Information for Parents
Substance Misuse
What’s a substance?
“Any chemical substance that brings about a change in a persons emotional state, body functioning or behaviour.”
Institute for the study of drug dependency
We use substances every day. It is anything that we put on, or in our bodies that affect the way they work. Substances can affect our thoughts, behaviour and mood as well as having impacts on how our bodies work. They are in everything we use on daily basis not just illegal drugs. For example, caffeine is present in a lot of the drinks we have every day and is a stimulant. Your children’s caffeine intake should be smaller than yours and it’s important we consider this when we give our children cans of energy drinks, as these contain massive doses of caffeine and can affect your child’s behaviour to a much greater level than it would affect you.
Generally all substances will have a much more adverse effect on young people than they do on adults. This is not just physical health but mental health, and the decisions they make (or don’t make) under the influence of substances can have much more dire consequences. Young people are not as developed as adults (physically and mentally). For example, they cannot process alcohol from their bodies as efficiently, and so it remains in their system for longer, continuing to damage.
How do they affect you?
You can’t really be sure how a drug will affect you until you take it. If you don’t like it or it doesn’t like you it’s a bit late! It can vary on how you feel emotionally, who it’s taken with, where it’s taken, how much you’ve eaten, slept etc.
Substances are generally put into 3 categories: Stimulants, Depressants and Hallucinogens.
Stimulants - ‘stimulate’ the brain and central nervous system. They usually increase alertness and physical activity. They include amphetamines, cocaine, and coffee and can be addictive. People who stop drinking coffee often suffer withdrawal symptoms.
Depressants - slow down the activity of the brain and nervous system. For medical purposes they can be prescribed to calm nerves, relax muscles and can be useful for sleeping disorders such as insomnia.
Hallucinogens - interfere with the brain and central nervous system in a way that results in radical distortions of a user’s perception of reality. Profound images, sounds and sensations will be experienced, but they will not actually exist. These are vivid hallucinations.
Substances are also categorised by class. There are legal (alcohol), prescribed, and then class A, B and C. It is worth remembering that the term ‘legal high’ does not mean it is safe to use or legal to possess or supply.
Substances can affect individuals differently, even if we’ve had them before. It can depend on how we are feeling emotionally, how much we have eaten, slept etc. Stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamine and ketamine give you a feeling of confidence and a high. They can reduce anxiety and fears and allow us to do things we may normally be fearful of or lack the confidence to do. However, these feelings are short-lived and the after effects (withdrawal) from stimulants can have quite the opposite effect and make us feel low and lacking in confidence.
Some people use drugs recreationally either once or twice a week. However, we do know that with the use of recreational drugs, there is an increased risk of unprotected sex, promiscuity, violence, injury and arrest. This is not just because of possession but something we have done while under the influence. Some drugs such as cannabis and alcohol, although initially make us feel relaxed, are clearly known to cause mental health problems such as depression or paranoia.
We know that all substances have an effect on us. Prescribed drugs can often make us feel drowsy or nauseas. We need to understand that any substance, (regardless of whether it’s illegal or not) can affect our bodies in many different ways, so we should trust and listen to our bodies and be clear on the reasons why we are using a drug and the risks that it carries, irrespective of its legality.
Get the facts on individual substances and more information on classes of substances at www.talktofrank.com
Risk of mixing substances
We know that mixing substances has a much different effect than if we stick to one substance. The reason for this is that anything we put inside our bodies has to be broken down and excreted. When we mix lots of different chemicals (different drinks or drugs) our bodies have to work harder at extracting the toxins and therefore put us at a greater risk. We know that some mixtures of drugs such as cocaine and alcohol or heroin and alcohol can be very dangerous and there is an increased risk of death.
Remember, if someone has taken a substance and is showing any concerning effects, be calm, try and establish what they have taken, reassure them that the feelings will pass and stay with them.
If you are at all worried call NHS Direct on 0845 4647, your GP or 0333 3218282 (in Rotherham only.) If they become unconscious call 999 and put them on their side in the recovery position.
“When you take any drug, it is like playing Russian roulette with your life. But taking these different concoctions is like putting another bullet in the barrel. It’s like using your body as a test tube in a chemistry lab and is potentially lethal. You can’t possibly know what effects the drugs will have on your body, and mixing them only makes them more unpredictable. If you get a dodgy combination it can stop your heart beating and you could be dead within minutes.”
- Les Vasey
Director of drug-testing company Modern Health Systems
Choices
Just as we may have been during our child and adulthood, young people will face pressures and be in situations that offer the opportunity to take substances. Avoidance techniques can be used if we feel pressured to take substances and don’t feel strong enough just to say ‘NO’. For example ‘I’m driving’ or ‘I’m on medication’ or ‘I have to get the kids’. These are things that young people can do too. Consider discussing choice with them and alternative ways of saying no.
Young People often learn their habits from their parents. For example, if they are regularly seeing adults drinking excessively, they will see this as acceptable behaviour. Some parents choose to allow their children to drink with them, but then get upset and annoyed if they then drink with their group of friends. Try not to give mixed messages, and set clear boundaries that have been reasonably talked through.
Talking about it
Do it. Don’t let them learn by fragments of (mis)information from friends or TV. It is much better to open the dialogue yourself when things are not in crisis. Pick a good opportunity to start the conversation, like something on the TV or a school activity. Talking is better than shouting, suggestions are better than instructions and listening is key. They will have their own opinions that you may not agree with, stay calm and talk it through. Make it clear that their safety and wellbeing is your priority. Think of specific examples that may come up, for example getting a lift with someone who has used a substance (drug driving is as illegal as drink driving).
We should try to be candid and honest when talking about substance use and try to establish the facts and dispose with the myths. Getting the right information is key, and this could be something you and your young person do together. It can be a really good way of opening the conversation. For example, many people believe the use of cannabis is nearly legal. It isn’t, and carries some significant penalties in terms of criminal convictions. It’s good to talk about relative levels of harm go to www.talktofrank.com for all the specific information on individual drugs. It may be useful to do this before you talk to them and remember that you will have views based on your life experiences. Also, consider how you will react and how the conversation will go if they say they, or one of their friends has used drugs.
Remember:
60% of 16-24 year olds have never taken an illegal drug, only a small number of people will end up with a drug problem. 12% of 11-15 year olds have taken an illegal drug (down from 20% in 2001) - which means 88% haven’t!
How to minimise risks
The following advice is useful for both adult substance users and young people, if you drink alcohol put it in that context to enable you to understand it better.
If you are planning to continue or start taking a substance, stick to one substance. You minimise risks by starting at a later age or finishing your substance earlier. Apply some controls like taking out less money, or set yourself a curfew for getting home, and make sure you have some plans about why you are using a substance and what you want to achieve if you’re going to use. Your safety is key.
