“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When Benjamin Franklin said those words in 1736, he was talking about preventing household fires in Philadelphia. Today, we can apply those same words to keeping young people from using drugs and alcohol.
During Substance Use Prevention month (October), take steps to learn more:
Clean up and lock up medications. Far too often, teens and young adults find the medicine cabinet in their own home, or that of a loved one, as an easy-access way to get high. And, while prescription pain medications are most widely misused, many over-the-counter medications (cough and cold medicines) are also used to get high. All medicines, even those used on a daily basis, should be LOCKED in a secure cabinet or lock box (even a tool box with a lock will work). Expired and unused medications should be taken for safe disposal.
Be aware. Addiction doesn’t discriminate based on age, income, gender, race or religion. Just because your child is in a good school, doesn’t mean he or she isn’t exposed to drugs. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), use of marijuana is increasing because more and more teens see it as “safe”.By the 8th grade, 30% of students have tried alcohol and 15% have used marijuana.
Know the signs. Identifying substance use among teens can be difficult, mainly because many of the warning signs are also pretty consistent with regular teen behavior. Moodiness and sleeping a lot are common. Combine those with a change in friends, being extremely secretive and falling off academically, and you may need to look deeper. Also, teens are very body-conscious. If you notice that your teen is wearing clothes that are large and baggy, he or she may be trying to hide weight loss due to substance use.
As soon as you see a change, take action. This isn’t the time to stick your head in the sand. If you need advice, talk to a professional, either a doctor you know and trust or a social worker with experience in dealing with addiction and substance use.
The Guidance Center of Westchester has staff who can help with substance use and addiction. TGCW has staff trained in The Seven Challenges, a program designed specifically for adolescents with drug problems, to motivate a decision and commitment to change – and to support success in implementing the desired changes.
Guest blogger: Candace Cardwell, LMSW. Candace is a program director at The Guidance Center of Westchester and works at Open Door. She specializes in substance abuse treatment and is trained in The Seven Challenges. You can reach her at ccardwell@TheGuidanceCenter.org.
