- Partner with your pediatrician or family doctor to work with your teen.
- If necessary, find a treatment facility.
There are ways to stop this very serious problem in its tracks, but you have to be vigilant.
What You Can Do if Your Teen Is Using Drugs
- Pick up your teen’s mp3 player and go to the “Top 25 Most Played” section. Listen for references to alcohol, drugs, or other risky behaviors. Use these references as talking points to start a dialogue with your teen.
- Visit social networking sites like MySpace.com, and browse the profiles of teens to see what they say, what their interests are, and what they are doing online.
- Monitor your teen’s comings and goings. Get to know the who, what, where, when, and why of their daily activities.
- Can you name your teen’s favorite TV show? Watch it with him or her and discuss story lines that deal with drug use.
- Go to a video sharing Web site and type in “smoking weed.” Watch some of the videos and see if your teen’s recent behavior matches the reactions of people who are high. If you suspect that your teen has a problem, don’t wait.
- State your concerns and what you intend to do to help your teen, whether she wants it or not. Early intervention is the best intervention.
- When confronting your teen, don’t get angry. Be firm but also make it clear that you love your teen and you will do anything to help them lick their problem.
The Facts About the New Highs
Drug: DXM (dex, skittles, robo, tussin)
How its Consumed: Swallowed
The High: Drunken feeling, hallucinations
How Teens Get It: In over-the-counter cold medications and cough syrups
Drug: Ritalin (kibbles & bits, pineapple)
How its Consumed: Swallowed or snorted
The High: Increased alertness and energy, euphoria
How Teens Get It: From other kids who have prescriptions
Drug: Salvia divinorum (ska pastorum, sally-d, shepherdess herb)
How its Consumed: Smoked, chewed, ingested in liquid form
The High: Euphoria, loss of motor control
How Teens Get It: Not illegal in US. Can be purchased
Drug: Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Codeine
How its Consumed: Swallowed or injected
The High: Euphoria, feelings of well-being, drowsiness
How Teens Get It: Stolen from medicine cabinet, purchased illegally online
Drug: Xanax (xanabar, monkey bars)
How its Consumed: Swallowed
The High: Euphoria, sluggishness
How Teens Get It: Stolen from medicine cabinet, purchased illegally online.
By Anthony Bruno
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