4 minute read
Talk To Your Kids About DRUGS!
Education | Drugs
PARENTS - Talk to Your Kids About DRUGS!
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See below for the answers.
There are five illegal drugs referred to in the text above, including two of the most popular drugs in Somerset according to recent drug seizures in the area. With increased coverage of County Lines, when established gangs from large cities target young, vulnerable children to mule drugs, across a variety of media it’s increasingly important to know your blow from your base and your petrol from your pollen.
If you’re not down with the lingo, talktofrank.com is a great place to start. The website provides non-judgemental information about each and every drug, including how it looks, tastes, smells, feels, how long it lasts, the risks associated with the drug and where the law sits on possession and supply. Short of a Top Trumps Top Drugs deck, it’s the most comprehensive and accessible drugs information resource we’ve found. You, I mean children, can even email frank@talktofrank.com confidentially
Chances are you know a little bit about drugs (no judgement), but do you know enough to have a open and honest conversation with your child(ren)? The Little Things, with help from Talk to Frank and The Children’s Society, finds out more.
If you’re not down with the lingo, talktofrank.com is a great place to start. The website provides non-judgemental information about each and every drug, including how it looks, tastes, smells, feels, how long it lasts, the risks associated with the drug and where the law sits on possession and supply. Short of a Top Trumps Top Drugs deck, it’s the most comprehensive and accessible drugs information resource we’ve found.
You, I mean children, can even email frank@talktofrank.com confidentially with any questions they might have about drugs, they don’t even have to use their real name. They also make sure that their email responses don’t contain the question asked in the subject line.
The Children’s Society website (childrenssociety.org.uk) is another great resource regarding County Lines. It also gives parents guidance how to talk to their children about drugs and alcohol (after you bone up on the info yourself, of course), potential signs of drug use and where to find extra support if you need it.
ANSWERS:
Blue Cheese = commonly known as Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid | Charlie = Cocaine | Horse = Heroin | Sensi = Cannabis or Marijuana | Molly = MDMA or Ecstasy
Potential signs of drug use according to Talk to Frank
talktofrank.com/get-help/worried-about-achild#how-to-tell-if-your-child-is-doing-drugs
Mixing with new friends who may use drugs
Moods swings
Behaving badly or showing a bad attitude
Not sleeping properly and getting up very late
Being secretive or evasive about where they’re going and what they’re doing
Having problems in school, like poor performance or absences
Other potential signs of drug use:
Poor hygiene or appearance
Staying out late
Falling out with old friends, hanging out with a new crowd
Loss of appetite
Drowsiness
Red-rimmed eyes and/or a runny nose
An uncharacteristic loss of interest in school, hobbies and friends
Money going missing regularly for no apparent reason
Unusual equipment found in the house, such as burnt foil or torn cigarette packets
Talk to Frank recommends the following:
Keep the subject broad to begin with, ask open-ended questions about your child’s friends and school. For example, “What was today like at school?” or “Why do you think people take drugs?”.
Allow plenty of time, don’t rush the conversation. Listen carefully and keep the chat as two-way as possible. Be understanding – not judgmental or critical.
Respect what they have to say – don’t lose your temper if you disagree with your child’s opinions, it might make them rebel more.
Don’t make assumptions about what they know or do, and don’t accuse your child of taking drugs (even if you think they have).
Let them know you’re there for them – that they can talk to you about drugs.
Set boundaries, make it clear what your house rules are so they know what you will and won’t accept.
Be realistic: while there are some serious risks involved in drug use, most people who try drugs don’t suffer any long-term harm to their health.
And if they are using, don’t confront them when they’re high.
If your child refuses to talk to you, try not to panic. Remember that people who try drugs often don’t carry on using them. Support them to talk to another adult such as a school nurse, GP, youth worker or a specialist service.
Potential signs of County Lines involvement according to The Children’s Society
childrenssociety.org.uk/what-is-county-lines
County Lines gangs groom, threaten or trick children into trafficking their drugs for them. They might threaten a young person physically, or they might threaten the young person’s family members. The gangs might also offer something in return for the young person’s cooperation – it could be money, food, alcohol, clothes and jewellery, or improved status – but the giving of these gifts will usually be manipulated so that the child feels they are in debt to their exploiter.
Signs of potential County Lines involvement include:
Returning home late, staying out all night or going missing
Being found in areas away from home Increasing drug use, or being found to have large amounts of drugs on them
Being secretive about who they are talking to and where they are going
Unexplained absences from school, college, training or work Unexplained money, phone(s), clothes or jewellery
Increasingly disruptive or aggressive behaviour
Using sexual, drug-related or violent language you wouldn’t expect them to know
Coming home with injuries or looking particularly dishevelled
Having hotel cards or keys to unknown places.
Remember that these are POTENTIAL signs and DO NOT mean that your child is involved in County Lines or on drugs. The best thing you can do as a parent or guardian is to make sure your information is up-to-date and actually speak to your children about drugs calmly and with an open-mind (easier said than done, obviously).
If you have information about any suspected criminal or suspicious activity in your area related to County Lines or otherwise, call the police on 101 or report it online at www. avonandsomerset.police.uk . If you don’t want to speak directly to the police, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously.
