Recognize the signs of drug use by your children

My purpose with this article is to educate parents on the signs they should look for so that they can protect their children from dangerous drugs. First, we need to know what drugs are widely abused among teenagers. Marijuana is the most common drug among teenagers today. The second most abused drug among teenagers are prescription drugs.

Marijuana

Our society as a whole has become more relaxed when it comes to the possession and use of marijuana. Marijuana was recognized by the State ofCaliforniaas serving a medical purpose. Hence, medical marijuana is now legal to posses with a doctor's recommendation. In addition to this, the illegal possession of less than one ounce of marijuana has gone from a misdemeanor to an infraction. This relaxed approach towards the drug has made it difficult for law enforcement to keep the drug from reaching innocent hands.

Marijuana is known as the "Gateway" drug. This means that most drug addicts begin with marijuana and move on to other drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. I believe this to be true because 9 out of 10 drug addicts that I deal with test positive for marijuana along with one or more of the other drugs mentioned. The most common denominator is marijuana.

How is Marijuana Used?

Marijuana is most commonly smoked as a cigarette, also known as a "joint.” Marijuana can also be smoked in a pipe, or a bong. It may also be smoked in a "blunt.” A blunt is a cigar that has been emptied and refilled with marijuana. Marijuana can also be mixed with foods and brewed as a tea. As a parent, if you suspect that your child is using marijuana look for lighters, cigarette paper (ZigZags), flavored Cigars, and glass pipes. If you find these products in your child’s property it is unlikely that they are using them to smoke tobacco.

How Does Marijuana Work and What Signs Do I Look For?

When Marijuana is smoked, the active ingredient in the drug known as THC goes from the lungs to the blood stream. The blood carries the THC into the brain. The THC connects to specific sites known as the Cannabinoid receptors on the nerve cells and then influences the activity of those cells.     These cells directly deal with memory, thinking, concentration, time perception, and coordinated movement.

Here is what to look for. Someone who has been smoking marijuana will appear drowsy, have red or blood shot eyes, increased heart rate, coughing (lung irritation), and increased appetite. Teenagers often carry eye drops to get rid of the redness in their eyes and avoid detection. Marijuana usually has a strong odor. Look for heavy use of cologne and or perfume to cover up the smell of marijuana.

Finally, if you find yourself checking your child's cell phone, computer, and social network here are some other names teenagers use for marijuana: Bud, Blunts, Chronic, Dope, Ganja, Tree, Hash, Herb, Indo, Joint, Mary Jane, Mota, Pot, Reefer, Skunk, Weed, Yerba, 420, 710 (Hash Oil).

Prescription Drugs

The abuse of prescription drugs is a growing problem. The cause is obvious. The last time I checked my medicine cabinet, I had some. If I have some then you probably do too. Prescription drugs are readily available to almost every teenager inAmerica. As parents we forget about them and do not account for them. This makes it easy for a teenager to grab them and use them without us even noticing.

In 2010 one in every 20 Americans, 12 years old and older, reported using prescription pain killers in a non-medical way.

(NSDUH, CDC Press Release, Nov. 2011)

Pills are widely abused because teenagers don't believe that they are dangerous. The truth is they are dangerous and highly addictive. Teenagers are currently becoming addicted to pain medications and then turning to heroin because the prescription pills are no longer available. Heroin is cheaper and easy to buy in the streets.

How Are They Used?

Pills are commonly used by swallowing. Pill manufacturers have tried to fight the abuse of pills by adding time release layers to the pills. Addicts will simply wash the pills before swallowing them getting rid of the time release layer. Users also cut the pills into powder and snort the powder up their nose. Pills can be smoked. The pill can be placed on a piece of aluminum foil. A flame is added to the bottom of the foil and the user smokes the fumes given by the pill as it burns. This produces a piece of foil with black lines left by the burnt pill.

What to Look For?

Check your medicine cabinet. Count your pills and see if any are missing. Look for dirty water in cups or other containers that could have been used for washing pills. Check for aluminum foil with black lines on it. Also, check if there are straws or hollowed out writing pens that could have been used to smoke fumes from burning pills.

Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

There are far too many prescription drugs to list. The following are some of the most commonly abused along with some nick names for them.

Codeine Cough Syrup with Promethazine. This is a cough syrup that is commonly mixed with soda or other liquids. Teenagers like to refer to this drink as Lean, Purple Drank, and Syrup. If you listen to rap music you will hear rappers talking about this drink and how they abuse it.

Hydrocodone Pills. Also known as Vicodin, Lortab, Lorecet, and Hydrocodone with Acetaminophen

Oxycodone Pills. These are some nick names for Oxycodone. Oxycotton, Percs, OC, OX, Hillbilly, Heroin, Kicker.

Xanax. Also known as Z bars, Zanny bars, or bars.

Sleeping Pills such as Ambien or Sonata.

What to Do?

If you have prescription medications that you don't need anymore you can turn them in to the Lemoore Police Department. There is a medication drop box on the west side of the Police Department where you can drop them off without having to come into the Police Department. Keep in touch with your child. Don't be afraid to ask for social network passwords so you can see what they are talking about with their friends. Teenagers often brag about the things they do. This includes the use of drugs.

Remember, if there is a problem with addiction the sooner we address it the sooner we get rid of it.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this article, you can contact me at the Lemoore Police Department at (559) 924-6787 or on my E-Mail at alvaro.santos@lemoorepd.com.