Hints for Parents

What Parents Should Know

Factors influencing experimentation with drugs:

• A lack of affection and attention from parents

• The demands of a performance driven society

• Parent's believe that their kids would never do drugs and fail to inform or warn them.

• Parent's ignorance about drugs

• Peer pressure

• Over emphasis of the "harmlessness' of drugs by the peer group

The effects of drug abuse are not restricted to the drug abuser but spill over to his/her family, friends and society.

Drugs attract paraphernalia such as:

• The excessive use of mouth sprays, chewing gum and sweets to remove the smell of alcohol

• Burning of incense to disguise sweetish marijuana odours

• Continuous use of eye-drops to clear blood-shot eyes

• Sunglasses worn at inappropriate times

• Unexplained tablets, powders or small dry seeds or dagga pips in pockets, handbags or plastic bank sachets

• Cigarette rolling papers or thin, hand-rolled cigarettes

• Inhalant substances such as glue, thinners, "Spray 'n Cook", turpentine, lighter fluids, and acetone

• Unsmoked cigarettes with the filter broken off

• Dagga seeds in ashtrays and on carpets

• Broken bottle necks, dagga pipes or "hubbly bubblies"

• Hypodermic needles or syringes

• Single-edged razor blades (for cocaine)

• Empty cough mixture bottles or diet pill containers (Thinz)

• Tiny spoons, bent spoons, burnt spoons and tin foil (for heroin preparation)

• Brown marijuana stains or glue stains on the fingers, clothes, handkerchiefs or bed linen.

Identifiable characteristics of drug dependency

Physical indicators

• Red/blood-shot eyes, visual distortion

• Markedly dilated or constricted pupils

• Unexplained, repeated vomiting or abdominal pains

• Indistinct speech

• Excessive perspiration

• Delayed reflex action and lack of co-ordination

• Disorientation, dizziness, trembling hands

• Regular nosebleeds

• General deterioration of health

• Inexplicable weight loss

• Injection marks/bruising/scabs/sores on arms, legs or private parts

• Yellow stains on hand/finger as a result of smking dagga

• Endless cold symptoms (sore throat, coughing)

Behavioural indicators

• Long uninterrupted sleeping periods or insomnia

• Change in appetite

• Aggressive/hostile behaviour

• Unaccountable mood swings/personality disturbances

• Lack of communication with family

• Lying and dishonesty

• Guilty behaviour; avoiding eye contact

• Disappearance for considerable periods, especially at night

• Sudden change of friends or becoming loners

• Hallucinations

• Theft (money, household articles) or abnormal spending

• Neglect of personal hygiene

• Untidiness, if previously tidy

• Impaired word performance, reduced concentration span

• Lack of motivation (school, hobbies, friends)

• Visits to clubs known as places where drugs are used/abused/sold

What to do if you know someone who is taking drugs

Do not

• get hysterical

• threaten the person physically or emotionally

• promise them rewards if they stop using drugs

• moralise

• punish them

• throw them out of the house

• manipulate them

• play an emotional verbal game eg: "How could you do this to us?"

• believe promises that it won't happen again

• lecture on the dangers of drugs

• tell the whole world

• blame other people

• try to find out where they are getting drugs from

Positive action

• Try to remain calm.

• Facilitate and communicate supportiveness.

• Seek professional help from a doctor, a counsellor, a spiritual leader, rehabilitation centres, help lines.

• Join a support group for parents in the same situation.

• Talk to someone about how you are feeling (a counsellor/your doctor)

• Read as much as you can about drugs and drug addiction.

• Stress LOVE and CONCERN for your child

Tips for parents

• Make time to listen to the child's problems and work through it with him/her.

• Give clear no-use messages about drugs and alcohol.

• Help your child to deal with peer pressure.

• Get to know your child's friends and their parents.

• Monitor your child's whereabouts.

• Supervise teen activities and set an example in the healthy use of leisure time.

• Maintain an open and honest dialogue with your child.

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