Doctor's corner Help your child fight drug abuse

As 2017 begins, we are still facing a crisis of addiction in this country. Major steps are being taken, but there is still work to be done. Because the issue is so prevalent, many families worry about how to protect their children from getting involved with drugs. If their child does get involved with drugs, they wonder how they can be helped, and what the future may hold. This column hopes to provide some insights.

Are certain kids more apt to try drugs?

The important thing to remember about drug abuse is that it cuts across all socioeconomic lines. Whether your child is an athlete, an overachiever, popular, or further down on the social ladder, does not matter. Children from all parts of the social spectrum abuse drugs.

It also does not matter if a child comes from a wealthy home or poverty, drug abuse is still a real risk. The reasons behind the abuse may be different, but the risk of abuse is still there. People are often surprised by this, but the fact is that popular kids are often under enormous peer pressure to try the next “cool” thing; so are athletes. Wealthy kids often have disposable income, greater freedom, and may be bored and looking for new thrills. Drugs are often the thrill of choice.

Kids who are lonely, struggling, come from abusive homes or from poverty, see drugs as an escape. They may also be living with easy access to drugs if parents or neighbors are abusers. No matter the situation, the temptation to use drugs is very real and drugs are easily accessible.

What can parents do to help prevent drug abuse?

1. The most important thing that parents can do is maintain good lines of communication with their children. First, talk about the dangers of drug abuse and take time to listen to their questions. Make it clear that you are willing to have a discussion and are open to questions. Kids are constantly fed misinformation by peers, so this will be a topic that you may need to discuss multiple times. Also, start the conversation early — upper elementary school is not too soon.

2. Pay attention to what is going on with your child. Make time to hear about their lives and make sure they know you are always available to listen. Formal conversation times tend not to work, as many kids will just clam up under direct questioning, but casual times together, such as time in the car, while doing dishes or chores, taking a walk, or engaged in some other activity, can allow teens to relax and open up. Knowing they can come to you with any worries, fears and anxieties can often help prevent teens from turning to other ways of escaping pressures.

3. Pay attention to nonverbal cues. Today’s families are very busy, and it is easy to assume all is well if there are no obvious issues, but that may not be the case. If your child, for no apparent reason, starts acting withdrawn, frequently tired or depressed, or hostile, these can be signs of drug abuse. Other signs include changes in friends, poor grooming, decline in academic performance or skipping school or classes, loss of interest in favorite activities, changes in eating or sleeping habits, worsening relationships with family or friends, and getting in trouble in school or with the law.

4. Monitor social media accounts. Teens can often be living a very different life than their parents imagine and this “other life” is usually well documented on social media.

5. Maintain a good relationship with teachers, coaches and others involved in your child’s life. They can often provide good insights into whether your child is possibly experiencing some problems.

Isn’t drinking and smoking a little pot just being a teen?

Many teens experiment with alcohol and marijuana, but the fact that this is not uncommon does not make it any less risky. Frequent use of alcohol and marijuana can both be gateways to harder drugs. Binge drinking in particular is usually a sign of an emerging substance abuse problem.

Use of both of these substances is also a concern because both affect brain development and maturation in the areas related to motivation, memory and learning, and inhibition. Adolescent memory, in particular, is more affected by alcohol, than an adult’s is. Because teens tend to become motor-impaired or sedated less quickly than adults when consuming alcohol, they tend to drink more, putting them at risk for more serious consequences. Heavy teenage marijuana use significantly increases the risk for impaired respiratory function, cardiovascular disease, precancerous cells and psychotic symptoms, as well as possible changes to their IQ. There is also some evidence suggesting a link between early marijuana use and the onset of schizophrenia.

The teen brain is still at a critical development stage, so anything that alters brain function is potentially damaging. In addition, use of alcohol and marijuana can limit the benefits of psychiatric medication, or increase the vulnerability to medication side effects.

What are other hazards of drug abuse?

Substance abuse can directly contribute to a host of medical conditions including depression, anxiety, psychosis and other mental health disorders, as well as sexually transmitted infections, HIV, asthma, liver disorders, and heart conditions. Drug abuse typically has a negative impact on overall physical, mental and emotional health. It can disrupt opportunities for education, employment, and healthy relationships.

If my child is using, what do I do?

Find a physician who specializes in treating addiction. The sooner the issue is addressed, the better. Treatment is usually tailored to address each patient’s unique needs, including the pattern of substance abuse, underlying causes, any mental health, social or environmental issues, and a review of possible medical conditions.

Sometimes treatment is conducted on an outpatient basis, thus allowing your child to stay in school, but other times, a residential treatment program is best. An addiction specialist can advise you. It takes courage to seek treatment, both on the part of the patient and the patient’s family, but if your child knows he has your love and support throughout the process, that can greatly aid in his recovery.

Is there life after rehab?

Yes. However, the path to recovery can be a long one, as overcoming addiction is not easy, and each patient responds differently. Those suffering from addiction must overcome the physical and psychological hold the drug had on them.

If there are underlying mental health or personal issues behind the addiction, then those must be addressed as well, otherwise, the risk of relapse is great.

Both rehab centers and individualized treatment can help your teen break free of drugs, but to stay free will require a great deal of family support and inner strength on the part of your teen.

Breaking free from addiction means cutting ties with any and all aspects of their drug-abuse life — that means no contact with friends, places, or activities where drugs were involved. Such a break can be very, very hard, which is one reason why relapses are so common. Finding new friends, new activities and joining a support group can help your child navigate this difficult time. As your child matures, he or she will be able to make better choices and function more independently. With hard work, patience, persistence and support, a recovery is possible and a healthy, productive life can be had.

—Dr. David Schopick is a psychiatrist in private practice in Portsmouth. He is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in adult, adolescent and child psychiatry and has been serving patients in the Greater Seacoast area and beyond for more than 25 years. For information, call 431-5411 or visit www.schopickpsychiatry.com.