Teens and
Drugs By Kenneth Hoffman, LAc T
een drug use is an ages old concern, and as a parent it’s one of my biggest fears. The landscape of our children’s world has changed and it’s a challenge to understand the present drug problems, let alone find a solution. There is a plethora of designer drugs replete with chemical toxins, as well as a profusion of pre- scribed medications that can make their way into our children’s lives. These come along with a changing economic climate, an increas- ingly stressful world, and a less healthy society. We have to know two things: If our children are at risk of using or are using drugs, and how we can help them. The most prevalent drugs are marijuana, prescription drugs and
alcohol. If your children have told you they aren’t using drugs, but you’re still concerned they may be doing so, there are warning signs to look for. The following is intended only as a guide, as many of these signs may be the result of other physiological changes related to your children’s development through their teenage years. If your children are too young to consider drug use remember that if you keep them optimally healthy, you will help them avoid drugs in the future. It is my professional opinion that health conditions in child- hood can lead to self-medication in later years. Regardless of age, make a point of observing your children, and make note of how often these warning signs occur. If a number of them occur at the same time, it might indicate your child is on drugs.
Here is a partial list of potential warning signs:
• A drop in school grades • Changes in eating patterns • A reduction in organized extracurricular activities (such as an unexplained dropping-out of sport or other activities or interests) • Bloodshot or glassy eyes • Agitation, anxiety, jitteriness • An unexplained change of friends • Tiredness, laziness and loss of motivation • Sleeping problems, including not sleeping • Unusual or irregular behavior • Aggressive behavior • Unexplained mood swings • A reduction in or minimal interaction with the family • You notice that valuable items or money are missing
Kids might get involved with drugs because of peer pressure, and/or for emotional reasons, which are often caused by a chemical
20 Natural Nutmeg August 2012
imbalance or hormone imbalance, such as depression, anxiety, or a physical health problem they think can only be helped with drugs. It’s important to know about each of these in order to understand how best to help our children and to realize that natural solutions exist for these conditions. The most prevalent reason kids start experimenting with drugs is
peer pressure. Teach your children how to say no to pressure so they don’t feel they have to say yes. For example: “Are you crazy? We could go to jail. What would happen if our parents found out?” The second reason children try drugs relates to the anxiety
of growing up which can include poor self-esteem, rejection by peers, or a traumatic event. One solution is to help your child find something s/he can do well at, such as sports, dance classes, yoga, exercise, working out, etc. If you need to participate, don’t resist. It will help you feel better, too, and will create a bond between you and your child. Children often take cues from those closest to them and you would always like that to be you.
Prescription drugs can lead to drug dependence. In fact, pre- scription drug overdose as a cause of death has recently become more prevalent than illegal drug overdose. If, as often as possible, you use natural solutions to resolve your family’s health problems, you will help your child avoid prescription drug abuse. Keep in mind that numerous studies have revealed that children often get their drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinet, and they also can get prescription drugs from friends. Prescription drugs are the most lethal type of drugs. Even though it may at times be necessary for us to use prescription drugs, it sets an example that children follow. The over- use of medication is clearly on the rise: According to IMS Health, a healthcare information company, doctors issued 124 million prescriptions for the generic version of the painkiller Vicodin in 2008 compared to 97 million in 2004, and prescriptions for the generic version of OxyContin have doubled, increasing from 14 million to 28 million during that same time period. According to an article published in the St. Petersburg Times, pain killers and antidepressants kill more people than cocaine and heroin combined. The article stated that “prescription drug overdoses are likely to overtake car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death here…” Dr. Leslie Walker, chief of adolescent medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital, says that prescription painkillers have become more widely available than ever before. Studies conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America found that 40 percent of American adults believe it is safe to take prescription drugs without a prescription, with an attitude of, “Why else would doctors prescribe
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