- The way a child reacts when you try to talk about drugs is very telling
- Know the earliest signs of drug use, most children can easily and successfully stop drug use if detected early
- Watch for extreme shifts in sleep patterns, energy levels, dilated pupils and drastic weight gain or loss
Susan Gitau, a counselling psychologist and a NACADA consultant is an internationally certified addiction professional (ICAP). She gives insight on how to keep your children away from drug addictions.
The malls around you!
Allow your kids to go hangout in the mall a lot? Nowadays, if a child wants drugs, they can go to any mall, each of which has several peddlers.
These peddlers dress up like them and the children know who is selling weed, who is selling alcohol, who is selling ecstasy and so forth.
They then shoot them up or smoke them in the toilet or somewhere else that is hidden.
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Don't be a naïve parent
I have personally done drug tests on children and when the results come out positive for marijuana, the parent insists that my instruments are faulty.
They will then pay for second and third confirmations and it only takes the child's admission for the parent to believe me.
There is a serious stigma associated with drug addiction and parents do not want to admit it exists. So open your eyes wide to reality, kids have access to drugs. More than you think.
Money matters
Many parents think that giving a child money is love. When you give your child too much money, what do you imagine they are doing with it?
Some parents with children in boarding schools give them as much as Sh6,000 as pocket money. Children will look for things to do with that money, and after they feel they have enough clothes and a nice phone, the next thing on their list is going out and that will involve some drugs and alcohol.
And that is when they begin stealing from you or pestering you for more money because drug money can never be enough.
Sudden dislike for their current school
A child already using usually starts acting as if they are being persecuted, especially in school.
They will start talking about teachers and school mates not liking them and you may end up taking them to several schools as a remedy.
Parents may try to justify the moves, but if they are honest with themselves, they may realise that their child has a problem and that problem may be drug abuse.
Provide stability
Sometimes I test a child and the child asks me what the big deal is when they see their dad smoking every day. If you drink at home, they will think it is perfectly normal.
They can't understand why they can't do what the parent does. Be a role model for your child. You are the parent, so be a parent. Establish rules, regulations and instill good values in your children.
Be nice
When children get into teen-age, many parents become too hard on them, always berating them. That means the relationship suffers and the kid finds it difficult to confide in their parent. So you won't pick up any red flags from conversations because they will shut you out.
Had the talk yet?
Have you had conversations with your children about drugs and what they do to one's mind and body? If not, do it already.
Before they give in to the impulse to smoke that joint with their friends. Show them internet photos if you have to but let them see clearly the ravages of drug use.
Any new suspect cliques?
Friends will usually behave the same way. If they abuse drugs, chances are your kid does too.
If your child starts hanging out with new cliques whose behavior you find questionable, nip that in the bud. Of course do it in a diplomatic way to minimise the friction.
Nip it in the bud
Know the earliest signs of drug use. And usually, most children can easily and successfully stop drug use if detected early.
Also, with kids, once they realise that the parents have found out, they stop. So be on the lookout for any signs to prevent it from going beyond the early stages.
Moody lately?
Be vigilant enough to notice subtle changes. They will exhibit anger that you can't explain, lack of inhibition and over defensiveness.
The way a child reacts when you try to talk about drugs is very telling. When we ask them about use of drugs or alcohol, a child who is already using will likely ask you where your evidence is.
The ones who do not use will not understand that you need evidence to prove it. They would say, "Why would you think I am using drugs? Let us do the test."
If they become violent and verbally abusive to the younger children at home, to the help, become very loud or obnoxious, refusing to interact in social situations and always withdrawn, be warned.
Watch for extreme shifts in sleep patterns, energy levels, dilated pupils and drastic weight gain or loss.
