Drug Addiction - Planned Use

Chemicals are bought and use is planned. Unpleasant effects occur as the high ends and a tolerance begins to develop (larger doses are needed to produce a high). New chemicals may be introduced such as hashish, hash oil, uppers, and downers. This stage progresses from mainly weekend use (“weekend warrior”),to week night use, and then day time use, and possible solitary use.

The Dual Life:

A straight image is maintained in front of parents, teachers, and straight friends while a totally different image is projected among drug – using friends. Druggie friends are often met away from home. Although drug use may be well hidden, the child puts an emotional distance between self and parents and other adults. Many kids are able to maintain a good appearance, good grades, athletics, and other extra curricular activities for a surprisingly long period of time (years). The ability to lead a dual life also deceives the user into believing there is control of usage.

At Home:

As the child is drawn more towards the drug culture, attitudes change and what was once unacceptable behavior is now cool and acceptable. Unexplainable mood swings begin, including withdrawal, anger, and aggression. Verbal abuse towards parents, profanity, and rebellious attitudes become a constant friction point between parent and child.

Eye contact with parents and other authority figures is avoided. Isolation from the family is preferred and many hours are spent in the bedroom usually with loud rock music. The first signs of the motivational syndrome (loose of motivation and drive) appear. Hobbies and extracurricular activities may be dropped. Everything is a “hassle”, and all problems are blamed on other people.

At school:

As grades drop, parents may react with strong disciplinary action. The child may bring up the grades, often by cheating or changing grades on the report card. The improvement cons the parents into believing the problem is improved or solved. Deviant behavior and drug and alcohol use at school begin.

Morals:

Vandalism, shoplifting, stealing, lying, and / or sexual promiscuity is common. As drug use and tolerance increase, stealing from parents and siblings begins to pay for drugs. Self – medication by getting high to relieve shame and guilt begins.

Physical Signs:

Marijuana irritates the eyes, causing redness, which can be alleviated by the use of Visine or similar products. Marijuana may leave a sweet smokey smelllike sweet hay in the hair or clothes.

It can also cause stains and burns on lips, inside the mouth, finger tips or fingernails, and a craving for sweets. Dilated or constricted pupils, glassy eyes, poor muscle coordination, a runny nose, excessive thirst, bad breath, or a weight gain or loss, change of appetite, or a measles – like rash can indicate use of various drugs. Excessive tiredness is common because of the depressant action of drugs and because of the late hour life style.

The Parents: Many parents enlist the help of school counselors, psychiatric social workers, family therapists, psychiatrists, etc., most of whom either completely fail to recognize chemical use or underestimate the amount of involvement and consider it a symptom of other problem. At this point, a professional trained to recognize adolescent chemical use will refer the family to a drug rehabilitation program, because the child needs specialized treatment.