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An electronic publication of Survivors And Victims Empowered |
Volume 2, Issue 39
October 1, 2009 |
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If you start early and work at it often enough, you can raise drug resistant (but probably not drug proof) children. The key, as in most parenting, lies in discussing the dangers and consequences of drug and alcohol use with your children early and often. For more on raising drug resistant children, visit Focus on the Family at focusonthefamily.com/drug proofing your home.
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Drugs and alcohol
Of high school seniors in 2008:
42.6% reported having ever used marijuana/hashish
7.2% reported having ever used cocaine
1.3% reported having ever used heroin.
Source: University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future National Results on Adolescent Drug Use: Overview of Key Findings 2008, May 2009.
The increase in the use of marijuana has been especially pronounced. Between 1992 and 2008 past-month use of marijuana increased from:
12% to 19% among high school seniors.
8% to 14% among 10th graders.
4% to 6% 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 2008, 1.9% of high school seniors reported past-month cocaine use.
Source: University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future National Results on Adolescent Drug Use: Overview of Key Findings 2008, May 2009.
U S Bureau of Justice Statistics report here
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 The Anti-drug.com/signs&symptoms
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 drugs - especially 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 focusonthefamily.com/substance abuse:
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 a growing problem among teens. Every day, 2,500 teenagers use a prescription drug to get high for the first time. They're accessing these drugs in the comfort of home; it can be as easy as opening a cupboard, drawer, or medicine cabinet. The good news - there are steps you can take to help protect your kids from prescription drug abuse: monitor, secure and dispose. See how at Drug Free.org/Not in my house.
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© 2007, 2008, Survivors And Victims Empowered, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
No part of this publication may be reprinted without permission unless used in an article reviewing this publication. The organizations listed within this publication are not necessarily endorsed by Survivors And Victims Empowered.
Effective August 24, 2009 the physical address and telephone number for this organization will change to:
Survivors And Victims Empowered
38 Doe Run Road, Suite 250
Manheim, PA 17545
Telephone (717) 665-0006
Correspondence should continue to be addressed to:
P. O. Box 8875
Lancaster, PA 17604-8875
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