C.E.P.T.A.
The CAMPAIGN for EFFECTIVE PREVENTION and TREATMENT of ADDICTION.
5c. How to Know Whether or Not
YOUR Child Is Using Drugs
by Kenneth Eckersley
When a child first takes drugs or
only takes them occasionally it is often difficult to recognise, especially
because, in young people, many of the indications can easily he confused with
the normal signs of growing up. So,
because it is important not to jump to wrong conclusions, be sure of
your facts before doing or saying anything,
Signs of drug use or experimentation can include:
* unusual
aggression, indifference or irritability
* loss
of appetite, erratic eating habits
* loss
of interest in sport, study, exam results, old friends or hobbies
* new
friends (who are either uncommunicative or overly friendly) may show up
* unusual
and secretive phone calls from un-named contacts
* seems
to need more money than was earlier the case, or, suddenly has plenty
* sudden
emotional changes from happy & alert to moody & sour, and vice
versa
absenteeism, lateness, regular and / or long
absences from the classroom or
unexplained absences from home
* bouts
of drowsiness or sleepiness, some slurring of speech
* a
tendency to often sniff - as with hay-fever or a continuous cold
* dilation
and / or jerky movements of the pupils when watching a moving object
* problems
with balance and / or inability to walk in a straight line
* tendency
to more accidents, injuries or illness
* stays
alone in own room for long periods
* plays
games to turn one parent against the other
* fidgeting
– can’t stand still, can’t sit still, can’t seem to keep still at all
* OR
– never moves. Just sits or stands and
stares straight ahead, with no interest
in
anything
* increasingly
furtive behaviour and / or evidence of telling lies, and telling more
lies
than is usually the case
* unexplained
loss of family members or colleagues money or property
* neighbours
reporting losses or thefts of belongings
* unusual
smells on the body or around the house or bedroom
* unexplained
damage to own and others' belongings
* unusual
stains or marks on the body, mouth, nose, clothes or around the area
* avoids
authority figures - teachers, police, youth leaders - and older relatives
* unavoidable
or deliberate vagueness about where been and with whom
* increasing
evidence of genuine loss of short-term memory
* difficulty
concentrating, even for short periods
* increasing
failure to judge time accurately, stays too long, leaves too early
* increasing
sensitivity to light, noise, smells, etc
* no
real or lasting interest in work, play or other people
To bring the situation into
perspective, bear in mind that there is more chance of your child not
being on drugs, as statistics show.
A recent
Recent usage is the best guide to
regular usage and in the last month
11% of all those who had responded to the survey had taken cannabis, 2%
had taken amphetamines and fewer still had used ecstasy or other drugs.
If you believe your child is using
drugs or solvents, it is important to stay calm and not panic. Show you care for them in every
way. Chastising them, criticising them,
attempting to enforce your own ideas of behaviour or trying to "frighten
them off" drugs does not help.
Children are not stupid, and you want them responsibly thinking for
themselves and working for their own good. Your calmness, your self-control and
equipping yourself with full, accurate
and truthful information about drugs will achieve this.
But don't expect them to
"inform" on their friends.
Your child is probably going through enough hell without you adding to
it. Your job is to know what you are talking
about, so that your guidance can be trusted and followed by your child.
NEVER accept just one or two of
these indicators as evidence of drug use.
It is when you get a few of them starting to crop up with increasing
regularity that you keep your eyes open for other signs.
If you feel you would like to talk
things through in detail with one of our staff members, please ring the number
below. Everything is in confidence and
you don't even have to give your name or that of your youngster. Just know - you can be helped, and
that your child can be comfortably rescued.
If you would like further
confidential advice or information on effective drug prevention education for
you and your family, phone or fax (01342) 811099.
© Copyright
C.E..P.T.A. and E. Kenneth Eckersley, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 &
2005. All World Rights Reserved