Drug Endangered Children
and Drug Identification
What is a drug endangered child?
A child who lives in a place with
no heat
A child who smokes pot with
his parents
A child left alone with no
supervision
A child in need of medical
attention
Drug Endangered Children
Children who
suffer physical or
psychological
harm or neglect
resulting from
exposure to an
environment
where adults are
manufacturing,
selling, or using
drugs.
Neglected & Abused Children
50% more likely to be arrested as
juveniles
40% more likely to be arrested for a
violent crime as adults
33% more likely to become
substance abusers
US Department of Justice
Drugs of Abuse
Most Commonly Abused Drug
Legal Drug
Commonly Abused Drugs
Marijuana
Commonly Abused Drugs
Methamphetamine
Commonly Abused Drugs
Prescription Drugs
Commonly Abused Drugs
Cocaine
Drugs Of Abuse
Heroin
Drugs Of Abuse
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Drugs Of Abuse
GHB
Drugs Of Abuse
LSD
Drugs Of Abuse
Inhalants
Drugs Of Abuse
Dextromathorithan
Drugs of Abuse
Fentanyl
Drug Schedules
 Schedule I
Heroin, Ecstasy, Marijuana , LSD, Rohypnol
 Schedule II
Cocaine, Ritalin, PCP, Fentanyl, OxyContin, Percocet,
Morphine, Methamphetamine
 Schedule III
Ketamine, Vicodine, Loritab, Tylenol 3
 Schedule IV
Xanax, Librium, Valium, Phenobarbital, Darvocet
 Schedule V
Cough suppressants
Marijuana
 The most commonly
abused illicit drug in
the U.S.
 A dry, shredded
green/brown mix of
flowers, stems,
seeds, and leaves.
 Is a schedule I drug
under the controlled
substance act.
 Smuggled in from
Mexico and Canada.
 Domestically grown.
Grass, Pot, Weed,
Bud, Reefer,
Cannabis
Marijuana
 Short term effects
– Increased heart rate
– Loss of coordination
– Difficulty in thinking
and problem solving
– Distorted perception
– Time passes slowly
– Anxiety and panic
attacks
– Dry mouth
 Long term effects
– Respiratory problems
(cough and phlegm)
– Symptoms of chronic
bronchitis
– Difficulty in
registering,
processing and using
information
– Difficulty sustaining
attention
What to look for . . .
Prescription Drug Abuse
How is it done?
 The DEA calls this
pharmaceutical diversion
 20% of the U.S.
population have used
prescription drugs for
non-medical reasons in
their lifetime.
1. Illegal sale and
distribution by
health care
professionals and
worker
2. “Doctor shopping”
3. Employee theft
4. Forged
prescriptions
5. Internet
Three classes of most commonly
abused prescription drugs
 Opioids are prescribed
to treat pain
(OxyContin)
 CNS depressants are
prescribed to treat
anxiety and sleep
disorders (Valium)
 Stimulants – are
prescribed to treat
narcolepsy and ADHD
(Ritalin)
Prescription Drug Abuse
What are the brand names of some
of these drugs?
Painkillers:
Vicodin, Tylenol w/ Codeine,
OxyContin, Percocet
Depressants: Klonopin Nembutal, Soma,
Valium, Xanax
Stimulants:
Adderall, Concerta,
Dexedrine, Ritalin
OTC’s
Coricidin HBP Cough and
Cold, Robitussin, Vicks
Formula 44 Cough Relief
Pharm Party
 At a “pharm party,” teens
share and mix various
prescription medications,
especially painkillers
(OxyContin and Vicodin);
tranquilizers (Xanax and
Valium), stimulants
(Ritalin and adderall); and
sedatives.
 Alcohol is often added to
the “cocktail,” increasing
the danger.
What to look for . . . .
Constricted pupils, slurred speech,
flushed skin, sweating, and loss of
appetite
Personality changes, moods
swings, irritability, sleepiness or
avoiding sleep, forgetfulness
Increasingly secretive, losing
interest in personal appearance,
changes at school
Cocaine
 Cocaine is a naturally
derived central nervous
system stimulant
extracted and refined
from the Coca plant
 It is an intense euphoric
drug with strong
addictive potential
 Cocaine is typically a
white-ish powder with a
bitter, numbing taste.
 Is a schedule II drug
under the Controlled
Substances Act of 1970.
Coke, Flake, Snow,
Crack, Nose Candy
Cocaine
 The powdered,
hydrochloride salt
form of cocaine can
be snorted or
dissolved in water
and injected.
 Crack is the free
base form of cocaine.
It is not water
soluble, but volatile.
This form comes in a
rock crystal that can
be heated and its
vapors smoked.
Cocaine
Initial effects:
 Hyperactivity
 Restlessness
 Increased blood
pressure
 Increased heart rate
Short term effects:
 Increased focus
 Excitation
 Euphoria
 Sexual arousal
 Insomnia
 Decreased appetite
Negative effects:
 Increased body
temperature and heart
rate
 Agitation and anxiety
 Paranoia
 Dizziness
 Nausea/vomiting
 Violent behavior
 Increased risk for
heart attacks
 Strokes
 Respiratory problems
What to look for . . .
Heroin
 Heroin is processed from
morphine, a naturally
occurring substance
extracted from the
seedpod of the Asian
poppy plant.
 Heroin usually appears
as a white or a brown
powder
 Is a schedule I drug
under the Controlled
Substances Act of 1970.
Smack, Thunder, Junk,
Mexican black tar
Heroin withdrawal
 Drug craving
 Restlessness
 Muscle and bone
pain
 Insomnia
 Diarrhea
 Vomiting
 Cold flashes with
goose bumps
(cold turkey)
 Kicking movements
(kicking the habit)
Heroin Treatment
 Methadone
maintenance
treatment
programs
 Substance abuse
counseling
 Psychosocial
therapies
 Supportive
services
What is inhalant abuse?
 Deliberate
inhalation of
fumes, vapors or
gases to “get
high”
 Inhalants are
poisons to the
body
 Quick intoxication
with serious health
consequences.
 It’s like a quick
drunk. It effects
the same receptors
that alcohol does.
Who knows about Inhalant
Abuse?
Who doesn't know about
Inhalant Abuse?
Why do kids abuse inhalants?
Because they
can
Because they’re
bored
Because they’re
upset
In short, for any
reason or no
reason
 They don’t have
to have money
 They don’t have
to have
transportation
 They don’t have
to have the ability
to get the drugs
 In short, they
have access
How it’s Done
 Sniffing from a
container, bag, cans
or clothing
 Huffing - Inhaling
from a chemical
soaked rag, open
container or balloon
 Bagging - Putting a
bag over one’s head
and huffing
For maximum effect, children inhale deeply and then
take several more short breaths
Commonly Product/Potential Inhalants
 Gases
Nitrous oxide, helium, refrigerants, propane
 Solvents and Fuels
Butane, nail polish remover, paint thinner, correction
fluid, permanent markers, gasoline
 Aerosols
Spray paint, hair spray, air freshener, dust-off
 Adhesives
Model airplane glue, rubber cement, PVC cement
 Foods
Cooking spray, aerosol whipped cream topping
 Cleaning Agents
Spot remover, degreaser
Among teens aged 12 to 17, 20.9%
used illegal drugs in the past year.
(age)
12-13
14-15
45.5%
25.1% 12.4%
Painkillers 36.5%
34.2% 35.2%
Marijuana
28.4%
66.2% 81.4%
Other
9.8%
26.3% 34.2%
Inhalants
16-17
The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition & SAMSHA, 2007
Immediate Effects
 Dizziness
 Disorientation
 Emotional volatility
 Loss of coordination
 Distortion of perception
 Cognitive impairment
 Hallucinations
 Lightheadedness
 Diminished sensitivity to pain
 Slurred speech
 Loss of inhibitions
Medical Consequences
Asphyxiation- displacing oxygen in
the lungs
Suffocation – blocking air from
entering the lungs (bag over head)
Convulsions or seizures –
abnormal electrical discharges in
the brain
Choking- from inhalation of vomit
Fatal injury- accidents while high
Death
Inhalant Abuse Emergencies
Remove the source of chemicals
from around the nose and mouth
Call 911. Turn person on side to
prevent aspiration of vomit
If not breathing, administer CPR
Ventilate the area
Do not excite, scare, shock, upset
or chase the person
Try to identify the inhalant
What to look for:
 Household cans left in child’s bedroom
or going through an item too fast
 Pain around the mouth or on the
tongue
 Upset stomach or throwing up with no
know reason found
 Change in behavior
 Passing out
 A chemical odor
 Death
Methamphetamine
 Methamphetamine is a
synthetic stimulant drug
which induces a strong
feeling of euphoria
(similar to adrenaline)
and is highly addictive.
 Can be injected, snorted,
smoked or taken orally
 Is a schedule II drug
under the Controlled
Substances Act of 1970.
Speed, Meth, Ice,
Crystal, Chalk,
Crank, Go-Fast
Meth comes in two forms
POWDER
 The powder form is
usually white, odorless
and bitter-tasking, and
can be snorted, smoked,
eaten, dissolved in a
drink and ingested, or
heated and injected.
ROCK
 The purer form of the
drug, called “crystal”,
“glass” and “ice”
appears as clear, chunky
crystals that are usually
smoked or injected
What meth does for the user
Repeated use damages the dopamine
producing cells in the brain !!!!!!!!!!
What to look for . . . Appearance
 Mouth: User may
develop “meth
mouth” – extreme
tooth decay
 Skin: Infected sores
or “meth bugs”
appear and are slow
to heal
 Body weight: User
may experience
dramatic weight loss,
anorexia,
malnutrition
What to look for . . . Behavioral
 May act euphoric
– Jittery
– Nervous
– Confused
– Violent
 Incessant talking
 Paranoid
 Erratic sleep
patterns
 Repetitious
behavior
The meth cycle of abuse
High
Binge
(4–16 hours)
(3-15 days)
Crash
(up to 3 days)
Making meth
 Process to make meth is easy and accessible.
 There are several ways of making meth, most of
which require the use of caustic chemicals
such as lye, ether, acetone, and phosphorus
 The two major methods are the red
phosphorous method or the anhydrous
ammonia method
 Hundreds of recipes on the internet
 Start with extracting the active ingredient,
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, from over the
counter drugs
 Average meth “cook” teaches ten other people
how to make meth annually
Indicators of a meth manufacturing:
Chemicals
 Ephedrine tablets – cold medicine
 Acetone – finger nail polish remover
 Red Phosphorus – match striker plates
 Iodine – antiseptic (merthiolate)
 Sulfuric Acid – drain cleaner
 Hydrochloric acid – concrete cleaner
 Methyl alcohol/methanol – gas line
antifreeze (heet)
 Coleman/camp fuel used for extraction
Indicators of a meth manufacturing:
Household equipment
 Burner plates
 Coffee filters
 Glass bottles
 Plastic jugs
 Pyrex dishes
 Funnels
 Aquarium tubing
 Chemical Test
Tubes
If you Suspect a Meth Lab
 Remain calm. Give yourself time to think.
 Do NOT approach the suspects. They are
often armed and may be dangerous
 Do NOT enter the lab area.
 If you are in the lab already, find an excuse to
leave immediately.
 If you are in a lab already, do not touch or turn
off anything.
 Keep a safe distance. Hazardous materials may
ignite or the fumes may overcome you.
 Promptly notify law enforcement
Being a good parent is a
tough job.
Being a good parent on
drugs is impossible
Andrea Darr
WV DEC Coordinator
WV Prosecuting Attorneys Institute
90 MacCorkle Ave., SW
South Charleston, WV 25303
304-558-3348 phone
Andrea.l.darr@wv.gov
Many thanks to the Marathon
County Sheriff’s Department in
Wisconsin for the Making Meth
video used in this power point
presentation