Addiction Parents
Addiction ParentsHere is more information about Addiction parents should know.Are younger children exposed to drugs?The worst thing parents of pre-teen or younger children can do is assume that their child is not going to be exposed to drugs:At schoolIn the community In your own neighborhoodDrugs are everywhere and predatory dealers are looking for younger and younger customers, parents need to be always on the look out for it.The idea of a young child taking drugs is frightening, but equally as alarming is the knowledge that kids, even little kids, have about drugs. They can tell you about cocaine, or marijuana, or heroin or any of the other drugs sold on the street. Consider this: half of all children will try drugs before they get out of high school. Half! Can you say with complete certainty that your child will be among the 50% who do not try drugs at least once? If there is even the slightest chance your child might make a bad decision in a moment of weakness, you need to know what to do.My wife grew up in a large urban area. Her family lived in the city and later moved to a suburb when their financial situation improved. She clearly recalls knowing kids in her elementary schools that took drugs, both in the city and in the suburb. She was one of the 50% who did not use drugs, but her brother, who was seven years older, used drugs regularly when he was in the suburban high school. As it relates to Addiction parents need to recognize that each child is an individual and that life experience for one may bear no resemblance to the experience of the other. If the older one never uses drugs, don’t assume the younger one will not use drugs either.According to Dr. Allen I. Leshner, director, National Institute of Addiction (NIDA), the first thing parents need to understand is WHY their kids would consider taking drugs. He offers that researchers have identified more than 50 factors, which are found at several different levels—individual, family, peer group and broader community. Here are some of the factors about Addiction parents should look for:– Too much free time– Weak family structures- Peer pressure- Social pressure- Media glorification of drugs
Parents need to understand the risk factors. Keep your eyes open. There are a couple of reasons why children will take drugs. Let’s divide kids into two groups:The first group is just looking for fun and excitement. They want to be a part of the crowd, so they do what their friends do, or what they THINK their friends do. They want to be cool. Even in elementary or intermediate school, kids want to be cool. The second group is the kids who want to feel better. They might have emotional or mental issues, or they come from an abusive home, or something else is not right, regardless of how loving and supportive their parents are. They want to feel better, or just feel “normal.” They are self-medicating to feel better. How do you know if your kids are using? – Look for the signs like mood changes, or changes in energy levels. – Do they have redness around their eyes? – Have they stopped eating? – Are they keeping up with their homework?- Are they more secretive? – Have they changes friends? To discuss Addiction parents need quality time with their children. Try to draw them out and see what’s going on in their lives. Get smart. Don’t assume Little Johnny or Little Jane isn’t trying something new, or won’t make a bad choice. The best drug prevention program is your job as a parent right at home.We encourage you to look into drug prevention programs in your child’s school, or in the community. If you suspect your child is self-medicating, get help from a professional!If your child is abusing drugs, becoming addicted, or is already addicted, you can’t handle it alone. Your child needs help and you need help!!You should consult your family doctor, who can give you a referral to a local drug counselor, psychologist or social worker. Addiction is a disease of the body, mind and spirit, so there are many people who are trained to help. Avoid wrong assumptionsSome dangerous assumptions about Addiction parents can make is thinking the Addiction is a passing phase. Do you want to take the risk of your child falling into the clutches of addiction because you think it’s just a passing fancy? They assume they can just handle it at home, maybe talk the kid out of using drugs. They don’t have training in handling drug-related problems and may lose a lot of time, while their child loses control. Parents assume they are the right kind of parents whose children do not do “these kinds of things.” They have money, they have social position, they go to church every Sunday and so these problems happen to other families. Some parents make another dangerous assumption; they might recall their own youth and rationalize their child’s Addiction by saying, “I smoked some grass when I was a kid and look at me, I didn’t become an addict.” Know your childKnow your kid. Be open to allowing your kids to talk to you and share themselves with you, without your correcting them or minimizing their concerns. Be the parent, an understanding and protective guide. Don’t compromise your role by being their “buddy,” because you will lose perspective. Like a general directing his troops, take a step back and look at the field from a hillside. Know that the enemy is there and wants to strike your child. That is a reality.Common Street Names for ILLEGAL DRUGSAmphetamines
Bennies, Black Beauties, Crosses, Hearts, LA Turnaround, Truck Drivers, UppersCocaine
Blow, Bump, Candy, Charlie, Coke, C, Crack, Flake, Rock, Speed Ball (combined with Heroin), TootMethamphetamine
Chalk, Cristy, Meth, Speed, Tina, ZipMethamphetamine Hydrochloride
64 Glass, Crank, Crystal, Fire, Glass, Go Fast, Ice, Quartz, Cheese (Mixture of Meth Amphetamine and Tylenol)Methylphenidate
Rits, Vitamin R, West CoastMDMA: methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Ecstasy, X, XTC, AdamGHB: gamma-hydroxybutyrate
Liquid Ecstasy, Georgia Home Boy, GMarijuana
Blunts, Grass, Joint, Mary Jane, PotKetamine
K, Special K, Vitamin K, Cat ValiumLysergic Acid Diethylamide
Acid, Blotter, Cubes, Dots, L, LSD, SugarRohypnol: flunitrazepam
Roofies, Rophie, Roche, Forget-meRead about the dangers of a teenage brain on drugs…
Learn what PARENTS can do to avoid Prescription Addiction.
To learn more about Addiction parents and TEENS click here.
Read this story of how a parent passes an addiction on to his/her children.
Addiction Parents Addiction Parents Addiction ParentsThis site contains five MAIN pages that EVERYONE should read:
ABOUT…
Read these five pages and learn what you need to know to spot Addiction in: Yourself… Your Family… Your Friends… Your Community…The rest of the pages are there for your reference to explain important topics in more detail.
Finally don’t miss the Spiritual and 12-step sections to fully explore how understanding THE SPIRIT can lead to recovery!