Welcome to Drug and Alcohol Treatment
| ||
Places To Go For Help With Drug Addictions Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Places To Go For Help With Drug Addictions. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
Monitoring Your Teens for Drug Use Without Appearing to be Spying
from:by V. Michael Santoro, M. Ed.
Even if your teenagers do not use drugs, you still need to keep an eye on them. It is much better to realize that things could change, and anticipate that your teen COULD become a user. Essentially, it is not wise to make assumptions about topics such as drug use. Also, having been a high school teacher afforded me the opportunity to witness peer pressure, and how even good kids could be convinced to try drugs - just to fit in. It is important that you play a proactive role in ensuring that your teenagers and the rest of your family remains drug free.About drug useInitially, I learned that the signs of drug use included three basic symptoms:• A loss of interest in hobbies• A change in friends• A drop in gradesWhat I later discovered was that not seeing these symptoms only provides a false sense of security regarding teenagers and potential drug use. The above behaviors apply more to signs of “drug addiction,” as opposed to “experimental” drug use.Teens who experiment with drugs don’t start out addicted so logically, they do not show any symptoms. They generally look healthy and nothing seems to be wrong. In fact, teens can casually use drugs for over a year before their parents would even suspect any drug or alcohol use.Many teenagers who decide to experiment with drugs start out casually, using them with friends and then progressing towards regular use. It is important that you look for clues pertaining to casual drug use so that if your teen is prone, you can proactively deal with it.What you can doYou need to monitor your teen’s behavior and watch for signs of drug use, without appearing to be spying. Your goal should be to prevent him or her from feeling free to experiment with drugs or alcohol. The best way to accomplish this is to keep abreast of your teen’s activities and friends. You will be able to spot a problem early if you keep your eyes and ears open, and believe that YOUR teenager is capable of using drugs. Many parents get blind-sided by thinking that their teen would never try drugs. Only then will you be ready to intervene if the situation presents itself.The following are ten ways to monitor your teenager’s behavior and watch for signs of drug use, without appearing to be spying:1. Hug your teen as soon as s/he arrives home. Check for odors of possible marijuana smoke or alcohol. Remember that cologne or chewing gum may be used to hide the odor.2. Teenagers under the influence will usually go straight to their room when they arrive home. While making eye contact, hold a brief conversation. Check for bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and their sense of balance.3. Keep the lights on and stay up until your teenager comes home.4. Ask your teen for the time and watch the way s/he looks at his or her watch.5. If your teenager unexpectedly wants to spend the night at a friend’s house, and you have concerns, say no.6. Maintain a flexible schedule. Be unpredictable so your teen cannot find it easy to plan around your activities.7. Keep abreast of what your teen is really doing when away from home. Meet their friends and their parents and participate in mutual activities. This is a very effective form of networking.8. Ask your neighbors to discretely keep an eye on any activities that may take place while you are not home.9. Check to see how your teens are doing in school. Ask their teachers if there is any cause for concern or if your teen has been behaving differently.10. After you meet your teenager’s friends, always ask them to identify themselves when they call. Get to know them. Always encourage your teens to invite their friends over while you are home.Remember, your goal should be to prevent your teenager from feeling free to experiment with drugs or alcohol. The best way to accomplish this is to keep abreast of their activities and friends using the above methods.Lastly, but most important, talk to your teenager on a regular basis about the drug use she witnesses, and how she feels about it. Also, if she has been approached, have her describe how she handled the situation. Strive for honesty and ask how you can help her to remain drug free.This article is an excerpt from the book "Realizing the Power of Love," How a father and teenage daughter became best friends...and how you can too! By V. Michael Santoro, M. Ed and Jennifer S. Santoro. For more information visit their Web site at http://www.dads-daughters.com/Copyright 2004 by V. Michael Santoro and Jennifer S. Santoro, All Rights Reserved.
V. Michael Santoro, M. Ed, has 10 years of experience as an educator. He is also certified in Training & Development with over 18 years of industry experience.
Places To Go For Help With Drug Addictions Specific links
Places To Go For Help With Drug Addictions
- Looking for Places To Go For Help With Drug Addictions?
-- http://www.shopica.org/
Blinkx Video Search
- World's largest video search engine. Over 26 million hours of video.
-- http://www.blinkx.com/
Watch Funny Videos!
- Click here to see funny videos, pictures, jokes, commercials, and more funny stuff from Comedy.com.
-- http://www.comedy.com/
Wainy Days
- David Wain, co-creator of The State, Wet Hot American Summer, Stella and The Ten, now brings you WAINY DAYS, a weekly web series chronicling one man's quest for love and romance in the Big City. Catch the latest episodes at Atom.com
-- http://www.atom.com/
Free tech talk and gadget review video!
- Watch GeekBrief with Cali Lewis right now!
-- http://www.geekbrief.mevio.com/
Places To Go For Help With Drug Addictions News
Full House's Jodie Sweetin "I Can't Believe How Far I've Come" - People Magazine
Full House's Jodie Sweetin "I Can't Believe How Far I've Come" People Magazine - It's also a far cry from what the actress has been through over the past few years: An addiction to crystal meth took over her life and wrecked her first ... |
Getting help for drug addiction - Herald Times Reporter
Getting help for drug addiction Herald Times Reporter, WI - In the past, when people were struggling with drug addiction, the first thought was to send them to a 28-day inpatient program. These days, there is more ... |
Jeff Whitley: My drink and drug hell - expressandstar.com
Jeff Whitley: My drink and drug hell expressandstar.com, UK - “People go home and have a couple of bottles of wine every night, but they won’t see it as a problem. Alcohol is poison and addiction wants to take ... |
Drawing the Line on Drug Testing - New York Times
Drawing the Line on Drug Testing New York Times, United States - They know my older brother died of drug addiction.” Her oldest daughter is now a college freshman, but last year, when she was a senior, a few times she ... |
Nigeria: Addressing the Drug Addiction Menace - AllAfrica.com
Nigeria: Addressing the Drug Addiction Menace AllAfrica.com, Washington - Drug addiction has not been countered from its roots. How many people have to go crazy before something is really done? Research has shown that about 55 ... |
Prescription Drug Addiction - OxyContin - TransWorldNews (press release)
Prescription Drug Addiction - OxyContin TransWorldNews (press release), GA - Years ago, drug addicts had to go to the bad parts of town to get their drugs. Some of the more upscale drug addicts may have been able to get accommodating ... What is Methamphetamine and Methamphetamine Addiction? |
Community calendar - San Jose Mercury News
Community calendar San Jose Mercury News, USA - Naranon Support Group — For those struggling with drug addiction or coping with friends and/or family members who are addicts. Details: 510-526-2455, ... |
The new face of heroin: The infamous, addictive drug invades the ... - Coast News
The new face of heroin: The infamous, addictive drug invades the ... Coast News, CA - The couple, no longer naïve to the power of addiction, is elated but weary of their daughter Tracy Smith’s recovery. Plagued by the fear that comes with ... |
Marcia: The nightmare next door - Toronto Star
Marcia: The nightmare next door Toronto Star, Canada - "The '70s, the '80s ... an all-out drug revolution. "I have a very addictive personality. I think I would have gotten addicted to drugs no matter what. ... |
Advice From a Drug Dealer - Georgia Straight
Advice From a Drug Dealer Georgia Straight, Canada - The first stage is to separate drug dealers in our criminal justice system from their customers, the addicts. Those suffering from addiction need to be ... |