CHAPTER THREE
WHAT YOU NEED KNOW ABOUT DRUGS
There is a lot of information about drugs and how they can dangerous to young people. We will
offer in this chapter what are the essential things you need to know. Being an informed parent
will help you be an effective prevention parent.
To get started, here is a short drug quiz
1. Marijuana can be addictive. True or False
2. In most countries, the two drugs most abused by teenagers are alcohol and cocaine. True or
False
3. In westernized countries, the newest growing drug problem for adolescents is the abuse of
prescription drugs. True or False
4. Young people can get addicted to a drug while they are still teens. True or False
Answers and explanation.
1. True. Marijuana can be as addictive as any other drug. The active ingredient in marijuana,
THC, has a very powerful effect on the brain. And this effect can trigger biochemical events that
contribute to becoming addicted.
2. False. Alcohol and tobacco products, which are legal in most countries, are the two drugs
that young people abuse the most .
3. True. The fastest growing new drug problem by teenagers is the abuse or prescription
medications, such as anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications.
4. True. A young person can abuse drugs for a short period of time and get addicted. This can
happen in some youth in one year… even sooner with some powerful drugs.
Youth is a risk-period for drug use to occur
Countries that have studied levels of drug use across the life span have reliably found that it is
young people who use drugs more than any other age groups. The reasons are numerous and
complex, and may have something to do with teens’ curiosity, relative immaturity, and desire to
be more like adults. But the fact is that all parents need be alert to the dangers of drug use
when they are raising teenagers.
All drugs are dangerous
All drugs can be dangerous drugs to young people. And that includes alcohol, tobacco and
marijuana - the drugs most frequently used by teenagers. These drugs are often used at the
same time, and.they are the drugs that most teenage drug users get addicted to.
Here is one example of how drugs are particularly harmful to young people. Survey research
from the Untied States has shown that young people show higher rates or percentages of an
alcohol problem (defined as an alcohol dependence disorder, as described by the American
Psychiatric Association). See the graph below that shows this pattern. For youth aged 15-20years old, 12.2% met the definition of an alcohol dependence disorder within the past 12
months. This rate was much higher than the other age groups. For example, for individuals in
the 30-34 age group, their rate of alcohol dependence was 4.1%.
Prevalence of Past-Year DSM-IV Alcohol
Dependence: United States, 2001-2002
(Grant, B.F., et al., Drug and Alcohol Dependence , 74, 223-234, 2004)
14
12
12.2
11
10
%
8
5.8
6
4.1
4
3.9
3.8
3.7
1.9
2
0
15-20
21-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
0.3
0.2
55-59
60+
How drugs gets a teenager addicted
Your brain is made up of billions of nerve cells. They communicate by releasing chemical
messengers called neurotransmitters. Each neurotransmitter is like a key that fits into a special
"lock," called a receptor, located on the surface of nerve cells. When a neurotransmitter finds its
receptor, it activates the receptor's nerve cell.
Easy to Start, Hard to Quit
Recently, scientists have discovered that all drugs of abuse are able to attach to various normal
receptors in the brain that raises the levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine in the parts of
the brain that produce feelings of pleasure and reward. Dopamine is sometimes called the
pleasure molecule. Researchers now believe that this dramatic increase in dopamine may play
a key role in all addictions and helps to explain why it is so hard for people to stop using drugs.
When dopamine is increased in the brain, people feel pleasure. Unfortunately, if the person
takes the drug again and again, the brain’s dopamine system becomes worn out. When that
happens, the person feels down and not the “normal self.” This emotional pain can lead the
person to return to drug use and the temporary relief it provides.
But this vicious cycle has only short-term value. The repeated use of a drug only further
damages the dopamine system, which requires the person to take even more of the drug to get
relief. Thus, the body develops a tolerance for the drug. When the person has not used for a
while, they may suffer from restlessness, hunger, depression, headaches, and other
uncomfortable feelings. These are called "withdrawal symptoms" because they happen when
the drug is withdrawn from the body.
Eventually, as the person continues to use, they may get addicted. And once this happens it is
difficult to quit. But it can be done. Often it takes several attempts to quit but there are millions
of ex-addicted drug users who have kicked the habit and returned to a normal life.
For more information, read: Mind Over Matter. This publication is produced by the National Institute on Drug Abuse,
National Institutes of Health.
To obtain copies, contact:
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
P.O. Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20847
1-800-729-6686
How else are drugs dangerous?
Possible damage to the brain and to learning. Researchers are now beginning to explore
how drugs affect the developing brain of the adolescent. Alcohol has been the focus of study by
researchers in the United States.
Initial investigations indicate that alcohol may pose a significant danger to the developing brain
of the teenager. Alcohol abuse may damage the part of the brain responsible for memory. This
memory structure -- the hippocampus – may be particularly sensitive to damage by alcohol.
One study showed that teenagers who had extensively abused alcohol performed 10% worse
on memory tasks compared to a non-alcohol-using comparison group of teenagers (reference).
Other drugs that are abused by youth, such as tobacco, marijuana and other illicit drugs, are
beginning to be studied in order to learn about their possible deleterious effects on the young
brain.
Increased risk for mental illness. There is no evidence that drug use is the single cause of
mental illness. But scientists are now beginning to understand that early drug use may play an
important role in mental illness. For a young person who has a biological risk for a mental
illness, such as depression or schizophrenia, taking drugs can “tip the scale” toward developing
that mental disorder (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, United States
Department of Health and Human Services, 2005).
Social problems. Drug use can interfere with important social learning that occurs during the
formative years. How teenagers deal with friends and parents, how they control emotions, and
how they face every day challenges are among the many vital social skills that begin to be
learned as a teenager. These important social skills can be seriously harmed in the face of drug
use.
Medical problem and trauma. Drug use can directly or indirectly lead to medical problems,
even for teenagers. Because drug use impairs judgment, a teenager high on drugs may fall into
dangerous situations that can bring physical harm to oneself. Also, when someone’s judgment
is impaired, they are at greater risk to engage in unsafe sex - which can lead to pregnancy,
STD’s, and HIV/AIDS.
One risk to be particularly alert to as a parent is the problem of teenage drug use while driving.
The combination of lack of driving experience among teenagers with the use of drugs that
impair thinking and coordination abilities can be deadly.
Tobacco: What it is and what it does
METHODS of USE
Inhaled: cigarettes, cigars, pipes
Chewing: loose tobacco
Inhaled: snuff
SLANG for TOBACCO
Cigs, smokes, butts
Chew, wad
Snuff
OBSERVABLE SIGNS of USE
Bad breath
Smell of tobacco
Shortness of breath
Yellowed fingernails
Nagging cough
Discoloured teeth
EFFECTS of USE
Increased attention, decreased appetite
Reduction of stress and anxiety
Gagging, nausea and vomiting
Dilated pupils, watery eyes
There are many statistics about tobacco use. Here is an astounding one:
More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from all
illegal drug use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders. . . . . combined!
And more young people will die in their lifetime due to tobacco than all other
drugs.
Helping your child to not use tobacco may also prevent him or her from using other drugs:
Teenagers who begin smoking in their early teens (12-15 years old) are far more
likely to start using alcohol and marijuana earlier than teens who don’t smoke at
all or do not start smoking until the end of adolescence.
The reason tobacco is used by so many teens and adults is because it contains a powerful
drug, nicotine. Whether smoked, chewed, or inhaled, nicotine in the brain stimulates feelings of
pleasure. Nicotine in tobacco is just as addictive as alcohol, heroin, and cocaine.
Got A Match?
Match the question to the correct percentage.
1. Percentage of adult smokers who start smoking in their teens
2. Percentage of smokers age 17 or less who say they regret starting
3. Percentage of youth smokers who will continue smoking and die early from a
smoking-related disease
A. About 30%
B. 80% - 90%
C. 70%
(Correct answers: 1- b, 2 – c, 3 – a)
Marijuana
Marijuana is a mixture of the dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and
flowers of the hemp plant. The mixture can be green, brown, or gray.
Hemp's scientific name is Cannabis sativa.
Street Names
There are more than 200 slang terms for marijuana from city to city and from neighborhood to
neighborhood. Some common names are: pot, grass, herb, weed, Mary Jane, reefer, skunk,
boom, gangster, kif, chronic, and ganja.
Marijuana Is a Powerful Drug
Marijuana can cause some people to lose focus on events around them. This is because
marijuana causes some parts of the brain - such as those governing coordination, emotions,
memory and judgment -- to lose balance and control.
Some examples
Under the influence of marijuana, he forgets his best friend’s phone number.
His grade point average drops like a stone.
He gets into a car accident.
High doses of marijuana use may contribute to anxiety and panic attacks.
All these different changes are caused by chemicals that affect the brain. Marijuana has a
chemical in it called tetrahydrocannabinol. Better known as THC. A lot of other chemicals are
found in marijuana too-about 400 of them, some of which can cause lung cancer. But THC is
the main active ingredient. [1]
Marijuana Invades the Brain
Within minutes of inhaling, a user begins to feel "high," or filled with pleasant sensations. The
THC chemical in marijuana causes this big impact on the brain.
Here are specific ways that the invasion of marijuana affects the brain
Coordination
Imagine you are watching your teen playing left field at a ball game. An easy fly ball comes
his way, and you're ready to leap up and cheer when he catches the ball. The team wins the
game, your son is a hero, and you’re a proud parent.
But, he’s a little off.
The ball grazes his glove and hits dirt. The winning run scores. Game over.
Such loss of coordination can be caused by smoking marijuana.
Why does this happen? The cerebellum is the section of our brain that does most of the
work on balance and coordination. THC can find its way into the cerebellum, it makes
scoring a goal in soccer or hitting a home run pretty tough.
These THC effects can spell disaster on the highway.
FACT: Research shows that drivers on marijuana have slow reaction times,
impaired judgment, and problems responding to signals and sounds on the road.
In one study of 150 reckless drivers, 33 tested positive for marijuana.
Learning
Scientists recently discovered that one are of the brain that has several THC receptors is the
memory center – the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a part of the brain in charge of certain
types of learning and memory.
That's how your teen can remember today's math lesson or a new friend's phone
number.
Disrupting the normal functioning of this memory region can lead to trouble studying and
learning and problems recalling recent events. The difficulty can be a lot more serious than "Did
I take out the trash this morning?" Under the influence of marijuana, new information may never
register - and may be lost from memory.
Emotions
THC also affects emotions. Maybe you've heard that in some people, marijuana can cause
uncontrollable laughter one minute and paranoia the next.
That's because THC also influences emotions, probably by acting on a region of
the brain called the limbic system.
Medical danger
The list of negative effects goes on and on:
Smoking marijuana may cause lung cancer because it has some of the same
cancer-causing substances as tobacco.
Plus, marijuana smokers tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer
than cigarette smokers do. So more smoke enters the lungs.
Puff for puff, smoking marijuana may increase the risk of cancer even more than smoking
cigarettes does.
Where does marijuana come from?
Marijuana is grown all over the world, including inside buildings as long as there is water and
artificial light. Many different weather and soil conditions can change the amounts of the
chemicals inside the plant, which means that certain part of the worl produce stronger marijuana
than other parts.
How is it used?
Marijuana is used in many ways. Some users brew it as tea or mix it with food. Others smoke
blunts-cigars hollowed out and filled with the drug. And sometimes marijuana is smoked through
a water pipe called a bong. The most common method is smoking loose marijuana rolled into a
cigarette called a joint or nail. [2]
How many teens use marijuana?
"Everybody's doing it!"
No, its not true that everyone is using! Researchers in the United States asked teens if they
had used marijuana or hashish (another form of marijuana) in the past month. Of all the 8th
graders surveyed, only 8.3% said yes; only 17.8% of 10th graders had used the drug in the past
month; and just 21.5% of 12th graders. [3]
What about medical marijuana?
Your teenager may argue that THC is a medical miracle, and thus should be legalized.
THC, the main active ingredient in marijuana, does produce effects that potentially can be useful
for treating a variety of medical conditions. It is the main ingredient in a pill that is currently used
to treat nausea in cancer chemotherapy patients and to stimulate appetite in patients with
wasting due to AIDS. Scientists are continuing to investigate other potential medical uses for
cannabinoids.
However, smoking marijuana is difficult to justify medically because the amount of THC in
marijuana is not always consistent, and smoking is bad for one’s health. It would be difficult-if
not impossible-to come up with a safe and effective way to smoke marijuana. The negative
effects of marijuana smoke on the lungs will offset the helpfulness of smoked marijuana for
some patients.
Alcohol
These days, getting teenagers and their parents to view alcohol use as a potential problem can
be difficult because alcohol is everywhere. Alcohol use may not seem all that bad. But being
young often means trying new things, testing new freedom, taking more risks now that parents
and adults are not around them as much as in earlier years.
Did you know this about alcohol and teenagers?
One of the first drugs your teenager is most likely to try is alcohol.
Yes, alcohol is a drug, not just a harmless substance.
Your teenager will likely get his first alcohol from an adult.
If your adolescent is like most, that first use of alcohol is likely to happen in the middle
school years, between the ages of twelve and fifteen.
And yes, teenagers (and adults) can die from alcohol poisoning, even if they are not
addicted.
So never underestimate the potential dangers of alcohol.
What is alcohol?
Alcohol is a depressant drug, made from fermented grains or fruit. In most countries, it is the
most commonly abused substance by both teenagers and adults.
The “high” that everyone gets from drinking alcohol is actually the feeling caused by its
“depressant” effect on the brain. When brain function is depressed, the person is at risk for
several negative consequences: Saying or doing things that would normally cause
embarrassment, poor decision making resulting in unwanted sex, accepting offers to try other
illegal substances, or driving while drunk are some examples.
What does alcohol look like?
Alcohol is used in liquid form. It can appear yellow, brown, clear, green, pink, blue, bubbly,
cloudy.
How is it used?
Alcohol is drunk. Types include beer, wine and liquor. Recently, there have been a few reports
of people injecting alcohol directly into their veins to avoid the smell on their breath.
(Mooli: we may want to include CHART of drink sizes, amounts:
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/facts_game.asp must click ‘continue’ x6)
The Hype
There is lots of hype about alcohol. Sadly, many youth, as well as parents, buy into the hype.
The following examples may be some things you have heard from your own teenager.
Alcohol is a social lubricant because it makes people feel less anxious and inhibited.
(Beware! Alcohol can make you feel so comfortable that you will do things that you later
regret, such as being taken advantage by another person.)
Underage drinking is a rite of passage. Everyone does it, and nearly all children have
already been exposed to it at home and in the media, so it’s nearly impossible to prevent
youth from underage drinking.
(Wrong. Not every teenager drinks, and many do not drink to the point where they are
drunk.)
Drinking a glass of wine at dinner with the family, or as part of religious practices,
teaches youth how to drink responsibly.
(Also wrong. Even some alcohol given to a teenager can be dangerous.)
.
The fact is that many parents have also gotten mixed messages from the media, family, friends,
about the inevitability of underage drinking. Some parents simply give up their influence on their
teen’s behavior, hope for the best, and pray that their son or daughter will not get into trouble.
What is Binge Drinking?
As it suggests, binge drinking is when a person consumes large amounts of alcohol during a
short period of time. An episode of binge drinking is typically defined as having five or more
drinks in one sitting. Often, teens and young adults will make a game of binge drinking. Here
are some examples:
Power Hour -- When an individual celebrates turning twenty-one, he tries to drink
twenty one alcoholic shots starting one minute after midnight until 1:00AM
closing time (in some states).
Beer Bonging -- Pitchers of beer are poured directly into a person’s stomach by
means of a flexible tube attached to a funnel. This allows quick ingestion of a
large volume of alcohol in a short time period. It is practiced at home, also at
public bars and restaurants.
Case Race -- A game played by two people who race to see who can drink an
entire case of beer first.
Each of these games is played to get drunk fast. Only recently have media been reporting
alcohol poisoning deaths resulting from these games.
(Adapted from Dangerous Drugs by Carol A. Falkowski, 2003, Hazelden)
Take Alcohol Seriously
Youth learn attitudes about alcohol use from watching what happens in the home. If parents,
siblings, or other family members drink, it is more likely your teen may try it at some time. Here
are a few tips to prevent drinking:
Don’t allow drinking in your home if your children are under the legal drinking
age.
Keep your child active in the community, school, church, local recreation centers.
Keep yourself actively involved, as well, because children model what they see.
Talk with your children about the consequences of drinking alcohol, and of
playing games involving alcohol consumption. Often, youth do not realize that
drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can result in toxicity and death.
Tell your teen that drinking often and heavily causes brain changes that may not show up
immediately, but could long-lasting consequences later on, such as in areas of thinking,
memory, decision-making.
(Adapted from About.com: PARENTING Adolescents. Website address:
http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/bingedrinking/a/binge_drinking.htm)
Alcohol and Sex
Drinking alcohol changes a person’s ability to make good decisions. One area where this is
particularly true is sex. Youth who drink are more likely to engage in high-risk sex. They are less
likely to use condoms, tend to have higher levels of sexual activity at earlier, have greater
numbers of sexual partners, report higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV
infection, experience more unplanned pregnancies.
(Adapted from About.com: PARENTING Adolescents . Website address:
http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/teensexuality/a/sex_teens_drugs.htm)
Learning about drinking
Youth learn about drinking from a complex mix of their genetics and what they see parents,
family members, and peers doing. They will copy what they see practiced in the home, and
adopt similar attitudes their parents have toward alcohol consumption. Research has shown
that what youth observe from their parents has a lot to do with when an individual starts
drinking, how heavily and often they drink, and their reasons for drinking. If the teenager sees
that getting drunk is an acceptable practice by parents and by other important people in his life,
chances are greater that a teenager will adopt the same attitudes and behaviors.
Others Drugs
There are many other drugs that teenagers can abuse. Below is a drug guideline that
gives you information about these various about which you should be informed. The
drugs are divided into these main types: depressants, dissociative anesthetics,
hallucinogens, opioids and morphine derivatives, stimulants, and other drugs.
Substances:
Category and Name
Examples of
Commercial
and Street Names
Depressants
barbiturates
Amytal, Nembutal,
Seconal,
Phenobarbital:
barbs, reds, red
birds, phennies,
tooies, yellows,
yellow jackets
How Administered*
Intoxication Effects/Potential
Health Consequences
reduced anxiety; feeling of wellbeing; lowered inhibitions;
slowed pulse and breathing;
injected, swallowed
lowered blood pressure; poor
concentration/fatigue;
confusion; impaired
coordination, memory,
judgment; addiction;
respiratory depression and
arrest; death
for barbiturates—sedation,
drowsiness/depression, unusual
excitement, fever, irritability,
poor judgment, slurred speech,
dizziness, life-threatening
withdrawal
benzodiazepines (other than
flunitrazepam)
Ativan, Halcion,
Librium, Valium,
Xanax: candy,
downers, sleeping
pills, tranks
swallowed, injected
flunitrazepam**
Rohypnol: forgetme pill, Mexican
Valium, R2, Roche,
roofies, roofinol,
rope, rophies
swallowed, snorted
GHB**
methaqualone
gammaswallowed
hydroxybutyrate: G,
Georgia home boy,
grievous bodily
harm, liquid ecstasy
Quaalude, Sopor,
Parest: ludes,
mandrex, quad,
quay
injected, swallowed
for benzodiazepines—sedation,
drowsiness/dizziness
for flunitrazepam—visual and
gastrointestinal disturbances,
urinary retention, memory loss
for the time under the drug's
effects
for GHB—drowsiness,
nausea/vomiting, headache,
loss of consciousness, loss of
reflexes, seizures, coma, death
for methaqualone—
euphoria/depression, poor
reflexes, slurred speech, coma
Substances:
Category and Name
Examples of
Commercial
and Street Names
How Administered*
Dissociative Anesthetics
ketamine
PCP and analogs
Ketalar SV: cat
Valiums, K, Special
K, vitamin K
injected, snorted,
smoked
increased heart rate and blood
pressure, impaired motor
function/memory loss;
numbness; nausea/vomiting
for ketamine—at high doses,
delirium, depression,
respiratory depression and
arrest
for PCP and analogs—possible
phencyclidine; angel injected,
dust, boat, hog,
swallowed, smoked decrease in blood pressure and
heart rate, panic, aggression,
love boat, peace pill
violence/loss of appetite,
depression
Hallucinogens
LSD
Intoxication Effects/Potential
Health Consequences
lysergic acid
diethylamide: acid,
blotter, boomers,
cubes, microdot,
yellow sunshines
swallowed,
absorbed through
mouth tissues
mescaline
buttons, cactus,
mesc, peyote
swallowed, smoked
psilocybin
magic mushroom,
purple passion,
shrooms
swallowed
altered states of perception and
feeling; nausea; persisting
perception disorder (flashbacks)
for LSD and mescaline—
increased body temperature,
heart rate, blood pressure; loss
of appetite, sleeplessness,
numbness, weakness, tremors,
persistent mental disorders
for psilocybin—nervousness,
paranoia
Substances:
Category and Name
Examples of
Commercial
and Street Names
Opioids and Morphine Derivatives
codeine
Empirin with
Codeine, Fiorinal
with Codeine,
Robitussin A-C,
Tylenol with
Codeine: Captain
Cody, schoolboy;
(with glutethimide)
doors & fours,
loads, pancakes and
syrup
How Administered*
Intoxication Effects/Potential
Health Consequences
pain relief, euphoria,
drowsiness/nausea,
constipation, confusion,
injected, swallowed
sedation, respiratory depression
and arrest, tolerance, addiction,
unconsciousness, coma, death
for codeine—less analgesia,
sedation, and respiratory
depression than morphine
fentanyl and fentanyl analogs
Actiq, Duragesic,
Sublimaze: Apache,
China girl, China
white, dance fever,
friend, goodfella,
jackpot, murder 8,
TNT, Tango and
Cash
injected, smoked,
snorted
heroin
diacetylinjected, smoked,
morphine: brown
snorted
sugar, dope, H,
horse, junk, skag,
skunk, smack, white
horse
morphine
Roxanol,
injected,
Duramorph: M, Miss swallowed, smoked
Emma, monkey,
white stuff
opium
laudanum,
paregoric: big O,
black stuff, block,
gum, hop
swallowed, smoked
oxycodone HCL
Oxycontin: Oxy,
O.C., killer
swallowed,
snorted, injected
hydrocodone bitartrate,
acetaminophen
Vicodin: vike,
Watson-387
swallowed
for heroin—staggering gait
Substances:
Category and Name
Examples of
Commercial
and Street Names
How Administered*
Stimulants
amphetamine
Biphetamine,
injected,
Dexedrine: bennies, swallowed,
black beauties,
smoked, snorted
crosses, hearts, LA
turnaround, speed,
truck drivers,
uppers
cocaine
Cocaine
injected, smoked,
hydrochloride: blow, snorted
bump, C, candy,
Charlie, coke, crack,
flake, rock, snow,
toot
MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
Adam, clarity,
swallowed
ecstasy, Eve, lover's
speed, peace, STP,
X, XTC
methamphetamine
Desoxyn: chalk,
crank, crystal, fire,
glass, go fast, ice,
meth, speed
methylphenidate (safe and effective for
treatment of ADHD)
injected,
swallowed,
smoked, snorted
Ritalin: JIF, MPH, R- injected,
ball, Skippy, the
swallowed, snorted
smart drug, vitamin
R
Intoxication Effects/Potential
Health Consequences
increased heart rate, blood
pressure, metabolism; feelings
of exhilaration, energy,
increased mental
alertness/rapid or irregular
heart beat; reduced appetite,
weight loss, heart failure,
nervousness, insomnia
for amphetamine—rapid
breathing/tremor, loss of
coordination; irritability,
anxiousness, restlessness,
delirium, panic, paranoia,
impulsive behavior,
aggressiveness, tolerance,
addiction, psychosis
for cocaine—increased
temperature/chest pain,
respiratory failure, nausea,
abdominal pain, strokes,
seizures, headaches,
malnutrition, panic attacks
for MDMA—mild hallucinogenic
effects, increased tactile
sensitivity, empathic
feelings/impaired memory and
learning, hyperthermia, cardiac
toxicity, renal failure, liver
toxicity
for methamphetamine—
aggression, violence, psychotic
behavior/memory loss, cardiac
and neurological damage;
impaired memory and learning,
tolerance, addiction
Substances:
Category and Name
Examples of
Commercial
and Street Names
How Administered*
Intoxication Effects/Potential
Health Consequences
Other Drugs
anabolic steroids
Anadrol, Oxandrin,
Durabolin, DepoTestosterone,
Equipoise: roids,
juice
injected,
swallowed, applied
to skin
no intoxication
effects/hypertension, blood
clotting and cholesterol
changes, liver cysts and cancer,
kidney cancer, hostility and
aggression, acne; in
adolescents, premature
stoppage of growth; in males,
prostate cancer, reduced sperm
production, shrunken testicles,
breast enlargement; in females,
menstrual irregularities,
development of beard and other
masculine characteristics
Dextromethorphan (DXM)
Found in some
cough and cold
medications;
Robotripping, Robo,
Triple C
swallowed
Dissociative effects, distorted
visual perceptions to complete
dissociative effects/for effects at
higher doses see 'dissociative
anesthetics'
inhalants
Solvents (paint
thinners, gasoline,
glues), gases
(butane, propane,
aerosol propellants,
nitrous oxide),
nitrites (isoamyl,
isobutyl,
cyclohexyl):
laughing gas,
poppers, snappers,
whippets
inhaled through
nose or mouth
stimulation, loss of inhibition;
headache; nausea or vomiting;
slurred speech, loss of motor
coordination;
wheezing/unconsciousness,
cramps, weight loss, muscle
weakness, depression, memory
impairment, damage to
cardiovascular and nervous
systems, sudden death
* Taking drugs by injection can increase the risk of infection through needle contamination with staphylococci, HIV,
hepatitis, and other organisms.
** Associated with sexual assaults.
Source: www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html
Signs My Teenager Might Be Using Drugs
It is important for parents to keep a watch for alerts that your son or daughter may be using
drugs. Here are well-known signs you should be on the lookout for.
Caution: There are no perfectly accurate observable signs of drug use in a person. Use these
indicators with caution. Follow-up any concerns you have about drug use by your teenager with
a conversation with him or her (link to Chapter 8, section on communicating with my teenager).
The Nose May Know
Your teenager slips into the house on a Saturday night after a night out with friends. Your nose
can help determine if he or she was drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco or marijuana. Make a
point of having an up-close, face-to-face conversation with him or her -- not a yelled
conversation from a distance.
If your child has been drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or smoking marijuana, the smell may
be on his or her breath. You should also be aware if your teenager enters the house chomping
on a fresh wad of spearmint gum or a handful of Altoids, or smelling of freshly applied lotion or
perfume. This could be a way he or she is trying to cover up a telltale odor.
And if your teenager has been around smoke, whether due to him or her smoking or being
round others who smoke, the smoke will also soak into his or her clothing and hair.
Let’s Have a Look-See
Look for visual evidence, too. Take a close look while your having that face-to-face
conversation. Pay attention to the eyes -- they can reveal any substance use. If your teenager
has been smoking marijuana, his or her eyes will be red and heavy lidded, with constricted or
narrowed pupils.
If he or she has been drinking alcohol, the pupils will be dilated, and he or she may have
difficulty focusing on you. In addition, alcohol has the effect for some people of giving a red,
flushed color to the face and cheeks.
There are also telltale signs of more serious drug use. Intravenous drug use leaves track marks,
usually on the arms, but occasionally other places like the legs. Long sleeves in scorching hot
summer weather may be an attempt to hide something. Snorting cocaine causes nosebleeds
and eventually eats away at the septum inside the nose.
Finally, there are several signs of inhalant use, the practice of inhaling the fumes from
household chemicals for a high. These include: sores or spots around the mouth; paint stains
on the body or clothing; a chemical odor; or a runny nose.
Something Missing Here
For the teenager who's looking for alcohol or drugs, the home can be a gold mine of resources.
Many parents keep some sort of alcohol in the house. Your teenager may take this alcohol,
hoping you will not miss it. One way this is done is by filling liquor bottles back up with water to
bring them to the original level.
If one or both of the parents smokes cigarettes, the teenager may take some from the pack (or
take the whole pack). Then there is the potential danger of your teenager taking prescription
pills or over-the-counter drugs from the medicine cabinet in the home.
To finance a drug habit, the teenager may start going through your wallet and take money, or
steal valuables like jewelry and heirlooms to pawn for money.
You should always keep track of the alcohol, tobacco products and medicines in the house. If
you notice anything missing or your liquor tastes suspiciously watery, you should lock it up so
your teen can't get to it. If your child is stealing cigarettes and you don't approve of him or her
smoking, do not keep your cigarettes out in the open.
And in all these situations, you need to confront your teenager immediately. Let him or her know
that you're aware of what goes on and that you won't tolerate stealing from you.
Check Out the Car and Bedroom
For some older teens, their cars are very important to them. If you suspect your teenager has
been using drugs recently, see if the car has any clues to offer. Some teenagers are not too
careful about cleaning the inside of their car. Does it smell like marijuana smoke or alcohol
fumes? Are there any bottles, pipes, bongs, or other drug paraphernalia rolling around on the
floor or hidden in the glove box? If you find anything, discuss with him or her on it immediately;
tell the teenager what exactly you have discovered and why you are concerned.
The bedroom can also be a place with clues of drug use, such as drug equipment or clothes are
that smell like marijuana or cigarettes.
Check Out the Friends
It is very normal for teenagers to make new friends. But some friends may be a bad influence
on your teenager. Perhaps these new friends are older and seem to be more promiscuous and
independent, with less parental supervision and less interest in school. They might be making
poor choices and getting involved in questionable activities. Maybe you suspect that the friends
are drug users. Most teenagers will defend their friends. But keep your eyes and ears open so
you can help protect your child from bad friends.
Mood Changes
Many teenagers show mood changes during this age period and it is expected. But drug use
can create dramatic mood changes. When your teenager returns home from a night out with
friends, be alert tor unusual or extreme moods. Is he or she very loud and obnoxious, or
laughing hysterically at nothing? Is she or he unusually clumsy to the point where he's stumbling
into furniture and walls, tripping over his own feet and knocking things over? Or perhaps very
sullen, withdrawn, and unusually tired for the hour of night? You shouldn't read too much into a
slight mood change after he gets home from being with his friends, but you should be on the
lookout for unusual or extreme behavior.
If your child shows extreme mood changes that persist a least a few weeks, something else
may be going on. This is when you should reach out to him or her and try to find out what's
going on.
Deceit or Secretiveness
Suddenly you find your normally honest child is lying to you a lot. The evening and weekend
plans are starting to not make sense. The teenager is vague about where he or she is going, or
the excuses do not work. Examples might be: he can't describe the movie he supposedly just
saw; the friend she's supposed to be out with just called looking for her; he says that parents will
be at the parties he’s going to but can't give you a phone number; she gets in way past her
curfew or estimated time, and she's got a seemingly endless string of excuses to justify her
behavior. When you ask about these things that do not look right, the teenager responds that
it's none of your business.
Losing Interest
Your child used to care about school and was a good student. Now his or her grades start
falling and you do not see an obvious reason for it. The teenager gives you a weak explanation
and assures you nothing is wrong. But he may be skipping school and spending less and less
time on his homework. And he appears to be losing interest in other activities as well. You start
to get calls from teachers, coaches, principals, all saying the same thing: that your teenager has
been skipping his classes, activities, or practices, and when he's there he's not putting forth any
effort. The desire to use drugs can be so strong that it can take over as the top priority in your
teenager’s life.
Adapted from How to Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What to Do if You Can’t, by Dr.
Neil I. Bernstein (2001, Workman Publishing, New York).
Where Do Teenagers Get Alcohol and Other Drugs?
The stark reality is that MOST teenagers get MOST of their drugs from adults.
Never provide alcohol to teenagers
Don’t provide alcohol to teenagers. This includes at home, in bars and restaurants, parties that
you are hosting. Anywhere.
Never buy alcohol for your teenager, their friends, or anyone under the legal age for alcohol.
If you give teenagers alcohol and they get hurt or hurt someone, you can get sued for damages
in some countries.
No to tobacco
Never buy or give tobacco for your teenager or anyone else underage.
Protect your child from adults giving illicit drugs to your child.
Never give a young person illicit drugs (including marijuana), and keep your child distant from
drug-using adults.
Watch out for your prescription drugs
Keep safe and secure any prescription medication in your home, such as anti-depressant or
anti-anxiety medication. These medicines can be powerful drugs to a teenager. If your child is
on medication for an attention deficit disorder (ADHD), take steps to prevent him or her from
selling the medication to other teenagers.
Keep track of your child’s friends
Teenagers also get drugs from their friends. Get to know your child’s friends as best as
possible. Do what you can to prevent your child from spending time with his or her friends to
whom you do not trust and suspect might be influencing your child to use drugs.
Be familiar with the parents of your child’s friends
Introduce yourself to the parents of your child’s friends. Familiarity with these parents will help
when you need to communicate with them about preventing drug use among your child and
peers.
Additional References
1. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Marijuana: Facts for Teens
(http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/MarijIntro.html):
NIH Pub. No. 98-4037. Bethesda, MD: NIDA, NIH, DHHS, Revised Mar. 2003.
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know
(http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/MarijIntro.html):
NIH Pub. No. 02-4036. Bethesda, MD: NIDA, NIH, DHHS, Revised Nov. 2002.
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
NIDA InfoFacts: High School and Youth Trends
(http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofax/HSYouthtrends.html):
Bethesda, MD: NIDA, NIH, DHHS. Retrieved June 2003.
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
NIDA Research Report-Marijuana Abuse
(http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/default.html ):
NIH Pub. No. 00-3859. Bethesda, MD: NIDA, NIH, DHHS. Printed Oct. 2002.
5. Partnership for Drug Free America
(http://www.drugfree.org