Things I Wish I’d Known Before My Child Became Addicted To Heroin

An article from Stoneham Safety Officer Joseph Ponzo:

With the ever increasing drug epidemic this country has been facing, I was given an article by a friend who thought it may be a great idea to share some information regarding drug addiction. I have researched some statistics to go along with this article, so I hope this reading finds you well.
There’s no secret that this country faces a drug epidemic. Whether it is a large city or a small
community, drugs are everywhere. The police can only do so much when it comes to the war on drugs, so it’s up to parents as well to assist with this ongoing problem. Many adults/parents don’t see or choose not to see the signs and symptoms of drug addiction. “Knowledge is the best defense against the scourge of addiction!”

Addiction can happen in any family! If you think this could never happen to your child you are naïve. I’ve heard parents say that their child was too smart, they had a good family life, and that they were simply too good a kid. Addiction is no different than heart disease or depression. Researchers believe that genes account for about 50% of a person’s vulnerability to addiction.
Addiction has a mental health component that attributes to addiction. People with different mood or anxiety disorders are about twice as likely as the general population to develop substance-use disorder according to The National Institute on Drug Abuse. Substance abuse provides these people with a comfort zone which fills an empty hole within themselves.

One’s environment plays an important role in substance abuse as well. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, many kids have been offered alcohol or other drugs by age 13. And kids who have seen their parents drunk are more than twice as likely as other kids to get drunk in a typical month and three times likelier to use marijuana and smoke cigarettes.

Early substance abuse can be directly linked to future addiction. According to Shatterproof, 80% of people who are currently addicted began abusing substances before age 18. This vulnerability is directly linked to a child’s prefrontal cortex or the area of the brain that governs judgement. This area of the brain is not fully developed until the age of 25.

Addiction damages the developing brain, which creates long-lasting problems with decision making and impulse control. It also short-circuits the brain’s reward system, where using alcohol and drugs becomes the only way to experience pleasure and avoid pain.

Addiction also erodes morality. Lying becomes more common and more pronounced as a child becomes more and more dependent of drugs and alcohol. After lying comes stealing of one’s personal property in order to support the addiction.

Preventing addiction begins at home with every parent controlling every choice the child makes. Teach your children about the risks of substance abuse. If you know someone who was addicted, introduce them and let them speak with your child.

“Typical” teen behaviors can mask chemical dependence. Many teens experience moodiness,
rebelliousness and even the sense of increased privacy, but these symptoms may not always be
considered “typical teen behavior” so keep this in mind when observing your child. But there are also other signs and symptoms of teen addiction which may not be so ‘typical”. Impaired speech, blood shot eyes, dilated or constricted pupils are just a few to name. Keep a close eye on your child especially when they return home in the evening.

Substance abuse requires swift action. As a parent you must act quickly! Your child will not get help on their own and the sooner you intervene the better chance you have to help your child. Parents who suspect that their child is abusing should seek professional help with the same sense of urgency with which they would seek help for any other life-threatening condition. The Woburn District Court has several resources to help your child with substance abuse such as their H.E.A.T. program which helps kids cope with heroin addiction.

The final thing to note in this article is that shame is the enemy of prevention and recovery! Many
people view addiction as a weakness, yet science has clearly shown that addiction is unrelated to one’s character. Shame makes it harder for kids to admit their problem, but blame and shame have no place when it comes to addressing addiction. Try remembering that addiction is not much different than any mental health disorder.

Obviously keeping your child from becoming a drug or alcohol addict is the best course of action, but if addiction does happen, please pass this article on to someone who can benefit.

Remember Safety First!