It can be safely said, that nothing may be more terrifying for a parent than discovering that her/his child is involved in a situation that could be life threatening. One such situation would be drug abuse, where there is not only concern for the child's physical and psychological health, but also the stigmatization that she/he could face. Parents are wracked by guilt, that maybe their parenting was inadequate and therefore responsible for such behavior from the child.

If and when such a situation does arise in one's family, prioritizing and planning for the health and recovery of the child is the immediate first step. No stone should be left unturned in working towards securing a space for the child where she/he can deal with and heal from the addiction.

Rather than burying their heads in the sand, parents need to make themselves aware of the kind of destructive behaviours children can fall into. This awareness helps one feel confident about communicating with the child like in the situation of drug abuse. If one is well-informed and alert one will be able to identify problem areas in a child's development and watch for signs of substance abuse. An informed and aware parent has the advantage of being able to intervene quickly and effectively.

Adolescence is a period when your children will resort to unconventional and oftentimes even irrational behavior, but when most of the above signs start appearing together, and you sense that something is wrong, it is important to investigate the possibility of drug use.

• The first thing that you as parents have to do, is to confront the situation as something that has happened to you and your family. This acceptance is crucial as it allows you to look the problem in the eye and think pragmatically of ways of solving it, rather than pretending that it is something that happens to others and could never happen to you. Once you face up to reality, it will be easier for you to think of what to do next and to be a support for your child.
• It is important to open up all possible channels of communication with your child. Talking to the child about the feelings and experiences she/he has had is a good way of gaining trust and showing that there is acceptance and love for the child. Initially, there may be a lot of resistance from the child and even denial about the fact that there could be something wrong with her/him. But don't give up.
• Don't judge the child. It could lead to further withdrawal on the child's part. It is time for compassion and empathy. It is a tough time for both of you. Share the experiences, which the teenager has been going through and ask about ruling emotions and feelings the child/teenager has been having. It allows the teenager to feel closer to you and start trusting. It could also enable you to find out why the child went into the situation in the first place.
• The entire family should go together to a counselor, a rehabilitation center and/or a therapist and consult about the crisis. This can be very important. The child should feel supported and feel that the family is concerned and taking responsibility for what has happened.
• It should always be treated like any other sickness or illness. It is important to be natural about it. The child should not be made to feel that this is the end of her/his world or life. Remember that the child is aware of pain or trauma in his life that has led him or her to substance abuse.
• It is very important not to judge yourself, or to become sentimental or melodramatic about the whole affair. It is natural that you as parents would think it is your fault, but do not take the blame entirely. The child/teenager has to be allowed to take responsibility for his/her life and decisions.
• There is always the fear of social stigma with regard to your child taking drugs. Take care to let your child know that you are standing by her/him, no matter who says what. The child should not feel isolated and insecure.

• Emotional disturbances in the family and ineffective parenting.
  Being in emotionally disturbed families, or those lacking structure and nurturing, or violent family structures, or parents getting divorced, etc. can make children vulnerable to addictions. Children living in such uncertainty and trauma are usually of an emotionally unbalanced nature and they will seek out anything, which can take them away from their everyday reality.
• Chaotic home environments, even more so when one of the parents is an addict.
  Children of these homes invariably follow in similar directions. As children we always follow our parents for they are our first role models. A chaotic home and an addict as a role model will propel the child in a similar direction.
• Need for more and newer highs.
  The need for new kinds of kicks can lead teenagers to look for different kinds of pleasures and highs by getting more and more into the complicated drug scene. As the child goes deeper into addiction, the same old drugs cease to give them the high they are looking for. The appetite for new and different kinds of intoxication increases and a search for new and more exciting drugs begins, taking them further and further into the realms of addiction.
• "Drugs are the cool thing to do".
  Adolescence is the time when children are trying to find their own identity and being 'cool' is important and synonymous with being bohemian, arty and so on. They may think that having drugs can for example increase their creativity. They may give examples of Coleridge and Byron who altered and enhanced their creativity through marijuana. It can also be a way of rebelling and portraying themselves as being anti institution and as having "been there and done it all".
• Peer Pressure.
  Taking drugs can also be a way by which children feel they "belong" to a group. Peer pressure can be tremendous at this age. Children who feel inadequate in and of themselves easily buckle under peer pressure.
• Sexual abuse can also be the cause of taking drugs.
  Like any other trauma sexual abuse can also lead to drug abuse. Drugs can help 'numb' the pain. Drugs can create a feeling of disconnection and distance from the event which makes it possible for the child to escape from the memory of the trauma.

If parents want to be able to effectively communicate with and protect their children they have to be alert towards them and their changing needs and have a relationship with them which is friendly, non-judgmental and supportive. It is also important that parents be aware of the kinds of drugs that are most prominently in circulation and consumption. This will help parents know about the kinds of harmful substances that their children may be exposed to and the side effects of these substances. In this way parents can be better equipped to communicate the pitfalls of drug taking to their children in a timely manner. Alternatively if they are ever in a situation where their child is taking drugs they will also be better equipped to intervene.

Different types of drugs:


• Depressants
• Stimulants
• Hallucinogens

• Depressants - these slow down the body's system of functioning by impairing various brain functions, movement, speech etc., and induce sleep-like states. Depressants are often medically prescribed by doctors to treat anxiety, tension, insomnia, muscle spasms, and irritability. However, depressants are often abused for their intoxicating effects. They may be obtained by theft, through illegal prescriptions, purchased on the illicit market, and some of them may even be easily available at any chemist's store. Depressants include sedatives like ValiumŪ. If your teenager is abusing depressants, he or she may appear to be in a state of intoxication much like that of alcohol, with impaired judgment, inebriation, slurred speech, and loss of motor coordination. Other symptoms include a weak and rapid pulse, slow or rapid but shallow breathing, and cold and clammy skin.

  Alcohol,  Heroin

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• Stimulants - Young people use stimulants to feel stronger, more energetic, and more decisive. As with other drugs, some stimulants are legally prescribed by doctors for various reasons, such as weight loss, hyperactive children, or a rare disease called narcolepsy. Examples of stimulants are amphetamines, methamphetamines, Ritaline and Preludine. Included in this category are cocaine, and rock cocaine or crack (a deadly and highly addictive form of cocaine). Also included is ice, a translucent crystal that is a smokable form of methamphetamine. If your teenager is using stimulants, at first he or she may seem exhilarated and hyperactive, will have dilated pupils and have little or no appetite. Other symptoms may include irritability, anxiety, apprehension, and insomnia. Cocaine and crack produce a high for a shorter period of time than other stimulants; however, as with all drugs, the highs vary according to the strength of the drug and the rate of administration.

  Large doses of stimulants can cause repetitive grinding of the teeth, weight loss, touching and picking of the face and paranoia. An overdose can result in dizziness, tremors, agitation, panic, hostility, abdominal cramps, chest pains and palpitations. Extreme overdoses can result in cardiac arrest, strokes, even death.

  After extended use, if the stimulant is discontinued there can be withdrawal symptoms. The signs of withdrawal are profound depression, apathy, fatigue, long periods of sleep, a lingering impairment of perception, disorientation, and anxiety.

  Cocaine  Methamphetamines

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• Hallucinogens - These are also called 'mind-altering drugs' because they impact on higher centers of the brain involving language, creativity, ideas, imagery etc., and only minimally affect functions such as speech or motor coordination. After taking the hallucinogen there is definitely a change in mood. The expression of the mood may differ from person to person depending on the personality of the individual

  Hallucinogens cause distortions of reality, particularly with sight, smell, and touch. Included in this category are LSD, mescaline, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms, and phencyclidine (PCP). Hallucinogens are normally swallowed, but PCP is usually smoked.

  There is no evidence that hallucinogens cause a physical dependence; however extended use may result in permanent brain damage. The most commonly abused hallucinogens are LSD and PCP.

  Ecstasy,  LSD,  Marijuana

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