Drug Addiction and Adolescents
From LoveToKnow Recovery
Christy Crandell has accomplished a great deal in her quest to spread the word about drug addiction and adolescents. Christy is a facilitator for a Northern California chapter of The Parent Project and is the director of a Northern California high school College and Career Center. In 2005, she began to serve on the State of California Department of Education Intersegmental Coordinating Council.
Christy recently wrote her first book, Lost & Found: A Mother and Son Find Victory Over Teen Drug Addiction. The book is a detailed and emotional account of Christy's experience with her son Ryan, who battled, and eventually beat, a drug and alcohol addiction.
Drug Addiction and Adolescents Interview
What inspired you to write Lost & Found: A Mother and Son Find Victory Over Teen Drug Addiction?
After my son was arrested, I was determined to share information I wish I’d known earlier with other parents in an effort to prevent another family from experiencing the path my family has been on. I was in the dark about what teen culture looks like today so I figured other parents might be in the same boat. In addition to the book, I developed a website www.stopteendrugaddiction.com as a site for parents to stay updated on the latest information available about teen drug and alcohol use.
How serious is the problem of drug addiction in adolescents?
I don’t have hard statistics, but I can tell you that by working with teens and their families who have experienced this issue firsthand, it is much more commonplace than parents might want to believe. Secondly, because adolescents still have developing brains and bodies, addiction can progress much more quickly than it might in an adult.
Do you have any specific tips for parents who want to identify and prevent drug abuse in their teen?
I felt like the life my husband and I provided our sons would somehow insulate them from having a problem with drugs or alcohol. I was wrong. I failed to consider that some of the signs I was seeing might be a drug or alcohol problem. The warning signs at first might mimic normal adolescent angst like irritability, moodiness and defiance. If the abuse continues other signs become more apparent – dropping grades, change in appearance or sleeping habits, change in friends, etc.
When should parents consider drug testing their teen?
If I had to do it all over again, I would make random drug testing a part of my child’s life as soon as they entered middle school. I think if this is addressed with love and concern and not in a punitive manner it will be an accepted fact by our teens.
In addition, it gives teens an acceptable excuse to use with their peers as a refusal skill when offered drugs or alcohol – “No thanks, my parents test me.” Because kids are so clever at hiding signs of drug or alcohol use, drug testing would help you catch a potential problem early. Early intervention is the best chance for successful intervention.
You recently took part in the launch of an online campaign to raise awareness about cough medicine abuse. Can you tell us a little more about that?
I am one of five moms involved in a campaign to raise awareness about cough medicine abuse. What is cough medicine abuse? It's taking an extreme amount of cough medicine-bottle after bottle or pill after pill-to get high. The "high" is caused by dextromethorphan, a common ingredient found in many cough medicines. Dextromethorphan is a safe and effective ingredient when taken in the correct doses. When abused in large quantities, however, it can produce a number of dangerous side effects.
According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, one in 10 teenagers reports intentionally abusing cough medicine to get high. That's 2.4 million young people. They also are using the Internet to post how-to's and stories about their latest "trips" on web sites.
The campaign is called Five Moms: Stopping Cough Medicine Abuse. Each one of us brings a unique perspective and voice to the campaign – but we all have one thing in common – we are mothers and we care deeply about this issue. Go to www.fivemoms.com for more information and spread the word!
Where can readers get more information about drug addiction in adolescents?
My website is a great place to start. Go to http://www.stopteendrugaddiction.com and go to the "Get Help" section. You will find a variety of excellent resources and websites to start you on your path to knowledge about this important subject. In addition, on the front page of my website, you will notice a "Parent Alert" section. This will change monthly to keep you up to date on the latest drug trends and important information every parent should know.
I recognize that many parents are overwhelmed and even frightened by the information they may hear about teen drug and alcohol use but I always like to say, “Don’t be afraid, be informed!” The health and well being of your child may depend on it.
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