The Citizen, 1996-11-20, Page 6Seeing the problem
How do you tell if your child has a problem? Here are some clues
from Warning Signs: A Parent's Guide to In-time Intervention in Drug
and Alcohol Abuse by Elaine and William C. Van Ost, which may
indicate possible substance abuse.
• Erratic school grades
• Skipping school
• Extracurricular activities dropped
• Family activities avoided
• Refusal to do chores
• Change in family communication
• Unpredictable mood swings
• Conning behaviour
- Feelings of depression
• Frequent sore throats, red eyes, cough
• Minor delinquent involvement
• No savings from an after school-Pa
• Unexplained phone calls/visitsin unfamiliar friends
• School failure (more frequent skipping, possible expulsion)
• Vocal disrespect shown to teacher
• Amotivational behaviour, lack of affect
• Pathological lying
Rebellious dress styles; obvious awareness of messages from the
drug culture
• Policincidents —DWIs, stealing, shoplifting
• M tff . valuables missing from home, a relative's house or from,
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CHRISTMAS CHEER HAMPER
APPLICATIONS
The Salvation Army. Wingham
will be taking applications
for Christmas hampers on
Friday, November 29 1 - 4 p.m. lk
Monday, December 2 1 - 4 p.m.
at 292 Edward St. (Church) Wingham
If you need more information, please call our
Director of Family Services - Mrs. Captain Edna Rowe at
357-3757 or the church office at 357-1951.
FEET FIRST
Nurse will come to your home to trim nails and care
for your callouses or bunions.Pedicures also provided.
Gift Certificates available
Stacey Meade R.P.N.
(519) 662-9261 or 1-800-405-1591
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1996
Curiosity about drugs often gets kids started
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
— With notes from Ashley Gropp
They're fun-loving, adventurous and free-spirited. But their
zest for life could be putting that life in danger.
This week is National Drug Awareness Week. The theme
is "Choices, Consequences and Responsibility", a concept
that focuses particularly on teens.
According to Mary Gregg, a counsellor with the Huron
Addiction Assessment and Referral Centre (HAARC),
experimentation is the main reason young people try
cigarettes, alcohol or other drugs. "They just want to know
what it's like. They want to find out for themselves."
A 1995 Ontario survey conducted on students notes that of
those polled the majority had used drugs only one or twice
during that year.
According to information from the Addiction Research
Foundation, most young people try drugs out of curiousity,
not to turn it into a lifetime habit. For 15-year-old "Jean"*,
who started drinking at a party, it just seemed like the thing
to do. "Someone offered it to me and I thought, 'Why not?
Everyone else is."'
"Denise"* is a normal 16-year-old secondary school
student. She says that like everyone else she was curious
about drugs. She experimented with marijuana, magic
mushrooms and hash oil, drinks occasionally now and is
trying to quit smoking. The casual flirtation with drugs has
left a bad taste, however.
"No matter how much your curiousity gets to you, never try
it," she advises. "It'll mess you up big time."
While generations before them experimented with mind-
altering substances, teens today are much more aware of the
dangers. "They still want to try it," said Gregg. "That's the
stage of development where they are. They're invincible and
they want to experience everything. They think nothing can
touch them."
She warns, however, that in addition to the obvious dangers
of drug use, there are other problems when under the
influence of a mind-altering substance. "For most kids the use
may not be extreme, but they could get into a situation that's
unwanted, like putting themselves at risk with a drunk driver.
They have to know they can't trust anyone but themselves."
While the ARF study discovered that the percentage of
young people using drugs has increased, there were
indications that it has not resulted in intensified or
problematic patterns of use. Of the nine drugs for which there
was an indication of increased usage, the rate of seven of
them remains below eight percent, said Meryl Thomas of
HAARC. Also the increases in use were restricted to males
and 9th and I I th graders.
Also early initiation of alcohol, tobacco or cannabis, which
is related to future usage and problems has not increased. Nor
were there increases in use among 7th graders. Thomas and
Gregg say this is good news.
"Typically, it seems the ones who start young tend to keep
going," said Thomas.
Gregg agrees. "The older kids are before they start the
better. At 12 or 13 their judgement isn't that good. Hopefully
at 17 or 18 they have developed better skills for handling the
issue. However, under the influence of a mind-altering
substance there are no guarantees."
"It's difficult enough to survive the teen years," said Gregg.
"Especially when you put yourself into dangerous situations."
*Names have been changed
Parents need to be good role models
among adults. While the majority
drink alcohol, there are those who
abuse prescription and over the
counter drugs, smoke marijuana or
use other illegal substances.
Teenagers are learning to become
adults, which means relating to
people having fun and dealing with
emotions. When they see adults
using or abusing alcohol or drugs to
help them cope it sends a strong
message.
"Add youthful curiosity, the urge
to experiment, social pressures and
an interest in challenge and risk and
it's not hard to understand why
young people are attracted to
drugs."
For parents with teens, the best
prevention is education. "Parents
who know about drugs, their use,
the effects and the law, are more
confident and believeable when
discussing them with their kids,"
said Gregg.
And unless kids know the basic
facts they will make decisions
about alcohol or drugs with a lot of
false information. Talking about
things, offering support, setting
rules, making time for each other,
and talking about how you feel,
may also help teens with these
choices.
***
not extreme if the situation isn't
extreme, but you need to clarify
where you stand."
Being a good role model for
You suspect your child is children is also essential.
experimenting with drugs. What "Teenagers may veer to the left of
should you do and how concerned their parents' values from time to
should you be? time, but if they survive the teen
Experts with the Huron Addiction years they will adopt those values
Assessment and Referral Centre say eventually," said Gregg.
the biggest thing is to not panic. Parents, however, could be guilty
While guilt, fear and anger are of sending mixed messages. "We
common reactions to the issue, it is will often get calls from parents in a
best to take a breather before panic because they have found drug
talking to your child. Drug use paraphernalia in their kids' room.
should be approached the same way They have expressed their
any concern would be handled. disapproval about drugs, but their
"Make sure your information is own use of alcohol, cigarettes or
correct, then confront the child with pills have confused the issue," said
the knowledge you have," said Gregg.
Mary Gregg a counsellor with A brochure from Health and
HAARC. "Set consequences and Welfare Canada called "Really
follow through." Me", addresses this parallel. It
If a child denies using drugs, states that by high school most
parents are advised to avoid young people will have done some
confrontation. "Leave the drinking without parental
discussion for another time. supervision. A small percentage
Continue to show confidence in will drink heavily.
your child," said Gregg. About one in five will try
Ignorance is not bliss in this marijuana, hash or hash oil, while
situation. It is not safe to assume smaller groups will get into other
the problem will go away. illegal drugs, abuse over the
"Acknowledging that kids will be counter or prescription drugs or
kids is fine, but ignoring the sniff hazardous products.
behaviour is condoning it," said The brochure notes that this
Gregg. "Parents should take action, pattern is similar to what is seen
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TEEN GETS DRUNESTONED
That Night —
1. Remain calm
2. Talk to them and find out what they have taken.
3. Call a doctor or take them to the emergency department, if seriously ill.
4. Tell them you will talk to them about it tomorrow.
5. Send them to bed and check during the night.
6. Don't shout, accuse or hurt them in any way — this can be dangerous.
Next Day
1. Talk to them immediately.
2. Have them assume responsibility for their actions, including cleanup.
3. Try to fmd out what happened and who they were with.
4. Let them know their behaviour is not acceptable and you will be
watching them closely in the future.
5. Set guidelines and limits and let them know you expect them to follow
them.
6. Discuss other activities so they can avoid chemical use.
7. Don't talk with them if your are still too angry. Wait until you have
calmed down.
8. Don't try to hide what happened from other family members.
Parent's Denial:
One of the most powerful deterrents to kids getting help is parents denying
there is a problem.
From HAARC's "Information for Parents Regarding Alcohol/Drug Use in
Teens
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C itizen
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff