Ellen Campbell-Grizzle
MANY PARENTS suspect that their child is using illegal drugs but cannot be sure. Drug problems among youngsters are difficult to assess and often look like something else such as discipline problems, hyperactivity or even withdrawal. If your child is a teenager, some common signs and symptoms of drug abuse may appear as a part normal growing up.
If you suspect that your child has a drug problem, reach out and talk to the child in a loving manner. Scolding will not help you to impart the valuable
information that you need to and to understand the reasons for your child's drug use.
IDENTIFYING DRUG ABUSE
Here is a useful checklist to help you identify drug abuse in your child. The more 'yes' checks that you give to the questions, the more likely it is that there is a problem and that you need professional help.
REASONS FOR DRUG USE
In Jamaica, one of the biggest reasons that children use drugs is curiosity. They may hear people praising drug effects on television, the Internet and in music. Many see parents using drugs at home. Negative peer pressure is another important factor.
Youngsters see their friends using drugs with no apparent negative effects. They do not know that many of the negative effects are long term and believe that using drugs is 'in' and 'cool'. Some turn to drugs to mask emotions and to overcome shyness. The greatest task that parents have is to convince their children that drug use is not normal and that they, like
so many others before them, can achieve great things without a 'drug prop'.
You should know that alcohol is the most abused drug in Jamaica. According to data from the most recent survey from the National Council on Drug Abuse, 71 per cent of Jamaican adolescents have tried alcohol and 51 per cent have tried ganja in all its forms (drink, food or smoking). Ganja smoking among Jamaican adolescents has increased by 7.1 per cent over a 10-year period while cocaine use has remained low. Inhalant abuse is also a significant problem. Twenty-seven per cent have tried tobacco.
Keep their dreams alive!
There is some good news in the data. The evidence is that most Jamaican youth are staying drug- free and focused on high achievement. We must work together to help those with drug problems to become healthy and restore their dreams.
Quick checklist
Has your child's grades slipped?
Is your child often absent
from school or late without your knowledge?
Have you noticed behaviour change at home?
Is your child less interested in the family?
Is money or items disappearing?
Is your child borrowing more money?
Has your child changed friends?
Does your child now have new and older friends?
Is your child's physical appearance changing?
Have you found paraphernalia in your child's room or among his/her possessions such as pipes, Rizzla, cut-off pens and used matches?
Have you found drugs among your child's possession such as ganja, cocaine, crack, beady or cigarette stubs?
Have you noticed your child sniffing gas, glue, nail and floor polish or correction fluid?
Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, president, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists; director, Information & research, National Council on Drug Abuse; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
