Things don't seem quite right with your teenager. His grades are slipping, he is moody and distant, keeping vampire hours and opting out of family outings. You are willing to believe it's all due to teenage angst and hormones until one day you find the drug evidence in his jeans pocket while you're sorting through the laundry. Shock! What do you do now?

"Count to ten and leave the room," counsels Janet Leadbeater, public health nurse with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit. "Parents need to be careful how they respond to their child. They should be firm that they do not condone or accept the behaviour but they should also reinforce the message that they care about the child, and that they are looking out for the child's best interest. There will be a period of time between the parent and the child when the relationship will break down over this issue," says Leadbeater, "but parents should not feel alone."

The most important strategy, says Leadbeater, is to arm yourself with information and get support.Both the HKPR health unit and the Peterborough City County Health Unit promote awareness of

drugs and their effect on health and well-being, provide drug information and education, and provide appropriate referrals. (See Resources).

A drug is defined as any substance, other than food, which is taken to change the way the body and/or mind functions. Drugs include depressants (alcohol, heroine, date rape drugs), hallucinogens (acid, magic mushrooms, ecstasy), stimulants (tobacco, caffeine, cocaine, crystal meth), cannabis (marijuana) and steroids.

The latest Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) student survey found that 68.8% of students in Grade 7 to 12 in central east Ontario reported using alcohol (above the Ontario average of 62.%), 29.8% used cannabis (above the 26.5% Ontario average) and 15.1% smoke cigarettes (above the 14.4% Ontario average). The newest drug on school grounds is smokeless tobacco.

Although there is public perception that crystal meth use is on the rise, in fact this 'hard' street

drug is used by less than 2% of youth. However, CAMH does note that some research indicates there may be an increase in the use of crystal meth

on the club scene or among homeless youth and that this drug can be used in conjunction with other drugs (known as poly-drug use). Police on the frontlines say that 50% of break-ins are the result of thieves looking for cash or property to sell to support their drug use. Police are also more likely to come into contact with youth using hard drugs because of the disruptive behaviour and poor decision-making these street drugs can cause.

Alcohol may be the number one drug used by kids because of easy access. Providing minors with alcohol for a price can reap some financial rewards to young adults, says Leadbeater. She draws attention to another emerging concern: the rise in binge drinking (defined as consuming five or more drinks on one occasion which can cause alcohol poisoning and death) from the Ontario average of 22.7% to 25.9% in central eastern Ontario.
As a legal drug, alcohol is readily available in most homes and has a high degree of social and cultural acceptance among adults. Although some research indicates that alcohol has health benefits, this applies only to adults over 45 and in most cases a drink every other day is enough.

Families in certain cultures offer wine to children as part of the family meal experience (albeit in small amounts), sending a signal to children early on that this drug is okay 'in moderation.' But alcohol for teenagers under the age of 19 is illegal because it has a different effect on growing bodies than in adults. Too much alcohol can cause a hangover, poisoning, and death or alcoholism over time. CAMH notes that there are no known health benefits for youth from drinking alcohol. Instead, it can aggravate depression and lead to aggression. Mixing alcohol with other drugs (including over-the-counter medicine) can also be fatal and/or cause injuries.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among Canadians. In the CAMH surveys, 15% of students reported using marijuana six times or more during the past year. About one in eight students (12%) who use marijuana use it every day, according to CAMH. This is about 3% of all grade 7 to 12 students in Ontario (33,200 students).

The rise of marijuana as a drug of choice has been attributed to easy access and confusion over the decriminalization debate, which peddlers have been quick to capitalize on. In November 2004, Bill C-17 was introduced to decriminalize the possession of marijuana under 15 grams. But the bill never came into law and is not supported by the current government. Some kids have been led to believe that the law was passed and that possession of a small amount of marijuana is legal. The truth is that possessing marijuana of 30 grams or less for a first time conviction can result in a six-month jail sentence or a $1,000 fine (or both) and a criminal record with limits on employment and travel.

Most kids don't know that marijuana can pose a number of health risks. Its smoke has more tar and cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco smoke (there are at least 400 chemicals in marijuana) and it can be laced with other drugs, pesticides or fungus or unknown 'fillers' to stretch the supply. To get the maximum effect, users inhale deeper and hold the smoke longer in their lungs, increasing the risk of cancer. Marijuana smoke can also irritate the lungs - it has been linked to chronic cough and bronchitis - and it can make asthma worse. It affects coordination and memory and impairs learning. Some users can become addicted over the long-run but the short-term effects of quitting (irritability, stomach upset and sleeplessness) usually disappear after a week.

Some teenagers will never use drugs, but most will experiment to some degree (see Why Kids Use Drugs). While the majority will go on to lead normal, healthy and productive lives, some will have experiences that affect their sense of well-being and, in more serious cases, their mental health and ability to function. But no one can really predict who will fall into each category.

Many parents who discover their kids are using drugs may be tempted to take a 'tough love', hard-line approach. But this can be counter-productive when dealing with teenagers. One local Mom, in hindsight, wishes she had not called the police to charge her son with possession. She believed the court system would scare her son back to his senses. But the plan backfired - it took 18 months to get a court date and in the meantime her relationship with the teen went from bad to much worse.

CAMH, the local health units and other groups take a harm reduction approach to the issue of drug use. "We have seen that a prohibitionist response does not work for adolescents who have a developmental need to take risks, assert their autonomy, develop values independent of their parents and their authorities, find acceptance in a peer group, seek excitement and satisfy their curiosity," says Leadbeater.

Harm reduction focuses on getting accurate and unbiased information about the effects of drugs to potential users. This approach allows teens to make informed decisions about whether to use drugs or not. If they choose to use a drug, they will at least understand what precautions to take to minimize their risk.

Young people do not trust authorities they believe provide misleading information on substance use and its dangers when it contradicts their own experience or those of their peers, says CAMH. In addition, parents who drink too much and/or abuse prescription drugs and then tell their kids, "say no to drugs," lose all credibility with their teens.

Parents should not despair, says Leadbeater. "By the time we see parents, they are often in crisis mode and desperate for help," she says. But there are many things you can do long before your children reach their teens to help prevent or at least better prepare you for dealing with drug experimentation among your children.

• Start conversations about drugs (prescription, medications, drinking) at home when your children are in grade school. The school curriculum starts dealing with these issues in Grade 1.
• Model the behaviour you are asking of your children.
• Establish family policies regarding drugs. For example, when it is appropriate to drink at certain celebrations.
• Make a real effort to know and appreciate your children's friends and make them welcome in your home.
• Offer a variety and range of activities to children. Those who are involved in things they like and have a wide circle of friends and interests are less likely to get hooked on drugs.
• Give your children the security to challenge themselves and meet new goals. They'll develop self-confidence when they realize they have the courage and ability to overcome problems.
• Have a clear sense of family standards to help protect your children when they are faced with different attitudes from some of their peers.
• Foster good self-esteem by praising your children often.
  

  If you do discover that your child is using drugs, HKPR recommends the following steps (adapted from Parent Action on Drugs):

• Be calm but firm. Let your child know that, while you do not accept his behaviour, you love him and are concerned about him.

• Remember, you are not alone. Look for support from extended family, a special friend, the internet, parent support groups, your local health unit or addiction and mental health professionals.

• Don't support your child's drug use in any way. Don't give her money. Don't rescue your child from the effects of her behaviour. Let her know that you will help out if her safety is a concern.

• Keep your child involved in positive family activities.

• Re-examine your relationship with your child. Make a point of reviewing the positive aspects of your child, your parenting abilities and your relationship.

• Prepare yourself for small steps of progress and some backsliding.
  The bottom line for parents: get help if substance abuse is having a negative effect on your child's life. This includes damaged relationships with family and friends, interference with school, work or home responsibilities, and problems with physical or mental health.

Suzan Butyn is a freelance writer and the mother of Luke, 10. Her household also includes husband Joe, two parakeets, Spike and Pebbles, and a corgi named Cruse.

Why Kids Use Drugs
Teenagers say they use drugs to:
Relax
Experiment
Have a good time
Be one of the crowd
Relieve boredom
Stimulate creativity
Be different
Cope with problems (poor grades,
family dysfunction, family conflict, child abuse)

Virtual Party
This interactive web-based resource was developed by youth, for youth. It offers information about drug and alcohol use with an interactive storyline that promotes making healthy choices and reducing risky behaviour. Designed for youth 13-19.
www.virtual-party.org.

Resources

Four Counties Addiction Services Team (FourCAST)
1-800-461-1909. Offers assessments, individual and group counselling and referrals to other services as required. Campbellford 705 653-3352; Cobourg 905- 377-9111; Peterborough 705-876-1292

Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH). Drug and alcohol information line, 1-800-463-6273. Provides confidential and anonymous services 24 hours a day, information and referrals. www.camh.net

Parent Action on Drugs (PAD), 1-877-265-9279. Offers support services and education materials for parents.
www.parentactionondrugs.org

Alcoholics Anonymous, Alanon and Alateen. Offer support for the individual recovering from alcoholism and those who are affected. Peterborough 705-745-6111.

The Peterborough City County Health Unit, 705-743-1000. Offers information and education on teen drug use as well as referrals. www.pcchu.peterborough.on.ca.