Part One– Kids’ Tricks to Hide Drug Use From Parents

24-year-old
Chris would use a toilet paper tube lined with a dryer sheet to
hide the smell of marijuana from his parents. He says, “All you have
to do is blow out the smoke through there, and it scents the smoke so it doesn’t
smell like marijuana.”

He says he would stash his drugs anywhere but in the house, where
mom or dad might find them. Chris says, “Maybe in the garage,
or under the hood of my car. We’d get pulled over and we
wouldn’t even be scared because you never see a cop open
a hood on the side of the road.”

Heather Hayes, a licensed drug counselor in metro-Atlanta, says, “The
car is a big one. A lot of kids will hide it in the car now because
they think the parents aren’t going to go through the car.”

But Chris says the best way to hide drug use was to avoid his
parents. He says, “Cause I’d be high, and you know,
I didn’t want to give it away. So I would just come in, be
like ‘I’m home’, you know…’I’ll
be upstairs in my room.’”

Experts say by the time parents catch kids using drugs, there’s
a good chance they’re already addicted.

Hayes says, “In the early beginning stages teens are extremely
good, I mean they are brilliant at being able to hide things. They
will change clothes so that their clothes don’t smell. They
will use Visine. As their addiction progresses, one of the things
that they give up is the fact that they care. They care whether
or not they get caught.”

Chris has been in rehab for more than a year. Among his regrets…the
time he didn’t spend with his parents. Chris says, “My
mom walks freely in and out of my room now. And it’s like
I just had so much to hide before…so I wouldn’t let
them in.”

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
describes adolescence as a “time for trying new things.” Teens
use alcohol and drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because
it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to fit in. Teens
at risk of developing serious drug and alcohol problems include those …

• With a family history of substance abuse.
• Who are depressed.
• Who have low self-esteem.
• Who feel like they don’t fit in or are out of the mainstream.

In addition, warning signs of teen drug abuse may include …

• Fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and glazed eyes, and
  a lasting cough.
• Personality change, sudden mood changes, irritability, irresponsible
  behavior, low self-esteem, poor judgment, depression and a general
  lack of interest.
• Starting arguments, breaking rules or withdrawing from the family.
• Decreased interest, negative attitudes, a drop in grades, many
  absences, truancy and discipline problems.
• New friends who are less interested in standard home and school
  activities, problems with the law, and changes to less conventional
  styles in dress and music.

Peer pressure is one of the most difficult inducements faced by teens
to use illegal substances. Experts at the Hazelden Foundation have
created the following model that a teen might follow in dealing with
pressure to use drugs or alcohol:

• Ask questions – Size up the situation before “going
  along.” For example, a classmate might say, “Hey, lets
  go hang out at the mall” – and have shoplifting in mind.
  To be responsible, ask, “What are we going to do? How long will
  we be there?” These questions will help you make informed decisions
  before getting into a problem situation.
• Name the trouble – After you identify the situation, you
  need to state the possible problem: “That sounds like trouble
  to me.”
• State the consequences – Use the threat of punishment as
  an excuse not to drink. Say something such as, “My parents would
  ground me for months,” or “I could get kicked off the soccer
  team.”
• Offer an alternative – If a friend invites you to drink
  or use drugs, suggest an alternative. “Lets go get pizza.” If
  the friend pressures you more, walk away, but leave the door open.
  You could say, “Hey, that’s fine. Go do your thing. You’re
  welcome to join me later.”
• Get out of trouble – Should you find yourself in a problem
  situation, get out immediately and call a responsible adult for help.

Drugs are a threat to almost every child, and one
of the best ways to help ensure your child will make the right decisions
when faced with choices regarding substance abuse is to confront the
issue with your child as early as possible. Experts at the American
Academy of Pediatrics list the following as ways to address the subject
of substance abuse with your child:

• Talk with your child honestly. Don’t wait to have “the
  drug talk” with your child. Make discussions about tobacco,
  alcohol and other drugs part of your daily conversation. Know the
  facts about how drugs can harm your child. Clear up any wrong information,
  such as “everybody drinks” or “marijuana won’t hurt
  you.”
• Really listen to your child. Encourage your child to share questions
  and concerns about tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Do not do
  all the talking or give long lectures.
• Help your child develop self-confidence. Look for all the good
  things in your child – and then tell your child how proud
  you are. If you need to correct your child, criticize the action,
  not your child. Praise your child’s efforts as well as successes.
• Help your child develop strong values. Talk about your family
  values. Teach your child how to make decisions based on these standards
  of right and wrong. Explain that these are the standards for your
  family, no matter what other families might decide.
• Be a good example. Look at your own habits and thoughts about
  tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Your actions speak louder than
  words.
• Help your child deal with peer pressure and acceptance. Discuss
  the importance of being an individual and the meaning of real friendships.
  Help your child understand that he/she does not have to do something
  wrong just to feel accepted. Remind your child that a real friend
  won’t care if he/she does not use tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.
• Make family rules that help your child say “no.” Talk
  with your child about your expectation that he/she will say “no” to
  drugs. Spell out what will happen if he/she breaks these rules.
  Be prepared to follow through, if necessary.
• Encourage healthy, creative activities. Look for ways to get
  your child involved in athletics, hobbies, school clubs and other
  activities that reduce boredom and excess free time. Encourage
  positive friendships and interests. Look for activities that you
  and your child can do together.
• Team up with other parents. Work with other parents to build
  a drug-free environment for children. When parents join together
  against drug use, they are much more effective than when they act
  alone. One way is to form a parent group with the parents of your
  child’s friends. The best way to stop a child from using drugs
  is to stop friends from using them.
• Know what to do if your child has a drug problem. Realize that
  no child is immune to drugs. Learn the signs of drug use. Take
  seriously any concerns you hear from friends, teachers and/or other
  kids about your child’s possible drug use. Trust your instincts.
  If you truly feel that something is wrong with your child, it probably
  is. If there’s a problem, seek professional help.

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
at Columbia University (CASA), parents are the key to keeping kids
drug-free. CASA research shows that the extent to which parents take
a “hands-on” approach in raising their kids, the more
they establish appropriate rules and standards of behavior, and the
more they monitor their teens, the lower the teen’s risk of
substance abuse. “Hands-on,” according to CASA, includes
parents who consistently take 10 or more of the following 12 actions:

• Monitor what their teens watch on television
• Monitor what they do on the Internet
• Put restrictions on the music (CDs) they buy
• Know where their teens are after school and on weekends
• Expect to be and are told the truth by their teens about where
  they are going
• Are “very aware” of their teen’s academic
  performance
• Impose a curfew
• Make clear they would be “extremely upset” if their
  teen used pot
• Eat dinner with their teens six or seven times a week
• Turn off the television during dinner
• Assign their teens regular chores
• Have an adult present when the teens return from school

American Academy of
Pediatrics
The Hazelden Foundation
The National
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse