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| INTERVENING WHEN CONCERNED ABOUT ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSE Jean Beck RN; MSN; ACNP There is no one right way to intervene, you must do what you feel is right for you and your child. Some thoughts about intervening are as follows: 1. If you suspect usage and can not “prove” it, sit down with your child and discuss your concerns. Offer your support if they need help, clarify your expectations and consequences if they are using and encourage them to be honest. Whether they are or are not using you have offered support and communicated your expectations. 2. It is important to keep the communication open in a calm caring manner during NON-CRISIS times to lay the foundation for occasional turbulent waters. 3. If you feel your child’s use-age is continuing and/or increasing and you are concerned, begin to explore resources where you can receive help. 4. Possible resources may include some of the following: School resources: programs, counselors, groups Drug free community resources and activities found in the Yellow Pages or calling Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Doctors: Pediatrician, Family Physician and Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist Out-patient therapists and or groups that focus on chemical dependency. Hospitals offer several levels of help: Assessment: Most hospitals know of resources to assess you and your child’s concerns and where help may be obtained. Out-Patient Intervention Programs In-Patient hospital care when your child is out of control and harmful to himself or others. Call your insurance company for therapy and program resources they may have to help you. 5. It is important to note that the drug use is often a self-destructive WAY TO COPE. The cessation of drug use is important but equally significant is to identify and explore underlying issues and develop new ways to cope. Most teens will initially respond with “maybe my use got a little out of hand” and deny there are any issues other than “I just am having fun”. 6. Realize a child is not treated in isolation. They are part of a family and all family members need to be involved in exploring how the child’s choices got out of hand. 7. About drug testing: Adolescents are smart, they know all the dodges to try to dilute urine, slip a non-using friend’s urine in for theirs, etc. You will never out guess their cleverness and wouldn’t want to. What is important is to establish Random Testing (when not expected) and have testing done by a laboratory knowledgeable about Urine Drug Screens. The best and surest way is to observe, with as much dignity as possible, the child giving the specimen at a laboratory facility. |