Healthy Meals and food for Healthy Kids ? Is Your Teen Abusing Speed?

This is a heavy topic, I know. However, with my son entering Jr. High I find it more and more relevant and vital to understand what kids are tempted with these days.? I?ve seen too many promising young kids ruin their lives when they become addicted to drugs.? Becky Winslow wrote this guest post to help us parents know what signs to look for to tell if our kids are abusing speed.

Amphetamine, a common speed drug, was a major drug of choice in the 1960?s and 1970?s. Many of today?s parents remember those times. Back then, the drug was legal and freely dispensed by doctors worldwide. Today, Amphetamine has produced a child drug; Methamphetamine.

Even more dangerous than the predecessor, Meth has become as big of a problem for today?s youth as Amphetamine was for their parents. Teens are even more susceptible to drug use and addiction because of the misinformation and lack of education received about the drug. Parents need to be informed about the latest drug trends as well as symptoms of this speed drug. How can parents tell if their child may be on meth?

1. Increased Activity ? Someone on Meth is going to have the need to move and be busy. They will speak faster and move faster than normal. This is why it is called ?speed?. Even after several hours of activity, they seem not to tire at all. They may race around the house, and may take on several activities at one time. A teen on Amphetamines may volunteer for housework or other tasks for which they normally do not like. They will not need sleep, and if on a ?run? (extended use of the drug), they may stay awake for days at a time.
2. Loss or Elimination of Appetite ? The loss of appetite is one of the reasons the drug was prescribed years ago. People on Amphetamine or Methamphetamine do not feel the need to eat. They can go days without food, and still remain active and alert. Malnutrition is seem in people who are long term Meth users. Since teenage girls often worry about their weight, they may take an increased amount of the drug in order to avoid hunger and to lose weight.
3. Problems at School ? Teens who use amphetamines will often begin to have problems at school. Even those who may have been previously excellent students will lose interest in school work, show increased aggression, and show a lack of regard for school authority. They usually begin by neglecting to do assignments, and may begin to skip school.
4. Changes in Appearance ? Teens are usually meticulous about their appearance. Normally, a teen will spend a lot of time grooming and taking care of hygiene. Meth users and addicts will undergo a change in personal hygiene and appearance. They often will go days without showering or changing clothes, and often do not even comb their hair. Some do not even take the time to brush their teeth on a regular basis. This should be a major red flag to parents, given that teens usually care very much about such things as grooming.
5. Instances of Aggression or Violence ? Even in teens who are normally good natured, the use of meth, or any speed drug, can increase the likely-hood of aggression. Violent outbursts may be noted in teens using meth, even short term. The drug causes an increase of Adrenaline which can cause disturbing and violent behavior. Although teens are known to naturally be moody and a bit more aggressive during puberty and beyond, amphetamines increase the chances and severity of the aggression.
6. Increased Deceit ? Meth users become adept at several things; being dishonest is among them. They often become very skillful at lying and deceiving people. They will lie about where they have been, what they have been doing, and what is going on in their lives. This sign of drug abuse goes hand in hand with stealing from family and friends.
7. Social Withdrawal ? Teens who are using amphetamines will often withdrawal from family and friends. They will lose interest in things they used to enjoy. They may make new ?friends? who are more in tune with the drug using lifestyle. Part of the reason they withdrawal is to hide their drug use. The rest is simply a new lack of connection with family and friends.
8. Loss or Disappearance of Valuables ? The drug money has to come from somewhere, and normally it is from valuables taken from their own home. Teens, as with all meth users, will often take money and valuables in order to be able to buy the Amphetamines. This may start out slowly, but over time, it becomes much more obvious. The longer a person takes Amphetamines, the more they need to achieve the same effect. This eventually adds up to a lot of money, which is something most teenagers do not have a lot of.
9. Burns, Track Marks or Nosebleeds ? The teen?s choice in method of entry for the drug may show tell-tale signs of meth use. If the drug is snorted, nosebleeds will often occur. If it is injected, track marks will begin to appear. If the teen is injecting, they may also be burned from the preparation of the drug prior to injection.
10. Meth Sores ? Amphetamines impair the body?s ability to heal itself. With teenagers, these sores often begin with the natural onset or occurrence of acne. The teen will pick at the acne until noticeable sores appears. In some cases, acne does not need to be present. Meth sores are referred to as ?CrankBugs? and are seen on almost all habitual meth users and addicts. Any open sores on the face or body should be examined by a physician, even if the teen insists it is just ?acne?.

Any disturbing behavior or physical signs should be looked into immediately. This is especially true if two or more signs are noted. Substance abuse is a serious matter which may drastically alter your teen?s future. In fact, it may put an end to it. Parents need to be cautious when dealing with teens who may be addicted to amphetamines, but should never be intimidated to the point of ignoring the problem.

Becky Winslow is a freelance writer and consultant for StopAddiction.com where her primary goal is to educate young adults of the effects of drug and alcohol abuse. Winslow has been drug free for 3 years now and writing is her anti-drug.

Source: http://blog.superhealthykids.com/2011/06/is-your-teen-abusing-speed/

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