Almost every young person is well-versed in the types of drugs, knows what the effects of marijuana, amphetamines, hashish, cocaine or ecstasy are, and where to buy them. The problem arises when a teenager starts using them regularly or when a new, even more dangerous drug appears on the market. What to do to prevent a child from becoming addicted?
Research conducted at the end of 2008 among middle and high school students shows that almost every student has rubbed againstdrugs . This does not mean that everyone took it, but that they faced a choice at least once: I will try or not. Almost 15 percent middle school students had contact withmarijuana . Later it gets even worse: one in three high school students smoke pot!
The crocodile - a new, even more dangerous drug
Fashion for the "crocodile" came from Russia. "Crocodile" is a specific chemical preparation, or desomorphine. It is much cheaper than the similar 3-methylfentanyl - a drug existing on the illegal market, known in Russia as "white kitajc" and acting several hundred times more powerful than morphine. However, the "crocodile" needs to be taken more often than 3-methylfentanyl, because it has a much shorter duration of action. The drug is made on the basis of synthetic heroin, but it also contains substances such as codeine mixed with gasoline, a thinner, hydrochloric acid, iodine and red phosphorus. One dose is enough to become addicted. After about two years of use, it leads to death. Desomorphine is extremely popular, in part because it can be prepared at home. And it's very easy to overdose. It is said to be one of the most terrible drugs. It causes the body to rot and to death in excruciating torments. The name is not accidental. The skin starts to peel at the injection site and the color is similar to that of a crocodile. After a while, the skin literally tears to shreds.
What can parents do to prevent their child from becoming addicted to drugs?
There are no simple and effective recipes to protect your child from drugs. Despite the huge efforts of the parents, it often fails.
Sometimes the desire to adapt to the peer group prevails, and attempts to limit in this area are unsuccessful. One thing is, howevercertain: the better the contact with the child, the greater the chance that it will not be persuaded to take drugs.
The basis of good contacts is conversation and encouraging free exchange of views. However, it is not allowed to make moralizing lectures and constantly criticize. Listen when the child wants to tell you something, he feels helpless, hurt. Do not underestimate his problems, just try to understand them and advise wisely.
Then you will gain trust. Don't avoid difficult topics. Find an opportunity, e.g. a mention in a newspaper, to talk about drugs, convince them of their harmfulness using factual arguments. Research shows that referring to a drug addict in a conversation is not effective. Because teenagers taking drugs at a party do not identify with someone like that. Make every effort to minimize the number of situations in which the child could take drugs. Advise you not to part with your glass (can) of soda at the party.
» Drug possession is punishable by 3 to 5 years in prison and a fine.
»Drug production is under threat imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine.
» Drug trafficking is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment.
»Giving, inducing to use drugs is punishable by imprisonment up to 5 years.
(Act on counteracting drug addiction of July 29, 2005)
Signs of drug addiction
Any change in behavior should be disturbing. The child moves away from you, refuses to talk, turns around, despite the fact that you have had good contact with each other so far. They drop out of school, skip school, neglect extra classes. Is irritable, agitated or lethargic, has excessive appetite or refuses to eat. He often disappears from home, never mind where he is going, then locks up in his room under any pretext. I don't want to introduce new friends. In discussions, he questions the harmfulness of drugs. You find a cigarette holder, white powder, tiny bags with a string closure, medicines, syringes, and you smell a strange smell in the room. This may indicate that there is a problemaddiction .
ProblemWatch out for medication!
Research shows that Polish youth is in the first place in Europe in terms of the use of sedatives and sleeping pills not prescribed by a doctor.
Interview first, then drug test
Although the factors of greater risk include addiction in the family, close contact with drug abusers, domestic violence, inability to cope with problems, it should be remembered that any child can reach for the drug. Most teens try out of curiosity because others take. ANDmost often it ends with an incident. Sometimes, however, such fun leads to addiction. The problem is that drugs are tricky. The person who experiments with them thinks that he can live without them. Meanwhile, he uses them more and more often and takes increasingly larger doses. This is happening gradually, so the first signs that a drug is becoming a problem are easy to ignore. If you suspect your child is trying drugs, take immediate action, as the problem will not resolve itself.
Start with a conversation, but do not engage in a conversation while emotionally or while the child is intoxicated. Instead of fussing around, looking to blame among your colleagues, listen calmly, whether or not he is telling the truth. This is a teenager's chance to open up. Maybe he has a problem and was waiting to tell you about it. Show understanding and respect. Maybe you are just at the beginning of a difficult road out of drug addiction and your child will need your support? Most likely, the teenager will not admit that he has taken, will reassure him that the drug he found belongs to a friend, or swear that it is only one time.
You can always use the urine drug test (you can buy it without a prescription at a pharmacy). It's best to choose one that reacts to several substances. Read the instructions carefully before use, as the tests differ from each other. However, don't act as if your goal is to prove to your child that he or she is taking. If the result is negative, show how glad you are that the alarm was false.
If your suspicions are confirmed but you think it was just an incident, give your child a chance. Talk about the dangers of drugs and the manipulation of the society they find themselves in. Establish new rules regarding e.g. return home hours, independent departures. Use the principle of "limited trust", repeating the tests from time to time until you are sure that everything is okay.
Drugs - don't be afraid to use the help of specialists
If the disturbing symptoms persist and / or subsequent tests show that the child is taking drugs, it is best to go to an addiction treatment clinic as soon as possible (without a referral). The psychologists and psychiatrists working there not only deal with treatment, but also prevention of drug addiction, so do not be afraid that going to such a clinic will label your child a drug addict. On the basis of a detailed interview and psychological tests, the specialist will make a reliable diagnosis that will allow to determine whether the young person is still at risk of addiction, or has already fallen into addiction and requires treatment.
The first step in therapy is usually to write down a "contract"family ", in which both parents' requirements towards the child, e.g. regarding leaving the house, and the teenager's demands, e.g. parents will not search their pockets, are defined.
Young people are offered participation in workshops (they strengthen their self-esteem, teach how to function in a group). When the problem is greater, group and individual psychotherapy may be necessary.
Regardless of the cause of the problem, parents should get involved in the therapy process. This is often not an easy challenge for them - they have to talk openly about difficult matters, admit their mistakes and support the child in treatment, e.g. by helping them overcome difficulties and encouraging them to be treated. Appropriate parental involvement can motivate a child to such an extent that it will be more difficult for him to let go in moments of doubt.
Drug addiction treatment requires patience and consistency
If, despite treatment at the clinic, a young person fails to maintain permanent abstinence, the doctor may refer him to an inpatient center (changing the environment can be helpful in breaking the addiction). Treatment there lasts from 6 months to 2 years and is free of charge.
Difficulty with drug withdrawal often forces doctors to take drugs. Sometimes you can stop at detoxification (detoxification of the body alleviates the symptoms of abstinence and lasts about 10 days). When the abstinence syndrome is very strong, and the patient is not ready to completely stop taking drugs, substitution therapy is used (the administered preparations work similar to a drug, but do not intoxicate, and at the same time eliminate withdrawal symptoms).
Recovery can take years. It requires patience and consistency from the patient and his family. It should be recognized that drug addiction is a chronic disease that cannot be completely cured. That is why addicts sometimes return to the addiction, which ruins their he alth and often leads to tragedy. They fall out of social roles, may have conflicts with the law.
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