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These four tips can help families protect their teens from drug abuse
Earlier this year, the Folsom community gathered to discuss ways to protect youth from substance abuse during a special “Be Smart, Don’t Start” drug forum.
The event, hosted by News10’s Cristina Mendonsa, was organized by Folsom Cordova Unified, Kaiser Permanente, Folsom police and other partners to raise awareness about drug dangers in the community.
The event is long behind us, but its messages are lasting. Here are a few important takeaways we can all use.
Marijuana isn’t harmless – and is a lot stronger than it used to be.
According to Jon Daily of Recovery Happens Counseling Services, marijuana is a lot stronger now than it was in many parent’s days. In the 1980s, it had 5 percent potency. That’s doubled in the last 10 years. Just how bad is it? Daily argued that marijuana is as serious a threat as heroin.
There’s a lot of lingo for parents to learn.
Ever heard of budders and dabs? What are ghost hits? Is Molly a new drug, or a nice girl my son/daughter goes to school with? These are the latest trends in drugs and drug paraphernalia. So what is Daily’s recommendation? “So you guys have some research to do,” he said. “Get on YouTube (and search) Smoke Buddy, K2 spice.”
The event, hosted by News10’s Cristina Mendonsa, was organized by Folsom Cordova Unified, Kaiser Permanente, Folsom police and other partners to raise awareness about drug dangers in the community.
The event is long behind us, but its messages are lasting. Here are a few important takeaways we can all use.
Marijuana isn’t harmless – and is a lot stronger than it used to be.
According to Jon Daily of Recovery Happens Counseling Services, marijuana is a lot stronger now than it was in many parent’s days. In the 1980s, it had 5 percent potency. That’s doubled in the last 10 years. Just how bad is it? Daily argued that marijuana is as serious a threat as heroin.
There’s a lot of lingo for parents to learn.
Ever heard of budders and dabs? What are ghost hits? Is Molly a new drug, or a nice girl my son/daughter goes to school with? These are the latest trends in drugs and drug paraphernalia. So what is Daily’s recommendation? “So you guys have some research to do,” he said. “Get on YouTube (and search) Smoke Buddy, K2 spice.”
Addiction can happen to any family.
Local mother Trish Tampas lost her son to drug-related causes. “I want you to know that this can happen to any family,” she told the gathering. “And in our case it was just one pill.” Similarly, Daily advocated for drug testing your children regardless if you know they’re using, saying that, often times, the first time you find out your child is using, they have been for a long time. Still think your child is immune to addiction? Tampas has some words for you, “I always say the worst thing a parent can say is, ‘Not my kid.’”Families are not helpless: You can prevent the worst from happening
“Here’s the one thing I want to shift the paradigm on today,” Daily said, “it’s easier to prevent symptoms than to reverse them.” Could your medicine cabinets be fueling your child’s addiction? There are designated “Take Back Days” when you can turn in prescription drugs to the Folsom Police Department (but you can take advantage of the service anytime). Folsom Police Detective Louis Wright further recommended families count their pills.As Angela Da Re of the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence said, what happens at home helps children make the right decisions. Kids who choose not to take illegal substances always say it’s because of loved ones. “We have to figure out how (to) slow down a little and connect to (a child’s) … internal world.”