Parents' guide to young people, drugs and alcohol

The first thing to remember is 'don't panic'. The word 'drugs' brings a shiver of fear to most parents. You imagine your child slumped in some seedy room injecting some substance or dead. Don't over-react. One of the most important things to remember is that, although illegal drugs are widely available, only a very small percentage of young people end up as 'addicts' or compulsive users. You may think that experimenting with cannabis is bound to lead them down the path of being addicted to heroin, but this is not true.

Adolescence

Adolescence is a confusing, conflicting time. A time where young people begin to move away from their parents in their transition to adulthood. Young people are caught between being a child and becoming an adult, but don't fit into either category. During this period your child moves from dependence to independence, when they begin to find their own values, their personality and set their goals. During adolescence the shift from you being responsible for them, and them being responsible for themselves begins, and you need to let them start taking responsibility for their own actions. One of the most important things is to try and remember what adolescence was like for you. Remember your thoughts and feelings if you can; try to remember the highs and the lows. Remember that you are not alone. Other parents are thinking and feeling exactly the same way as you.

Get informed

De-mystify drugs to yourself and find out about what drugs are called, the effects and the risks. Going through this process with your child can be beneficial, so that you can learn together. You can also see what information your child already has, and if it's correct. Don't jump to conclusions if your child knows more about drugs than you. This is quite possible, and doesn't mean that they have been using drugs.

Talk to them

Talk openly about drugs with your child. Talking about drugs will not encourage your son or daughter to use them. Discuss openly the effects and the risks of drugs, discuss the illegal nature of the drugs and what it would mean if your child got caught. Discuss the law in relation to the impact on your child, their potential police record and the impact this would have on school, jobs and careers.

Be supportive

Encourage your child to discuss drugs with their friends, and their experiences with you without judging and over-reacting. It's natural for a parent to want to protect their child, by trying to keep them away from friends, you believe to be a bad influence. You cannot watch your child 24 hours a day, so don't over-react, if they tell you, or if you find out that some of their friends have tried illegal substances. Discuss the risks and inform your child, to enable them to make informed choices.

Communication

Always try and keep the lines of communication open with your child. If it comes to the crunch, your child must see that you are there for them. If the police get involved, support your child through the process, whilst appreciating the police view point. Take a mediating role between your child and the police.

The Risks

The health risks and effects of each drug are listed in the A - Z of drugs. Additionally it is worth also pointing out the following:

• If you have not taken a particular drug before, you cannot be sure of its effects.
  
• You can never be sure exactly what you are taking.
  
• You don't know what it is mixed with and how pure it is. It is unlikely to be pure.
  
• Not knowing the strength of what you are taking can lead to accidental overdose.
  
• It's very dangerous to mix drugs or to take them with alcohol.
  
• Injecting is very dangerous and can lead to infections, such as HIV, Hepatitis B or C and damaged veins.
  
• One of the most important things to remember about illegal drugs use is that those that use illegal drugs may fall into four categories.

One

For the majority of young people who try illegal substances (usually cannabis), they do it three or four times and stop.

Two

The next largest group of young people that use illegal drugs are the 'recreational' or 'social' users. These young people treat using drugs as part of their social life, like going down the pub to have a drink or going out partying. They do it with friends on a weekend and function relatively normally during the week.

Three

The next group is where drug use becomes problematic. It starts affecting social function and their personality, misusing substances to the point of becoming compulsive users or 'addicts'. Drugs start playing a more important role in their lives than anything or anyone else.

Four

There is a fourth category, purely of those whose drug use leads to injecting. There are many drug users that smoke crack and heroin and use other substances, but don't move on to injecting. The ones that move to injecting substances are at the greatest risk. Injecting is the greatest abuser of the body and can lead to serious injuries and infections. This level of self-harm is very dangerous. There are, however, ways of reducing harm to injecting users, by the use of needle exchanges to get clean needles and seeking medical advise.

Where to get help

There is help for young people and parents in the county. If you are worried about your child, speak to some one. Telephone 01865 723909 for general information.

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