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<td><h3><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="4" color="#000099">Information
for Parents </font></b></h3>
<h1><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font color="#000099"><br>
How much do you need to know about drugs?</font></b></font></h1>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Your
experience of drugs might make you more tolerant of
drugs or it might not. After all, we know that our
attitudes often change when we become parents. But
it does mean that at least you will have a little
understanding of what drugs are all about. Many of
you may think that you do not know anything about
drugs at all. But even if you have never tried illegal
drugs, you often know more than you realise. Much
of what is portrayed in the media about drugs is misleading
and hysterical, but it isn't all wrong.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Your
teenager may know more about drugs than you do although
there is a tendency for some young people to make
out they know more than they really do. (It's trendy
to make out you know and use slang terms even if you
don't know what they mean).</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">You
do not need to be a walking encyclopaedia on drugs.
It's enough to know the basics which you pick up from
this website - or if you want more detail go to <b><a href="http://www.drugscope.org.uk/resources/drugsearch/" target="_blank"><font color="#000099">DrugSearch</font></a></b>,
DrugScope's online drug encyclopaedia. </font></p>
<h1><br>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font color="#000099">How
many young people use illegal drugs?</font></b></font></h1>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Because
of the illegal nature of the activity, it is hard
to be certain. Although surveys are always anonymous
and confidential, some young people may be unwilling
to disclose drug use while others may exaggerate their
experiences.<br>
</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><br>
However, enough surveys have been done for us to say
that illegal drug use among young people has gone
up considerably in recent years. Many will know drug
users, or would have been offered drugs, and large
numbers have been willing to experiment at least once
with a variety of drugs. This would be overwhelmingly
cannabis.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">How
much illegal drug use is going on will vary enormously
from place to place - and some areas have very high
levels of drug use. But on the whole, the majority
of those under the age of 25 do not use illegal drugs
on a regular basis. </font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">For
example, despite all the publicity about ecstasy,
less than 5% of those aged 16-19 say they are regular
users of this drug. Injecting drug use is still quite
rare among young people - so is the use of drugs like
heroin and cocaine. </font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">But
we should also be concerned about teenage smoking
and drinking. Alcohol is the most popular drug of
choice among young people. Surveys show that over
95% of 15-16 year olds have tried alcohol and that
about one third of 13-16 year olds drink at least
once a week. Alcohol consumption increases in the
16 plus age group and goes down again in the early
twenties. Although overall alcohol consumption has
not increased among young people in recent years,
there is clear evidence of more binge drinking and
drunkenness. Fewer adults now smoke but smoking is
increasing among young people, especially girls. </font></p>
<p> </p>
<h1><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><font color="#000099"><b>Why
do young people use drugs?</b></font></font></h1>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The
newspapers and TV often talk about 'peer pressure'
or evil drug dealers forcing or tricking teenagers
being the main reasons young people use drugs. In
the real world it is usually much more complicated
than this. Rather than being forced into using drugs
most young people have their own reasons for using
them. Drug use is always functional. People get something
out of using drugs.<br>
</font></p>
<h1><br>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font color="#000099">Experimental
drug use</font></b></font></h1>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Experimental
drug use is when young people try a drug for the first
few times. Why might they do this?</font></p>
<ul>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Out
of curiosity. Drugs are often freely available.
They sound interesting. Why not have a go and see
what it is like?</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Out
of boredom. There is not much else to do.</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Their
friends are doing it. They don't want to be the
odd one out.</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">As
a protest and to be independent. They know they
shouldn't, but it's fun to do things your parents
would not approve of. Risk can be fun if you can
get away with it.</font></li>
</ul>
<h1><br>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><font color="#000099"><b>'Recreational'
or more regular drug use</b></font></font></h1>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Recreational
drug use involves young people using drugs in a regular
but fairly controlled way. Their use is often connected
to recreational activities such as dancing, listening
to music, relaxing with friends, watching videos and
sexual activity. Many adults are recreational alcohol
users. They take some care over what they drink, when,
where, how much, what they are doing the next day
etc. A lot of young people use illegal drugs in a
similar fashion. </font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Why
might they do this?</font></p>
<ul>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Drug
use may help them relax; feel happy, full of energy
and mix with other people more easily.</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">According
to many people drugs like cannabis and ecstasy are
preferable to alcohol. They say such drugs don't
give you a nasty hangover and that people tend to
be less aggressive under their influence.</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Drugs
are a central part of youth culture. Taking drugs
at certain dance clubs has become a pretty normal
thing to do.</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Many
drugs are as cheap or cheaper than alcohol.</font></li>
</ul>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">This
begins to sound like an advert for drugs. However,
if we are to really understand why young people use
drugs in this way we have to face the truth - drug
use is experienced by many young people as pleasurable
with few resulting problems. </font></p>
<h1><br>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font color="#000099">Dependent
drug use</font></b></font></h1>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Dependent
drug use is when people come to rely on being high
on drugs to get them through each day. They feel that
they have to be on drugs almost all the time to face
the world. It's the same for those dependent on alcohol.
Thankfully, only a small minority of young people
become dependent on drugs. The reasons for dependent
use may include:</font></p>
<ul>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Being
on drugs all the time can 'protect' people from
all the negative feelings they have about themselves
and the world around them. Many dependent users
have experienced a very unhappy childhood, had traumatic
experiences (like sexual or physical abuse) and/or
have low self esteem. This can affect children from
any family background.</font></li>
<li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Life can seem dull and empty if you are poor, unemployed
and see no future for yourself. Dependent drug use
can relieve you of your everyday worries. The daily
hustle to make money, score drugs, avoid the police
and be part of a drug scene with other people can
provide some meaning and structure in an otherwise
empty life. Sometimes, this can be more important
to the person than actually taking the drugs. That's
part of the reason why staying off drugs is a lot
harder than coming off. Staying off drugs means
giving up a life which the person has got used to
and trying to find something new. If you have ever
had to move house or to a new job in an entirely
new area where you have no friends or relatives,
you will know how insecure you might have felt.</font></li>
</ul>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The
reasons for dependent drug use have to do with social
and emotional problems. The drug use experience can
feel safe and predictable. It is very much an escape
from normal life and very different from the reaching
out into a new and exciting lifestyle that experimenters
and recreational users are looking for. </font><br>
<br>
</p>
<h1><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font color="#000099">How
would I know if my child was using drugs?</font></b></font></h1>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Some
drug information leaflets and websites for parents
include lists of signs and symptoms of drug use. They
often include moods swings, lack of appetite, looking
unwell, school work in decline and so on. These may
well be the signs of drug use, but they may also indicate
many other things including simply growing up. So
unless you actually see your child high on drugs or
find some drugs in their room or obtain other conclusive
evidence, it might be hard to know for sure. This
is where the relationship you have with your child
is so important - that they feel they can talk to
you if they are having problems. You might feel tempted
by drug-testing kits which are becoming available.
All these do is play to the fear of parents about
drugs, are unreliable and can only damage trust and
cooperation with your children.</font></p>
<h1><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><br>
<font color="#000099"><b>What do drugs look like?
</b></font></font></h1>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Parents
often ask what different drugs look like. Check out
this link on the D-World site for <b><a href="../gallery/"><font color="000099">pictures</font></a></b>
of the major drugs. However, be warned. The same drug
can come in many different forms. Also, people do
not usually leave drugs lying around in convenient
little piles for you to identify. If you discover
anything at all, it is more likely to be something
for using the drug rather the drug itself. For example,
small bits of cardboard rolled up to go into the end
of a cannabis cigarette, perhaps an empty lighter
fuel can that's been sniffed.</font></p>
<h1><br>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font color="#000099">What
if we know we need help?</font></b></font></h1>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If
you think or know that your child has a serious drug
problem, then your GP should be able to refer you
to the nearest specialist service. But you don't necessarily
need a referral to see a drugs worker. If you want
to find out the nearest centre to where you live,
phone 0800 776600. This is the talktofrank drugs helpline
which is open 24 hours a day, is free and confidential.<br>
</font></p>
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