eGuide Archives: Drugs and alcohol

Drugs and alcohol

Of high school seniors in 2005:

44.8% reported having ever used marijuana/hashish
8.0% reported having ever used cocaine
1.5% reported having ever used heroin.

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The increase in the use of marijuana has been especially pronounced.  Between 1992 and 2005 "past-month use" of marijuana increased from:

12% to 20% among high school seniors.
8% to 15% among 10th graders.
4% to 7% among 8th graders.

Reported use of marijuana by high school seniors during the past month peaked in 1978 at 37% and declined to its lowest level in 1992 at 12%.

The use of cocaine within the past month of the survey by high school seniors peaked in 1985 at 6.7%, up from 1.9% in 1975 at the survey's inception.  Cocaine use declined to a low of 1.3% in 1992 and 1993.  In 2005, 2.3% of high school seniors reported past-month cocaine use.

Signs & symptoms of teen drinking and drug use
How can you tell if your child is using drugs or alcohol?  It is difficult because changes in mood or attitudes, unusual temper outbursts, changes in sleeping habits and changes in hobbies or other interests are common in teens.  What should you look for?

You can also look for signs of depression, withdrawal, carelessness with grooming or hostility.  Also ask yourself, is your child doing well in school, getting along with friends, taking part in sports or other activities?  From TheAntiDrug.com

Watch List for Parents:

• Changes in friends
• Negative changes in schoolwork, missing school, or declining grades
• 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, e.g. more secretive, using coded language
• Change in clothing choices: new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use
• Increase in borrowing money
• Evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, etc.
• Evidence of use of inhalant products (such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, common household products); 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
• Missing prescription drugsespecially narcotics and mood stabilizers

For more detailed warning signs unique to specific drugs, review this comprehensive list.

For more information on drug paraphernalia and what to watch for, go here.

Drug addiction occurs in four stages.
The earlier you catch it, and deal with it, the easier the recovery.  (from Focus on the Family)

Stage one: experimentation--entering the drug gateway

• Use is occasional, sporadic, often unplanned--weekends, summer nights, someone's unsupervised party.
• Use is precipitated by peer pressure, curiosity, thrill seeking, desire to look and feel grown-up.
• Gateway drugs are usually used--cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, possibly inhalant abuse.
• A drug high is easier to experience because tolerance has not been developed.

Parents may notice:

• Tobacco or alcohol on the breath or intoxicated behavior.
• Little change in normal behavior between episodes of drug use.

Stage two: more regular drug use--leaving the land of the living

• Alcohol and other drugs are used not only on weekends but also on weekdays, not only with friends but when alone.
• Quantities of alcohol and drugs increase as tolerance develops; hangovers become more common.
• Blackouts may occur--periods of time in which drugs or alcohol prevent normal memories from forming "What happened last night?" becomes a frequent question.
• More time and attention are focused on when the next experience will occur.
• Fellow drinkers/drug users become preferred companions.

Parents may notice: 

• Son or daughter will be out of the house later at night, overnight, or all weekend.
• School performance worsens-unexplained school absences.
• Outside activities such as sports are dropped.
• Decreased contact with friends who don't use drugs.
• Disappearance of money or other valuables.
• Child withdraws from the family, is increasingly sullen and hostile.
• User is caught in one or many lies.

Stage three: waist deep in the mire of addiction and sinking

• Alcohol and drugs become primary focus of attention.
• Becoming high is a daily event.
• There is a use of harder, more dangerous drugs.
• More money is spent each week on drugs: theft or dealing may become part of drug-seeking behavior.
• Adolescent displays increasing social isolation; no contact with non-drug-using friends; more drug use in isolation rather than socially.

Parents may notice the behaviors listed above, plus: 

• Escalation of conflicts at home.
• Loss of nearly all control of the adolescent.
• Possible discovery of a stash of drugs at home.
• Arrest(s) for possession of and/or dealing drugs or for driving while intoxicated.

Stage four: drowning in addiction

• Constant state of intoxication; being high is routine, even at school or job (if there is any attendance at all.
• Blackouts increase in frequency.
• Physical appearance deteriorates--weight loss, infections, poor self-care.  Injectable drugs are possibly used.
• Involvement in casual sexual relationships (at times in exchange for drugs).  User will likely be involved with theft, dealing, and other criminal activity.
• Guilt, self-hatred, and thoughts of suicide increase.
• Adolescent abandons any apparent interest in spiritual matters.

Parents are likely to be dealing with: 

• Complete loss of control of adolescent's behavior, escalation of conflict, possibly to the point of violence.
• Ongoing denial by user that drugs are a problem.
• Increasing problems with the law and time spent with police, attorneys, hearings, court officials, etc.
• Other siblings negatively affected because the family is preoccupied or overwhelmed by consequences of drug user's behavior.

Reminder of the week: 
Prescription medication abuse is growing problem among teens.  Go through your house every six months and discard (flush) all medications that you are not using.