Substance Abuse

What is substance abuse?

Substance abuse is the use of drugs, alcohol, or chemicals. The substance abuse results in physical, psychological, emotional harm to the user or others.

Substance abuse is rare before the teenage years.

Most frequently abused substances include:

• alcohol
• tobacco
• marijuana
• hashish
• over-the-counter drugs such as dextromethorphan and pseudoephedrine
• benzodiazepines like Ativan and Valium
• stimulants: methamphetamine or cocaine
• club drugs: Ecstasy, ketamine, MDA, or Rohypnol
• hallucinogens: LSD, mushrooms
• inhalants: glue, lighter fluid, gasoline, or paint thinner
• narcotic painkillers: codeine and morphine

Signs and symptoms

Your teenager may try to hide his substance abuse from you. But there are some signs and behaviours that may indicate your child is using drugs, chemicals, or alcohol. These signs are most often noticed as a change in your child's typical behaviour towards school, family, and friends. Areas where a change in behaviour are most noticeable may include:

Changed attitude or success in school

Drug abuse may be occuring if your child:

• starts missing more classes than usual without a good reason
• seems to care less about marks or school activities
• has an unexplained drop in grades

Behavioural changes

Teenagers like to be independent. They need their privacy. However, if your child shows any of the following signs, he could be hiding a drug or alcohol problem:

• major change in behaviour
• major change in how he interacts with family members
• preventing family members from knowing about their friends or where they are going

Change in the need for cash

Another sign of substance abuse is the unexplained need for extra cash. Your child might not be able to explain where he is spending the money. You may notice cash missing from home or valuable items disappearing.

Change in self-care and appearance

Normally, teenagers are very concerned with the way they look. They strive to look their best. If your child lacks interest in clothing, hygiene, grooming, or looks, this may be a sign of substance abuse.

Change in level of energy

There may be a change in your child’s general health. Some signs include:

• poor energy levels
• getting too much or too little sleep
• decrease in motivation

Physical signs and symptoms

Physical signs and symptoms depend on the drug your child may be abusing. For example, if your child is abusing marijuana or hashish, you may notice the following symptoms:

• delayed reaction time
• red eyes
• poor concentration and memory
• increased appetite
• paranoid thinking (also a sign of mental health disease)

Speak to your doctor for signs and symptoms associated with other drugs.

Causes of substance use and abuse

Substance abuse can have many causes. For most teenagers, curiosity and peer pressure leads to their first drug experience. It is natural for teenagers like to engage in risky behaviour. They do it for excitement or to fit in with their peers.

Some teenagers find that marijuana or other drugs can help relieve anxiety or depression, which is known as 'self-medication'. Other drugs like Ecstacy or cocaine offer a jolt of energy and heightened sensation. They may offer a short-term escape from conflicts in life. Substance abuse can occur when teenagers use drugs, a coping strategy to deal with their emotional problems.

Being around family members or peers that encourage drug use may influence your child’s substance abuse. Many studies show that once your child starts using a drugs, genetic factors may influence whether they develop an addiction.

Complications

Substance abuse can have long-term physical and psychological effects. The complications vary depending on the substance abused.

What a doctor can do for your child

Your child’s doctor may be able to help your child recognize his substance abuse. The doctor may explain the effects of drug, chemical, or alcohol abuse. Healthcare providers may be better able to recognize the teenager’s role in decision-making about his health and life choices. For teenagers who may be moving towards addiction, a healthcare provider may be able to recommend more intensive treatment including outpatient sbustance abuse programs. For teenagers with advanced substance abuse, the doctor may recommend a rehabilitation facility.

What can you do to help your child with substance abuse

Stay calm. Do not panic. Try not to be judgmental or angry. Respond with empathy and patience. Discuss your concern with your child. Listen to your teenager to try to find out why the abuse has occurred. By understanding why your teenager is abusing drugs, you can alter that abuse more easily. Be encouraging. Offer support so that your child can build up confidence to stop the drug abuse. If you think your child’s substance abuse is serious, get him help wherever you can. If he trusts his family doctor then that is a great starting point.

Prevention

Most children will be offered drugs, alcohol, or chemicals at some point in their lives. More than two-thirds of high school students in Ontario used alcohol at least once over the previous year. One-third used marijuana or hashish over the previous year.

Alcohol and drugs can make teenagers less inhibited. They may be more likely to engage in risky behaviour or have unprotected sex. For these reasons, the best prevention for substance abuse is as follows:

Talk to your teen

Tell your children about the physical, psychological, and social harms of drug, alcohol, and chemical abuse.

Be a good listener

When your children share their fears and experiences, be a patient listener. Try not to judge. Encourage your child to resist substance abuse. Brainstorm ways they can “say no” to drugs.

Be a role model

Be a responsible parent. Do not abuse drugs or alcohol. When you drink alcohol, do not drink too much. Children of parents who smoke or abuse drugs are more likely to become addicted to cigarettes or drugs.

Spend time with your children

If you and your child have a secure relationship, your child is less likely to abuse drugs.

Resources

There is a plethora of information out there for parents regarding substance use and abuse. Some excellent websites to access additional information are:

Not4me (Health Canada)

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/drugs-drogues/youth-jeunes/index-eng.php

Parents - The Anti-Drug

TheAntiDrug.com serves as a drug prevention information center, and a supportive community for parents to interact and learn from each other: www.theantidrug.com/ei/tips_for_parents.asp

Vancouver Island Health Authority – Parent Information Page

Key points

• Knowledge is key. Know your child's friends and how your kid spend their free time.
• Remember that most teens will 'experiment' with drugs at some point.
• Recognize changes in your child's behaviour as a major warning sign of substance abuse.
• Substance abuse is the use of drugs, alcohol, or chemicals.
• The abuse causes harm to the user or others.
• Be a good listener with your teen. A strong relationship with a parent can prevent substance abuse.