they’ve done wrong.
• Reassure that you can always be counted on for support and that your child can confide in you whenever needed.
• Physical connection is important. Put a hand on your child’s shoulder or give a hug when it feels right.
• Listen. Sometimes they just need to get things off their chest.
• Be aware that your child could be hiding their true feelings out of fear, embarrassment, or something else.
• Listen between the words. Pay attention to body language, facial expressions and your child’s difficulty in finding the right words to use.
• Thank your child for talking with you. Even if the conversation didn’t go exactly as planned, your gratitude will make your child feel good and shows it was important to you.