1.  How can you tell if a friend has a drinking problem?

Sometimes it is hard to tell.  But there are signs you can look for.  If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:

*          Getting drunk on a regular basis

*          Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun

*          Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal

*          Having "blackouts" - forgetting what he or she did while drinking

*          Having problems at school or getting in trouble with the law

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Alcohol

 2.  What are my risks to develop a drinking problem?

People at highest risk for developing alcohol related problems are those who:

            *          Begin using alcohol or other drugs before the age of 15.

            *          Have a parent who is a problem drinker or alcoholic.

            *          Have close friends who use alcohol and/or other drugs.

            *          Have been aggressive, antisocial, or hard to control from an early age.

            *          Have experienced childhood abuse and/or other major traumas.

            *          Have current behavioral problems and/or are failing in school.

***The more of these experiences a person has had, the

       greater the risk for developing a problem with alcohol. 

 -Information is from NIDA, Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents

 3.  Aren't beer and wine "safer" than liquor?

No.  One 12-ounce beer has about as much alcohol as a 1.5 ounce shot of liquor, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a wine cooler. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Alcohol

 4.  Why can't teens drink if their parents can?

Teens' bodies are still developing and alcohol has a greater impact on their physical and mental well being.  For example, people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin at age 21. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Alcohol

 5.  How can I say no to alcohol?  I'm afraid I won't fit in. 

Remember that you're in good company.  The majority of teens don't drink alcohol.  Also, it's not as hard to refuse as you might think.  Try:  "No thanks," "I don't drink," or "I'm not interested."

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Alcohol

 6.  What is alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol, once ingested, works to slow down some of the body's functions including heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.  When the body's vital centers have been depressed enough by alcohol, unconsciousness occurs which is an indicator that the person is dangerously close to a fatal dose.  People who survive alcohol poisoning sometimes suffer irreversible brain damage.

 -Information is from NCADD, Drinking Too Much Too Fast Can Kill You Pamphlet

 7.  What are the signs of alcohol poisoning?

Some of the most detectable signs are unconsciousness or semi-consciousness, slow respiration (eight or less per minute) or lapses between respiration of more than eight seconds, cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin, strong odor of alcohol.

-Information is from NCADD, Drinking Too Much Too Fast Can Kill You Pamphlet

 8.  What is the appropriate action for someone who is experiencing alcohol poisoning?

* Call 911 immediately. 

            * Turn the intoxicated person onto their side and maintain that position by placing a

    pillow in the small of the person's back.  This will prevent aspiration should

   the person vomit.  Stay with the person until medical help arrives. 

-Information is from NCADD, Drinking Too Much Too Fast Can Kill You Pamphlet

 9.  What can I do if there is a crisis in my home and my son/daughter and I need help NOW?

            The following agencies can give you immediate help and guidance:

                        Montgomery County Hotline                 301-738-2255

                        Community Crisis Center                      301-315-4000

                        Open Door Runaway Shelter                301-770-0193

-Information is from MCPS Safe and Drug Free Schools Hotlines

 10.  Who can help me if I feel that my daughter/son is using alcohol and other drugs?

A free, immediate, and confidential assessment is available to you for your child to determine whether and to what extent he/she may be involved.  These assessors are private treatment partners with MCPS Safe and Drug Free Schools, but no information from the assessment will be shared with the schools unless and until you request it.  The school can arrange for an assessment or you may do so yourself.   (Click here for Treatment partners information.)

-Information is from MCPS Safe and Drug Free Schools Treatment Partners

 11.  Are there any tests I can use to find out if my child has been using or exposed to alcohol and other drugs?

Yes.  Keep in mind that a negative test does not mean that the child is not using.   It may be that the person is using something other than what the test is screening for.  The best screen is an assessment from a professional.

PDT-90                       Hair sample.                 Screens for marijuana, cocaine, opiates,

methamphetamine and PCP.

Alco-Screen                 A saliva swab               Test for blood alcohol

 

Urinalysis                      Urine sample                At a minimal cost, parents may take child to

                                                                        Friends Labs of Baltimore and sample

                                                                        collected and tested for specific drugs. 

 12.  Are there any programs in my community that offer support to my child and family to deal with adolescent alcohol and other drug use?

Twelve step programs are free sources of help.  Meetings are located conveniently to all residents of Montgomery County.  You may attend an open meeting with your son or daughter.     

            Al-Anon (for person's effected by someone's use of alcohol or other drugs (202-882-1334)

            AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)    202-966-9115

            NA (Narcotics Anonymous)     202-399-5316

 13.  What about alternative schools for a child who has a serious problem with alcohol and other drugs?

For students who cannot function in a regular school because of alcohol or other drug use, there are comprehensive high school programs and recovery classes to help adolescents to remain drug-free. 

            Phoenix I (Silver Spring) 301-649-8039

            Phoenix II (Gaithersburg) 301-840-7198

 14.  Who can help me if I need additional assistance because of my son's/daughters alcohol and other drug use?

            Drug Hotline (to anonymously report drug distribution)  240-773-5399

            Firearms Hotline (to anonymously report gang, gun and drug activity) 1-800-283-4867

            Party Buster Hotline (to report underage drinking or sale of alcohol to minors)

240-777-1986

            Montgomery County Public Schools Safe Schools Hotline (to anonymously report

            weapons, drugs, alcohol and violence at schools) 301-517-5995

            MCPS Safe and Drug Free Schools      301-279-3041 

15.  My child wants to have a party.  What can I do to make sure it is safe and drug free?

Even the most vigilant and cautious parents cannot guarantee that their child's party is totally safe and drug free.  However, they can reduce the risk of this behavior, by taking some of the following precautions:

            *          Agree on a guest list and DON'T admit party crashers.

            *          Discuss ground rules with your child before the party.

            *          Encourage your teen to plan the party with a responsible friend so that he or she

will have support if problems arise.

            *          Brainstorm fun activities

            *          If a guest brings alcohol into your house, ask him or her to leave. 

            *          Serve plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.

            *          Be visible and available - but don't join the party.

            *          Keep handy the Party Busters Hotline, to invite them for a visit if you suspect a

problem but cannot be sure.  240-777-1986

 -Information is from NIAAA, Making a Difference, Talk to your Child about Alcohol

 16.  Does smoking help you relax?

No.  Smoking can actually increase feelings of stress and nervousness.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Tobacco

Isn't smokeless tobacco safer to use than cigarettes?

No form of tobacco is safe to use.  Smokeless tobacco users are 50 times more likely to get oral cancer than nonusers are.  Those who don't develop some form of cancer are still likely to have signs of use, like stained teeth, bad breath, and mouth sores. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Tobacco

 17.  Isn't smoking cool?

Only if you think bad breath, smelly hair, yellow fingers, and coughing are cool.  Advertisements often portray smoking as glamorous and sophisticated, but thinks carefully about whom created the ads and why.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Tobacco

18.  Isn't smoking marijuana less dangerous than smoking cigarettes?

No.  It's even worse.  One joint affects the lung as much as four cigarettes.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Tobacco

 19.  How can you tell if a friend is using tobacco?

Sometimes it's tough to tell.  But there are signs you can look for.  If your friend has one or more of the following signs, he or she may be regularly using tobacco:

*          Wheezing, coughing, bad breath

*          Smelly hair and clothes

*          Yellow-stained teeth and fingers

*          Frequent colds

*          Decreased senses of smell and taste

*          Difficulty keeping us with sports and athletic activities

*          Bleeding gums or mouth sores (smokeless tobacco)

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Tobacco

 20.  How can you tell if a friend is using marijuana?

Sometimes it is tough to tell.  But there are signs you can look for.  If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using marijuana:

*          Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking.

*          Having red, bloodshot eyes, and smelly hair and clothes.

*          Acting silly for no apparent reason. 

*          Having a hard time remembering things that just happened.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Marijuana

 21.  Can people become addicted to marijuana?

Yes.  Research confirms you can become hooked on marijuana.  Frequent users may also experience withdrawal symptoms.  Marijuana withdrawal symptoms are very similar to flu like symptoms:  body aches, sweats.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Marijuana

 22.  Can marijuana help cure cancer?

No.  Some people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases claim to experience relief from pain and other symptoms that they attribute to marijuana use.  Scientific research has not yet confirmed these benefits and more research on the topic is being done.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Marijuana

 23.  How can you tell if a friend is using inhalants?

Sometimes it's tough to tell.  But there are signs you can look for.  If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using inhalants:

*          Slurred speech

*          Drunk, dizzy, or dazed appearance

*          Unusual breath odor

*          Chemical smell on clothing

*          Paint stains on body or face

*          Red eyes

*          Runny nose

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Marijuana

 24.  Since inhalants are found in household products, aren't they safe?

No.  Even though household products like glue and air freshener have legal, useful purposes when they are used as inhalants they are harmful and dangerous.  These products are not intended to be inhaled. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Inhalants

25.  Doesn't it take many "huffs"  before you are in danger?

No.  One "huff" of an inhalant can kill you.  Or the 10th.  Or the 100th.  Every huff can be dangerous.  Even if you have huffed before without experiencing a problem, there's no way of knowing how the next huff will affect you. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Inhalants

26.  Can inhalants make me lose control?

Yes.  Inhalants affect your brain and can cause you to suddenly engage in violent or even deadly behavior.  You could hurt yourself or the people you love. -Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Inhalants

 27.  How can I tell is a friend is using club drugs?

Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for.  If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using club drugs:

*          Problems remembering things they recently said or did

*          Loss of coordination, dizziness, fainting

*          Depression

*          Confusion

*          Sleep problems

*          Chills or sweating

*          Slurred speech

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Club Drugs

 28.  If someone slipped a club drug into your drink, would you realize it immediately?

Probably not.  Most club drugs are odorless and tasteless.  Some are made of a powder form that makes it easier to slip into a drink and dissolve without a person's knowledge.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Club Drugs

 29.  Are there any long-term effects of taking ecstasy?

Yes.   Studies on both humans and animals have proven that regular use of ecstasy produces long lasting, perhaps, permanent damage to the brain's ability to think and store memories.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Club Drugs

30.  If you took a club drug or at a rave, wouldn't you just dance off all of its effects?

Not necessarily.  Some ecstasy's effects, like confusion, depression, anxiety, paranoia and sleep problems, have been reported to occur even weeks after the drug is taken.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Club Drugs

31.  How can I tell if a friend is using methamphetamine?

It may not be easy to tell.  But there are signs you can look for.  Symptoms of methamphetamine use may include:

*          Inability to sleep

*          Increased sensitivity to noise

*          Nervous physical activity, like scratching

*          Irritability, dizziness, or confusion

*          Extreme anorexia

*          Tremors or even convulsions

*          Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of stroke

*          Presence of inhaling paraphernalia, such as razor blades, mirrors, and straws

*          Presence of injecting paraphernalia, such as syringes, heated spoons, or surgical tubing.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about methamphetamine

 31.  Isn't methamphetamine less harmful than crack, cocaine, or heroin?

Some users get hooked the first time they snort, smoke, or inject meth.  Because it can be made from lethal ingredients like battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel, and antifreeze, there is a greater chance of suffering a heart attack, stroke and serious brain damage with this drug than with other drugs.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about methamphetamine

 32.  Isn't using methamphetamine like using diet pills?

 No.  Though it is easily attainable, methamphetamine is dangerous and addictive.  Between 1993 and 1995, deaths due to meth rose 125 percent.  Between 1996 and 1997, meth-related emergency room visits doubled.  Use by 12 to 17 year olds has increased dramatically in the past few years.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Methamphetamines

33.  How can you tell if a friend is using hallucinogens?

Sometimes it's tough to tell.  But there are signs you can look for.  If your friend has one of more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using hallucinogens:

 *          Depression

*          Weakness and lack of muscular coordination

*          Anxiety or paranoia

*          Trembling

*          Nausea

*          Dizziness

*          Facial flushing

*          Dilated pupils

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Hallucinogens

 34.  Do hallucinogens have long-term effects?

Yes.  In addition to flashbacks, long-term effects may include decreased motivation, prolonged depression, anxiety, increased delusions and panic, and psychosis.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Hallucinogens

 35.  Can I predict if I will have a "bad trip"?

There is no way to predict a "bad trip."  There is no consistency in hallucinogenic drugs, so each "trip" may differ depending on the drug's strength and purity.  The psychological effects of the hallucinogen are also dependent on the user's frame of mind.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Hallucinogens

 36.  How can I help someone through a bad trip?

Don't try to handle this situation on your own; call 911 and a trusted adult immediately.  While waiting, address the person by name, remind them who and where they are, talk to them calmly, make sure they're safe, and don't leave them alone. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Hallucinogens

37.  How can you tell if a friend is using cocaine?

Sometimes it's tough to tell.  But there are signs you can look for.  If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using cocaine or other illicit drugs:

*          Red, bloodshot eyes

*          A runny nose or frequently sniffing

*          A change in groups of friends

*          Acting withdrawn, depressed, tired, or careless about personal appearance

*          Losing interest in school, family, or activities he or she use to enjoy

*          Frequently needing money

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Methamphetamines

38.  Is cocaine really still a problem?

Yes.  While the number of cocaine users has decreased from what was witnessed in the mid 1980's, there have been nearly 2 million cocaine users every year since 1992.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Cocaine

 39.  Isn't crack less addictive than cocaine because it doesn't stay in you body very long?

No.  Both cocaine and crack are powerfully addictive.  The length of time it stays in your body doesn't change that.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Cocaine

 40.  Don't some people use cocaine to feel good?

Any positive feelings are fleeting and often followed by some very bad feelings, like paranoia and intense cravings.  Cocaine may give users a temporary illusion of power and energy, but it often leaves them unable to function emotionally, physically, and sexually. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Cocaine 

41.  How can you tell if a friend is using heroin?

Signs and symptoms of heroin use are:

*          Euphoria

*          Drowsiness

*          Impaired mental functioning

*          Slowed down respiration

*          Constricted pupils

*          Nausea

Signs of heroin overdose include:

*          Shallow breathing

*          Pinpoint pupils

*          Clammy skin

*          Convulsions

*          Coma

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Heroin

 42.  Isn't heroin a less dangerous drug if you snort or smoke it instead of injecting it?

No.  Heroin is heroin.  There is no safe way of ingesting it.  You can still die from an overdose or become addicted by snorting or smoking it.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Heroin

 43.  Can withdrawal from heroin kill you?

Although it is seldom fatal, withdrawal from heroin produces drug cravings, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms that usually last about a week, but may last for many months.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Heroin

 44. Will heroin use alter my brain?

Yes.  Heroin enters the neurons or cells of the brain and changes the speed of the chemicals in the brain.  It not only affects your brain physically, but also affects the way you think. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Heroin 

45.  How can you tell if a friend is abusing steroids?

Sometimes it's hard to tell.  But there are signs you can look for.  If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be abusing steroids:

*          For Guys: Baldness, Development of Breasts, Impotence

*          For Girls: Growth of facial hair, Deepening voice, Breast reduction

*          For both: Jaundice, Swelling of the feet or ankles, Aching joints, Bad breath,

Mood swings, Nervousness, Trembling

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Steroids

 46.  Are steroids addictive?

Yes, they can be.  Withdrawal symptoms include mood swings, suicidal thoughts and/or attempts, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite and sleeplessness. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Steroids

 47.  How long do steroids stay in your system?

The length of time that steroids stay in the body varies from a couple of weeks too more than 18 months.

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Steroids

 48.  What can I do to excel in sports if I don't use steroids?

Focus on getting proper diet, rest, and good overall mental and physical health.  These things are all factors in how your body is shaped and conditioned.  Excelling in sports is achievable and done by millions of athletes without relying on steroids. 

-Information is from SAMHSA Tips for Teens, The Truth about Steroids

49.  Where can I go to get help for my child?

You can call any one of our treatment partners for an appointment for a free assessment.  They will make whatever recommendations are necessary.  Treatment Partners

50.  Can I make a referral for a child other than my own?

Yes.  You can complete a "Concern Form" and send it to the school where the student is enrolled.  Address the envelope to:   Student Assistance Team.