|
RESOURCES & LINKS
Drug Testing Information
It is recommended that parents who suspect their teens are using drugs learn how to drug test their teens. This often serves as a necessary deterrent to the use of drugs. Drug testing also gives a teen a reason to refuse the use of drugs from their peers. Home kits can be purchased online or at drug stores… Some kits are effective and some are not.
There are many ways to attempt to falsify a drug test. Liquids, pills and powder can be taken in an attempt to alter a drug test. It is highly recommended that tests be given randomly and that they are observed.
A primary care physician can also do a drug test. However, this may not be an observed test.
The Drug Testing Center in Redondo Beach can do observed testing http://www.getdrugtested.com
Drug Test Information for effective kits
- www.onlytests.com
- www.meditests.com
- alcohol test strips – phone: 626-296-3575
Below is a brief list of things to watch out for regarding trying to falsify a drug test:
- Drinking a large amount of water on the day of urine test.
- Drinking a large amount of Cranberry juice, or all of a sudden starting to drink Cranberry Juice.
- Cranberry Pills
- Detox Pills, usually purchased from Health Food/Vitamin Stores
- Water Pills
- “The Fix”, a liquid
- Echinacea & Golden Seal
- Receipts from Vitamin Stores
- Make yourself aware of any and all pills your teen might be taking. The use of some of them might be to “clean the system”.
Signs & Symptoms of Teen Drinking and Drug Use
How can you tell if your child is using drugs or alcohol? It is difficult because changes in mood or attitudes, unusual temper outbursts, changes in sleeping habits and changes in hobbies or other interests are common in teens. What should you look for? You can also look for signs of depression, withdrawal, carelessness with grooming or hostility. Also ask yourself, is your child doing well in school, getting along with friends, taking part in sports or other activities?
These changes often signal that something harmful is going on—and often that involves alcohol or drugs. If you obtain a positive drug test, you may want to take your teen to the Thelma McMillen Center to receive a full assessment. Trained professionals can guide you as to best type of care for your teen. Generally, you want to be on the watch for signs so that you can spot trouble before it goes too far.
Drug Paraphernalia
What are drug paraphernalia? The term "drug paraphernalia" refers to any equipment that is used to produce, conceal and consume illicit drugs. It includes but is not limited to items such as bongs, roach clips, miniature spoons, and various types of pipes.
What do drug paraphernalia look like? Identifying drug paraphernalia can be challenging because products often are marketed as though they were designed for legitimate purposes. Marijuana pipes and bongs, for example, frequently carry a misleading disclaimer indicating that they are intended to be used only with tobacco products.
Increasingly, bongs, pipes, and other paraphernalia are manufactured in bright, trendy colors and bear designs such as skulls, devils, dragons, and wizards. Manufacturers attempt to normalize drug use and make their products attractive to teenagers and young adults.
Laying Down the Rules – Tips for Parents
Parents, you are the first line of defense when it comes to your child’s drug use or drinking. And you do make a difference! Nearly two-thirds of teenagers see great risk of upsetting their parents or losing the respect of family and friends if they smoke marijuana or use other drugs.
There are some simple steps you can take to keep track of your child’s activities. Of course, your kids might not like you keeping tabs on where they are and what they’re doing. It won’t be a democracy, and it shouldn’t be, according to many parenting experts. In the end, it’s not pestering; it’s parenting!
Laying Down the Rules – Tips for Parents
Steps to take:
- Set rules. Let your teen know that drug and alcohol use is unacceptable and that these rules are set to keep him or her safe. Set limits with clear consequences for breaking them.
- Praise and reward good behavior for compliance and enforce consequences for non-compliance.
- Know where your teen is and what he or she will be doing during unsupervised time. Research shows that teens with unsupervised time are three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs. Unsupervised teens are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as underage drinking, sexual activity, and cigarette smoking than other teens. This is particularly important after school, in the evening hours, and also when school is out during the summer or holidays.
- Talk to your teen. While shopping or riding in the car, casually ask him how things are going at school, about his friends, what his plans are for the weekend, etc.
- Keep them busy — especially between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and into the evening hours. Engage your teen in after-school activities. Enroll your child in a supervised educational program or a sports league. Research shows that teens that are involved in constructive, adult-supervised activities are less likely to use drugs than other teens.
- Check on your teenager. Occasionally check in to see that your kids are where they say they’re going to be and that they are spending time with whom they say they are with.
- Establish a "core values statement" for your family. Consider developing a family mission statement that reflects your family’s core values. This might be discussed and created during a family meeting or over a weekend meal together. Talking about what they stand for is particularly important at a time when teens are pressured daily by external influences on issues like drugs, sex, violence, or vandalism. If there is no compass to guide your kids, the void will be filled by the strongest force.
- Spend time together as a family regularly and be involved in your kid's lives. Create a bond with your child. This builds up credit with your child so that when you have to set limits or enforce consequences, it’s less stressful.
- Take time to learn the facts about marijuana and underage drinking and talk to your teen about its harmful health, social, learning, and mental effects on young users. Visit the drug information area of TheAntiDrug.com
- Get to know your teen’s friends (and their parents) by inviting them over for dinner or talking with them at your teen’s soccer practice, dance rehearsal, or other activities.
- Stay in touch with the adult supervisors of your child (camp counselors, coaches, employers, and teachers) and have them inform you of any changes in your teen. Warning signs of drug use include distance from family and existing friends, hanging out with a new circle of friends, lack of interest in personal appearance, or changes in eating or sleeping habits.
Helpful Websites:
www.theantidrug.com
www.nida.nih.gov
www.samhsa.gov
|
