Pubdate: Mon, 01 May 2006
Source: Cayman Net News (Cayman Islands)
Copyright: 2006 Cayman Net Ltd
Contact:  http://www.caymannetnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3700
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

PARENTS NEED TO LOOK FOR SIGNS OF DRUG USE

Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Council  (NDC) Cathy 
Chesnut said parents, teachers and  caregivers need to carefully look 
for signs that  children may be consuming drugs and alcohol.

Considering that 31 percent of students in middle and  high school 
consume alcohol, 9.5 percent smoke  marijuana, 6.7 uses tobacco, and 
6.9 uses inhalants  parents need to pay close attention. The 
statistic of  children's misuse of drugs and alcohol were revealed 
in  a survey conducted by the NDC in 2002.

The number of children, drinking alcohol has levelled  off when 
compared to the 1998 survey: however, the  number of children who 
have reportedly gone on  'drinking binges' has increased.

Ms Chesnut said that many parents do not know what  signs to look out 
for and as a result, children are  developing almost foolproof 
methods of concealing their  habits.

"These children will wear sunglasses, bring extra  clothing to 
school, bring cologne, they'll do anything  to mask what they are 
doing because they know that what  they're doing is wrong," she said.

She added that sometimes the evidence is right in front  of the adult 
but they do not know what to look for. Ms  Chesnut said that there 
are times when children even do  drugs in the class while the 
teachers are oblivious to  what is happening in front of them.

The NDC's CEO said students who snort chalkboard  cleaner mask their 
action by concealing the inhalant in  empty bags of potatoes chips.

She said that teachers have reported seeing children  with empty 
potato chip bags but they never suspected  what was happening.

"They see the fluffy whip can around the schoolyard and  at home but 
they believe that the student use them to  play-fight. We had to show 
them how they use it to get  high," Ms Chesnut added.

She noted too that it is not always easy for parents to  monitor 
their children especially now that the drugs  with which they grew up 
knowing have changed, and the  methods of distributing and delivering 
them have become  more efficient.

"Certain drugs can be shipped on ordinary mailing  stamps to children 
and the parents won't know that it  is happening," she said.

On the other hand, Ms Chesnut said that a number of  parents are 
neglecting to take a longer look at and  talk with their children 
about drug use as well. She  said that most parents fail to turn up 
at HSA or PTA  meetings where drug related topics are discussed.

The CEO said the NDC would be printing brochures for  parents and 
guardians to help update them on what  children are up to and what 
signs to look for to tell  if their children are using drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom