DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH INVOLVES OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS

Drug abuse is alive and well and living in Ardmore. And it
isn't only methamphetamine that is the problem.

The youth of our fair city are using drugs that may appear innocuous
but are just as devastating and at times deadly. Those drugs are
over-the-counter cold and cough remedies such as Coricidin cold
tablets, Robitussin cough syrup, and other over-the-counter
preparations containing the active ingredient dextromethorphan, also
known as DXM. In large quantities these seemingly harmless substances
can cause hallucinogenic effects similar to that of LSD (acid) and
phencyclidine (PCP). In large quantities these substances are
potentially addictive and are known to cause seizures, coma and even
death.

These cold and cough medicines are easily accessible and can be bought
at any time and anywhere.

They are easy to steal because of their small packaging and part of
the adventure for many teens and others is stealing the medication.

DON'T STOP READING NOW BECAUSE YOU THINK THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO
YOUR CHILD! This is happening to kids in ALL of our area schools.

And it is happening to good students as well as not so good students;
students who are active in extra-curricular activities and those that
are not; and affluent as well as economically challenged teens.

Many times, those students from more affluent families are at even
higher risk for drug and alcohol abuse because they have more access
to money to buy substances for themselves and their friends.

One of the best defenses against the potential for drug and alcohol
abuse in your child is active parental involvement. Children are not
hothouse plants that just need water occasionally to thrive.

They need parents that are tuned in to their lives and are there to
supervise, guide, teach and have an active interest and influence in
their lives. Parents have to be tuned in to prevent drug and alcohol
abuse and they have to be tuned in to help correct the problem once it
is present.

One of the biggest tragedies I see in my daily work with drug abuse
and addiction is when parents bring their kids in for help saying,
'fix my kid', and then want to just drop them off and not be involved
in the treatment process.

Or when they bring them in for help and then are not willing to follow
through with treatment recommendations that are made. Drug abuse is a
family problem, not just a problem with the child, and treatment must
address the other family issues that made the child vulnerable to drug
abuse and teach the family ways to promote recovery.

Parents are the first line of defense against drug and alcohol abuse
in their children.

They must pay attention, tune in, ask questions and be involved in
their children's lives.

Denial is as big a killer as addiction. Sticking your head in the sand
and thinking it can't happen to your child could be the biggest
mistake you ever make. So pay attention, ask questions and be involved
in your children's lives.

If you see empty Coricidin boxes or Robitussin bottles in the trash,
DO SOMETHING! Talk to your child.

Talk to their teachers.

Take action. Reach out. Ask for help. It could be the most important
step you ever take for your child.