U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATIO

N 

GROWING UP DRUG FREE
 A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION
 

Archived Information
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s mission 

is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and 


bring to the criminal and civil justice of the United States, or any other competent 


jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved 


in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in 


or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support 


non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled 


substances on the domestic and international markets. www.dea.gov
 

The U.S. Department of Education’s mission

 is to promote student achievement and preparation for 

global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence 

and ensuring equal access. www.ed.gov 
GROWING UP DRUG FREE
 A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION
 

U.S. Department of Justice
 

Drug Enforcement Administration 


and 


U.S. Department of Education
 

October 2012 
This publication was funded by the Drug Enforcement Administration under contract number D-11­

CP-0032, and in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education. The content of this publication does 

not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the Drug Enforcement Administration or of the U.S. 

Department of Education, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations 

imply endorsement by the U.S. government. This publication also contains hyperlinks and URLs for 

information created and maintained by private organizations. This information is provided for the 

reader ’s convenience. Neither the Drug Enforcement Administration nor U.S. Department of Education 

is responsible for controlling or guaranteeing the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of 

this outside information. Further, the inclusion of information or a hyperlink or URL does not reflect the 

importance of the organization, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services 

offered. All URLs were last accessed in September 2012. 

Drug Enforcement Administration 

Special Agent Michelle M. Leonhart 

Administrator 

U.S. Department of Education 

Arne Duncan 

Secretary 

October 2012 

This report is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While 

permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the suggested citation is: 

Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Department of Education, Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent’s 

Guide to Prevention, Washington, D.C., 2012. 

Copies of this report are available online at the DEA’s website at www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com and on 

the Department of Education’s website at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/ppss/reports.html/. 

On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille, large print, or CD. For more 

information, contact the Department’s Alternate Format Center at 202-260-0852 or 202-260-0818. 

Notice to Limited English Proficient Individuals 

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please call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (TTY: 1-800-437-0 833), or email us via the following link 

to our customer support team: Ed.Language.Assistance@ed.gov/. 

ii U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

Myth #5: It’s okay for me to use BECAUSE I’m an adult

CONTENTS 

Section 1: introduction – How This Book Will Help You 1
 

Did You Know ... 1
 

How to Use This Booklet 1
 

What Do You Believe? 3
 

Myth #1: My child isn’t exposed to drugs and wouldn’t do them anyway 3
 

Myth #2: It’s normal for kids to experiment with drugs 3
 

Myth #3: I can’t change my child’s future 3
 

Myth #4: My kids don’t care what I think 4
 

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

4
 

Myth #6: I don’t want to alienate my child by being too strict 5
 

Section 2: What Substances Do Kids Use? 7
 

Tobacco 7
 

Alcohol 8
 

Alcohol Poisoning 9
 

Household Products: Inhalants 9
 

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications 11
 

Prescription Medications 11
 

Anabolic Steroids 12
 

Street Drugs 13
 

Marijuana 13
 

Stimulants 14
 

Heroin 14
 

Synthetic Drugs 15
 

Section 3: Why Do Kids Use Drugs? 17
 

Risk Factors and Protective Factors 17
 

Risk Factors 18
 

Academics 18
 

Your Own Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use 18
 

Genetics 19
 

Online Environmental Risks 19
 

Other Environmental Influences 20
 

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Protective Factors 21
 

Family Time 21
 

Open Communication 21
 

Other Role Models 21
 

Rules and Consequences 22
 

Positive Activities 22
 

School and Community 23
 

Section 4: How Do i Teach My Child About Drugs? 25
 

Educate Yourself 25
 

Educate Your Child 25
 

Be an Involved Parent 26
 

Be Involved at Home 26
 

Be Involved in Your Child’s Social Life 26
 

Be Involved at School 27
 

Be Involved in the Community 28
 

Be a Good Role Model 29
 

Communicate No Tolerance for Substance Use 29
 

Talk With Your Children About Drugs 29
 

Talking With Preschoolers 29
 

Talking With Elementary School Students (6–10 years old) 30
 

Talking With Middle School Students (11–14 years old) 32
 

Talking With High School Students (15–18 years old) 34
 

Section 5: What if i Think My Child is Using Drugs? 37
 

Signs of Abuse 37
 

Is It Okay to Snoop? 38
 

How to Proceed 38
 

Addiction 40
 

Finding Treatment 40
 

Recovery 41
 

Section 6: Resources 43
 

For Youths 43
 

For Parents 44
 

Section 7: Drug identification Chart 49
 

iv U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
INTRODUCTION – 

HOW THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

SECTION 1: 

INTRODUCTION – HOW 

THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU 

Section 1: introduction – How This Book Will Help You 

Parenting can be the most 

rewarding job on earth—and 

sometimes the toughest. You 

cradle your newborn the first time and 

promise, either silently or aloud, to 

provide the best life possible for him 

or her. The years quickly fly by—and 

suddenly, your youngster is about to 

enter school. 

If you’re like most people, that is a 


scary day. How will little Sara react to 


being away from me? What will happen 


if Noah misbehaves? Will the teacher 


provide the attention that Riley needs in 


order to learn?
 

As your child grows older and 

continues to achieve new milestones, 

your concerns grow, too. Can I trust 

Sara being home alone after school until I 

get home? What will Noah do if his friends 

offer him a cigarette? Will Riley’s friends 

tempt her to try drugs? 

These types of worries are normal and 

show that you are a loving, attentive 

parent who wants what is best for 

your child. Reading this booklet also 

shows that you are concerned and that 

you want to help your child achieve 

a healthy, drug-free lifestyle from 

preschool through high school—a 

dozen or so critical years when 

attitudes about drug use are formed. 

Many school districts across the 

country have had to cut funding for 

alcohol and drug education programs, 

making it even more important that 

you are informed, consistent, and 

current when you communicate with 

your child about drugs and alcohol. 

DiD YOU KNOW ... 

According to a national survey called 

Monitoring the Future (MTF) taken 

in 20111 

Daily marijuana use is now at a 30­

year peak level among high school 

seniors. One in every 15 high 

school seniors today is smoking 

pot on a daily or near daily basis. 

Energy drinks are being consumed 

by about one-third of teens, with 

use highest among younger teens. 

These drinks are particularly 

dangerous—even deadly—when 

consumed with alcohol. 

Although rates of smoking have 

declined among youths, 40 

percent have tried cigarettes by 

12th grade, and 10 percent of 12th 

graders are daily smokers. 

Alcohol remains the most widely 

used drug by today’s teenagers. 

Despite recent declining rates, seven out of every 10 students have 

consumed alcohol (more than 

just a few sips) by the end of high 

school, and one-third of students 

have done so by the eighth grade. 

One of every nine high school 

seniors said they’ve used 

synthetic marijuana, sometimes 

called K2/Spice, within the 

previous 12 months. 

HOW TO USE THiS 

BOOKLET 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

Rather than reading this publication from front to back as you would 

read a book, we hope you will use 

the Table of Contents to find a topic 

that interests you or to find a specific 

substance you’d like to know more 

about. We’ve also included some personal stories from parents who’ve lost 

children to drugs and a Resource section in the back that suggests online 

sources where you or your children 

can learn more. 

1 
SECTION 1

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The proportion of 12th-graders 

misusing psychotherapeutic 

prescription drugs (i.e., 

amphetamines, sedatives, 

tranquilizers, or narcotics other 

than heroin) is over 15 percent. 

❯	 

This publication was designed to 

help you understand 

The substances children are 

exposed to and where they get 

them. It will explain the names 

(and “street names”) of common 

drugs, how they’re used, their 

effects, where children obtain 

them, and how to know if your 

child is using them. 

Which children are most at risk 

for using drugs and how you can 

offset some of those risk factors. 

The importance of providing 

what are called protective 

factors—at home, in school, 

and in the community. 

How to talk to your children about 

drugs and alcohol. It will suggest 

ways to initiate conversations with 

your child at different ages and 

at various stages of physical and 

mental development. 

What role social media play 

in what your child learns 

about drugs. 

The steps to take if you suspect 

your child may already be using 

drugs or alcohol. 

This booklet also provides answers to 

questions your child may have and 

resources you can use to find more 

information or get help with your 

concerns. It covers important topics 

such as 

Why drinking alcohol—even 

once—is a serious matter. Each 

year, approximately 5,000 young 

people under the age of 21 die as a 

result of underage drinking, which 

is more than from all illegal drugs 

combined.2 

The importance of maintaining a 

close relationship with your child. 

A child who gets through age 21 

without smoking, using illegal 

drugs, or abusing alcohol is much 

less likely to do so as an adult.3

 No 

one has greater power to influence 

your child’s behavior than YOU 

do, and a close bond can spare 

your child the negative experiences associated with illegal drug use. 

It may even save your child’s life. 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

Throughout this publication, we 

refer to what you, as a parent, 

can do. However, raising a drugfree child is seldom done alone. 

Children also spend time with other 

caregivers—older siblings, aunts and 

uncles, family friends, stepparents, 

grandparents, extended family 

members, and many others who have 

the power to influence them. So when 

we say “parents” on these pages, we 

really mean all of the caregivers in 

your child’s life. We also encourage 

you to share the information here 

with them so that your child receives 

consistent information. 

We hope this booklet answers many of 

the questions you have about raising a 

drug-free child. For more information, 

please also visit the following websites. 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

Additional resources are listed at the 

back of this publication. 

2 

United States Drug 

Enforcement Administration: 

www.justice.gov/dea 

Get Smart About Drugs: 

www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com 

National Institute on Drug Abuse: 

www.nida.nih.gov 

The Partnership at Drugfree.org: 

www.drugfree.org 

National Institute on Alcohol 

Abuse and Alcoholism: 

www.niaaa.nih.gov 
INTRODUCTION – 

HOW THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

FAMiLY TiES 

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) defines family 

ties as the quality of the relationship between teens and their parents, how 

often parents argue with one another, how good teens say their parents are 

at listening to them, how often teens attend religious services, and how often 

the family has dinner together. In a National Survey of American Attitudes 

on Substance Abuse,7

 CASA researchers learned that compared to teens in 

families with strong family ties, teens in families with weak family ties are 

Four times likelier to have tried tobacco 

Four times likelier to have tried marijuana 

Almost three times likelier to have tried alcohol 

WHAT DO YOU BELiEvE? 

A myth is something we believe 

without having any proof one way 

or the other. Many parents maintain 

myths about drugs because it is easier 

than finding out or accepting the truth. 

Believing a myth doesn’t make it true, 

just like denying that a problem exists 

does not mean there isn’t one. And if 

trouble signs appear, ignoring them 

won’t make the problem go away. 

MYTH #1: MY CHiLD 

iSN’T EXPOSED TO 

DRUGS AND WOULDN’T 

DO THEM ANYWAY 

Some parents don’t believe their 

child has access to drugs and alcohol, 

or they think, “My child would never 

do anything so risky.” These are 

serious misconceptions! 

Sadly, children of all ages are exposed 

to drugs. In 2011, almost 26 percent of 

youths had been offered, sold, or given 

an illegal drug on school property, 

according to a national survey of ninththrough 12th-grade students in public 

and private schools.4

 Children being 

in this type of environment is alarming, since the earlier a child begins to 

smoke, drink, or use drugs, the likelier 

that child is to become addicted. 

Additionally, CASA’s 2011 National 

Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse5

 found that almost one in 

four middle school students perceive 

their school as drug-infected (meaning drugs are used, kept, or sold on 

school grounds); the number jumps to 

more than 60 percent for high school 

students.6

 Compared to teens attending drug-free schools, teens attending 

drug-infected schools are 

Twice as likely to have used tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana 

Almost twice as likely to be able to 

get alcohol in an hour or less 

Two-and-a-half times as likely to 

be able to get marijuana in an hour 

or less 

One-and-a-half times as likely to be 

able to get prescription drugs without a prescription in an hour or less 

❯	 

❯	 

y

y

y

❯	 

❯	 

So it is NOT a myth that drugs are 

available. The question is whether 

YOUR child is getting them—and 

using them. 

One in four kids who have tried 

alcohol had their first drink at age 

12 or younger.8 

Every day, more than 4,000 teens 

try an illicit drug for the first time.9 

Some 60 percent of teens who have 

abused prescription painkillers to 

get high did so before age 15.10 

By the time they graduate high 

school, about 44 percent of U.S. 

teens will have tried marijuana at 

least once.11 

MYTH #2: iT’S NORMAL 

FOR KiDS TO EXPERiMENT 

WiTH DRUGS 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

Some parents believe that experimenting with drugs or alcohol is a normal 

part of growing up. Those parents are 

wrong. Alcohol poisoning can occur 

when someone drinks enough alcohol 

to depress the nerves that control 

involuntary actions such as breathing 

and the gag reflex (which prevents 

choking). A fatal dose of alcohol caused 

by alcohol poisoning can happen the 

very first time a child drinks alcohol, 

causing serious brain damage or death. 

Also, it’s extremely dangerous to 

minimize the effects of one substance 

compared to another. The 2011 CASA 

survey revealed that teens who have 

used tobacco are 11 times likelier to 

have used marijuana than teens who 

have never used tobacco. And simply 

trying marijuana one time can lead 

your child to experiment with other 

drugs and put them at risk for abuse. 

Experimenting with drugs or alcohol is 

not normal. USE can lead to ABUSE, 

which can lead to ADDICTION, so any 

use is unacceptable. 

MYTH #3: i CAN’T CHANGE 

MY CHiLD’S FUTURE 

While it’s true that children often 

idolize sports heroes and celebrities, 

they also idolize YOU. As a parent or 

caregiver, you have the power to help 

shape their attitudes about drugs. One 

way to do that is by talking to them 

regularly about what is going on in 

their lives. Kids who learn a lot about 

the risks of drugs and alcohol from 

their parents are up to 50 percent less 

likely to use than those who do not.12 

3 
SECTION 1

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Talking to your child 

about drugs and alcohol 

doesn’t mean lecturing. 

In fact, there are many 

things you can do (or may 

already do!) to provide 

the type of environment 

that may keep your child 

from experimenting 

with drugs or alcohol. 

Talking to your child about drugs 

and alcohol doesn’t mean lecturing. 

In fact, there are many things you can 

do (or may already do!) to provide 

the type of environment that may 

keep your child from experimenting 

with drugs or alcohol. One is to 

spend more time with your child. 

A 2011 national survey about the 

importance of family dinners 

revealed that 18 percent of teens said 

they would like to spend more time 

with their parents.13 That’s important 

because those who spent seven hours 

or less per week with their parents 

were twice as likely to have used 

alcohol and twice as likely to have 

tried drugs (including marijuana 

and prescription drugs) to get high. 

Imagine! Simply spending time with 

your children may make them less 

likely to try drugs or alcohol! 

Family dinners are an excellent way 

to spend time with your child. And 

make no mistake—those family dinners matter. Teens who have fewer 

than three family dinners per week 

are almost four times as likely to have 

used tobacco, more than twice as 

likely to have used alcohol, and twoand-a-half times as likely to have used 

marijuana. Family dinners don’t have 

to be elaborate or expensive. Think of 

simple, inexpensive ways to make the 

meal fun, such as eating a picnic meal 

in the back yard, having a contest to 

see who can create the best pizza, or 

setting up a burger bar with outrageous toppings. Enjoy the process, and 

spend the time together talking with 

your children about their day. 

Simply being there for your child—day 

or night—is also helpful. A child who 

feels you are available will be more 

likely to come to you with questions 

about drugs or challenges with peer 

pressure or other situations that make 

your child feel uncomfortable. It is 

especially important to be there for 

your child during times of transition, 

such as changing schools, moving, or 

divorce, because the risk of drug use 

increases greatly during these times.14 

As children advance from elementary 

school to middle school, for example, 

they face new social situations. They 

will be exposed to cigarettes and 

alcohol—if they haven’t been already— 

and friends may encourage them to 

try new things. As they later go from 

middle school to high school, they will 

face a larger variety of substances and 

have more of a desire to fit in or seem 

cool to their classmates. 

Additionally, teens who attend religious services four or more times 

a month are less likely to have used 

tobacco (11 percent vs. 3 percent), consumed alcohol (27 percent vs. 13 percent), or used marijuana (15 percent vs. 

5 percent) than those who attend such 

services less frequently or not at all.15 

Remember, preventing the first use 

prevents abuse, and preventing abuse 

prevents addiction. You can change 

your child’s future. 

MYTH #4: MY KiDS DON’T 

CARE WHAT i THiNK 

Kids—especially teenagers— 

sometimes act like they don’t care 

what their parents think. Studies have 

shown, however, that they do care. 

According to a 2010 national survey 

by the Substance Abuse and Mental 

Health Services Administration 

(SAMHSA), youths aged 12 to 17 were 

less likely to use a substance if they 

believed their parents would strongly 

disapprove.16 This was particularly 

true for tobacco and marijuana. 

Your children do listen to you, even 

if they roll their eyes and pretend 

not to. Don’t want them drinking or 

using drugs? Tell them how you feel 

and what you expect from them. For 

example, you might say 

“I want you to have fun and enjoy 

this time in your life, but I also 

want you to stay healthy because I 

love you. The best way to do that 

is to stay completely away from 

drugs and alcohol. Can you promise me that you will?” 

“I know you may be tempted to 

try drugs, but I also know you’re 

really smart. That’s why I expect 

you to stay clean—no matter what 

your friends do. Agreed?” 

“It scares me to know how easily 

you could damage your brain or 

get addicted to something. Will you 

give me your word that you won’t 

try things just because the people 

you hang out with try them?” 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

Your children do care what you say, 

but you have to tell them what you 

think—and what you expect. 

MYTH #5: iT’S OKAY FOR 

ME TO USE BECAUSE i’M 

AN ADULT 

Some parents may believe that because 

they are adults, it’s okay for them to 

drink alcohol excessively or to smoke 

cigarettes (even marijuana) even 

though they tell their children not to 

do it. This is especially true if adults 

think their use isn’t affecting their 

family. But because your children look 

up to you, they want to be like you. 

4 
INTRODUCTION – 

HOW THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

So when they see you smoking, they 

are going to think it is okay for them 

to do it, too, no matter what you say. 

However, if they watch as you struggle 

to quit smoking, they understand the 

difficulty of breaking the addiction. 

Similarly, if you come home from work 

complaining that you had a hard day 

and drink heavily and excessively, 

or drive while under the influence 

of alcohol, you may be sending an 

unintended message. It is certainly not 

a message about drinking responsibly. 

Some parents choose to believe this 

myth because they are in denial about 

their own behavior and don’t like to 

think about how their own drug or 

alcohol use is affecting their children. 

One in four children in the United 

States is exposed to alcoholism or drug 

addiction in the family,17 and these 

kids have a significantly increased risk 

of becoming alcoholics themselves 

when they grow up. 

So if you portray your beliefs about 

the danger of using drugs and alcohol through your actions, your child 

is more inclined to believe you. And 

if you have a problem with tobacco, 

alcohol, or drugs, speak to your family 

doctor about getting help. 

MYTH #6: i DON’T WANT 

TO ALiENATE MY CHiLD BY 

BEiNG TOO STRiCT 

In some homes today, parents try very 

hard to be a friend to their child, and 

this interferes with their ability to be 

an effective parent. Consequently, 

some parents are afraid to set rules 

and enforce them. 

But children need a clear 

understanding of your expectations. 

Sure, they may test you occasionally 

by pushing the boundaries of the rules 

you set. But that is the exact moment 

when you must be a parent—an 

enforcer—and follow through with 

whatever consequences you outlined 

as punishment. 

Developing a strong bond with your 

child at an early age is important, but 

it needs to be a parent-child bond in 

which YOU take control. The best way 

to do that is to (1) set rules and (2) 

enforce them consistently. 

Family dinners are an excellent way to 

spend time with your child. 

5 
SECTION 1

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

1	 Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., and Schulenberg, J. E. Monitoring the Future 

national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2011. National Institute on Drug 

Abuse. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan. 2012. 

2	 National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Underage 

Drinking. Alcohol Alert, Publication Number 67. January 2006. 

3	 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. National 

Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents. August 2011. 

4	 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in the Prevalence of Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illegal 

Drug Use on School Property. National Youth Risk Behavior Survey 1991–2011. Accessed September 21, 

2012, www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/pdf/us_taodu_trend_yrbs.pdf. 

5 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents. 

6 Ibid. 

7	 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. National 

Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XV: Teens and Parents. August 2010. 

8	 The Police and Communities Together (PACT 360) website. Home page, accessed September 21, 

2012, http://pact360.org/programs/parents360. 

9 Ibid. 

10	 The Partnership at DrugFree.org website. Home page, accessed September 21, 2012, 

http://notinmyhouse.drugfree.org. 

11	 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Marijuana: Facts 

Parents Need to Know. A Letter to Parents. NIH Publication No. 10-4036. Printed 1995, Revised 

November 1998, November 2002, September 2004, August 2007, March 2011. Reprinted April 

2001, February 2007. 

12	 The Partnership at DrugFree.org sponsored website. Home page, accessed September 21, 2012, 

www.drugfree.org/prevent. 

13	 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. National 

Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XV: Teens and Parents. September 2011. 

14	 National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction. NIH Pub 

No. 10-5605. Printed April 2007. Revised February 2008, August 2010. 

15 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents. 

16	 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Center for Behavioral Health 

Statistics and Quality. Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of 

National Findings. NSDUH Series H-41, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 11-4658. September 2011. 

17	 Tian Dayton, PhD. Portrait of an Alcoholic Family: Forgotten Children; Right Next Door? National 

Association for Children of Alcoholics. Kensington, MD. (n.d.) Accessed September 21, 2012, 

www.nacoa.org/pdfs/Portrait%20of%20an%20Alcoholic%20Family.docx.pdf. 

6 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

INTRODUCTION – 

HOW THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU

SECTION 2: 

WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE? 

Section 2: What Substances Do Kids Use? 

NOTE: Please also see the Drug 

Identification Chart at the end of 

this publication. 

Children today are exposed to 

drugs and alcohol because they 

see them used in movies, in 

music videos, and on television from a 

very young age. They also learn about 

them on social networking sites, where 

information is instant and available 

24/7, and they learn from classmates. 

Exactly what they learn depends on 

what they listen to, read, or watch, and 

who they hang out with. 

At the end of this publication is a 

detailed Drug Identification Chart 

that lists many drugs commonly 

abused today, along with the side 

effects and “street names.” In this 

section, we’ll talk about some 

commonly abused substances, the 

risks they pose to children, and 

where children acquire them. Once 

you know that, the most important 

thing you can do is to talk with 

your children rather than leave their 

drug and alcohol education to a 

random website or television sitcom. 

We’ll discuss ways to have those 

conversations in Section 4. 

TOBACCO 

Whether smoked or chewed, nicotine 

is one of the most highly addictive 

drugs used in today’s society—and 

the addiction is extremely hard to 

break. The good news is that tobacco 

use and experimentation with tobacco 

products have declined for middle 

school and high school students 

compared to previous generations,18 

according to the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC). Even 

so, over 19 percent of high school 

students were cigarette smokers in 

2009, as were 5.2 percent of middle 

school students.19 In 2009, every day, 

about 3,800 teens began smoking and 

1,100 become regular smokers.20 It 

is illegal in all states to sell tobacco 

products to persons under age 18. 

Smoking continues to be the single 

leading preventable cause of death 

and disease in the United States,21 

so it’s important to establish your 

household as one where tobacco use is 

NOT tolerated. 

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7 

Many tobacco products are easily recognized: a cigar, a pack of 

cigarettes, or a container of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco or 

snuff). However, some companies 

have developed products that you 

may not know about and that are 

specifically aimed at young people. 

One tobacco product you may not 

be familiar with is called a bidi 

cigarette, which consists of tobacco 

wrapped in leaves of plants that 

are native to Asia. Typically tied on 

one or both ends with string, bidis 

come in flavors such as chocolate, 

mango, vanilla, lemon-lime, mint, 

pineapple, and cherry—flavors 

that appeal to young smokers. 
SECTION 2

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Though not widely used (estimates 

are that about 3 percent of current 

high school students smoke bidi 

cigarettes), they are especially 

dangerous because they contain 

more than three times the amount 

of nicotine and carbon monoxide 

as traditional cigarettes and five 

times as much tar as cigarettes. 

Another method of using tobacco 

that you may not recognize is 

with a hookah. Sometimes called 

a water pipe, hookahs are used to 

smoke specially made tobacco that 

is available in a variety of flavors 

(e.g., apple, mint, cherry, chocolate, coconut, licorice, cappuccino, and watermelon). Hookah 

smoking is typically practiced in 

groups, with the same mouthpiece 

passed from person to person. 

While used in Persia and India 

for centuries, today, hookah cafés 

are gaining popularity around 

the globe, including in the United 

States. In recent years, there has 

been an increase in hookah use 

around the world, most notably 

among youths. 

Also, smokeless tobacco is not a 

safe alternative to smoking, as it 

contains 28 cancer-causing agents 

(carcinogens), and adolescent 

smokeless tobacco users are 

more likely than nonusers to 

become adult cigarette smokers.22 

According to the 2011 MTF survey, 

3.5 percent of eighth-graders, 6.6 

percent of 10th-graders, and 8.3 

percent of 12th-graders reported 

smokeless tobacco use during 

the past month.23 These products 

may be attractive because they are 

flavored and produce less saliva 

than previous versions (so no one 

has to know you are using them). 

Regardless of the product, teenagers 

who use tobacco are at risk of 

developing cancer, heart and lung 

disease, and many other diseases 

associated with smoking. The best 

ways to prevent your child from 

smoking are to (1) not smoke, and 

(2) not allow smoking in your home. 

Teens whose parents smoke are almost 

three times as likely to use tobacco 

themselves.24 And remember, teens 

who smoke cigarettes are much more 

likely to use marijuana than those who 

have never smoked. 

If you discover your children are 

already using tobacco, remind them 

that it is illegal for them to purchase 

tobacco products, and let them know 

you expect them to quit immediately. 

Be firm but supportive, as breaking 

a tobacco addiction can be extremely 

difficult, but continue to emphasize 

that quitting is imperative. If 

necessary, your family physician may 

prescribe medication to help break the 

habit or direct your child to support 

programs for quitting smoking. 

ALCOHOL 

Why have we included alcohol in a 

book about drugs? Alcohol is a drug. 

It’s illegal for kids under 21 (in most 

states) to use it,25 and it’s dangerous. 

Kids who drink are more likely to 

be victims of violent crimes, have 

serious problems in school, and be 

involved in drinking-related traffic 

crashes.26 Underage alcohol use is 

more likely to kill young people than 

all illegal drugs combined.27 

As children approach adolescence, 

they want to fit in with their peers, 

and alcohol is a common drug of 

choice. You may think your child 

hasn’t begun drinking yet. You may 

be right, but by the time they reach 

the eighth grade, nearly half of all 

adolescents have had a least one 

drink, and over 20 percent report 

having been drunk. The trend 

continues as students enter high 

school. A recent national study of 

12th-graders showed that nearly a 

third of these students binge drink, 

which was defined as drinking at 

least five drinks at one time within 

the last two weeks.28 

Using alcohol is a poor choice that 

likely leads to more poor choices for 

young people. Seventy-five percent 

of teens reported that the teens they 

knew who drank alcohol or used 

illegal drugs were more likely to 

engage in sexual activity.29 

Alcohol affects the mind and body in 

unpredictable ways, and teens lack the 

judgment and coping skills to handle 

alcohol wisely. As a result30 

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Alcohol-related traffic crashes 

are a major cause of death among 

young people. Alcohol use also is 

linked with teen deaths by drowning, suicide, and homicide. 

Teens who use alcohol are more 

likely to be sexually active at 

earlier ages, to have sexual intercourse more often, and to have 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

The risk of alcohol poisoning is also increased 

when teens drink alcohol along with energy 

drinks or consume energy drinks that contain 

alcohol. These drinks, which are on most grocery 

store shelves, are loaded with caffeine, other 

plant-based stimulants, and other additives. 

unprotected sex than teens who 

do not drink. 

Young people who drink are more 

likely than others to be victims of 

violent crimes, including rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. 

Teens who drink are more likely to 

have problems with school work 

and school conduct. 

The majority of boys and girls 

who drink tend to binge (five or 

more drinks on an occasion for 

boys; four or more on an occasion 

for girls). 

A person who begins drinking as 

a young teen is four times more 

likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who waits 

until adulthood to use alcohol. 

What can you do? Well, you can 

restrict your child’s access to the 

liquor stored in your home. In a 2011 

survey, 31 teens whose parent(s) had 

consumed alcohol in the previous 

30 days were more than twice as 

likely to say they could get alcohol 

in an hour or less (32 percent vs. 14 

percent). If you keep alcohol in your 

home, keep track of the supply, and 

lock it up if possible. 

Your disapproval of underage 

drinking is key to keeping your child 

sober. Don’t underestimate your 

power as a parent—let your kids 

know what you expect by talking with 

them and by setting an example for 

them. Keeping quiet may give your 

children the impression that you think 

their drinking is okay. 

Alcohol Poisoning 

Myth #2 at the front of this publication 

mentioned that alcohol poisoning, 

which can happen the very first 

time someone drinks alcohol, can 

cause serious brain damage or death. 

A person (of any age) who drinks 

enough alcohol will eventually get 

sleepy and pass out. Particularly 

troubling is that if the person 

consumed alcohol rapidly, the level 

of alcohol in the bloodstream (called 

blood alcohol content or BAC) will 

continue to rise even after the person 

passes out. A high BAC suppresses 

natural reflexes, such as the ability to 

gag, so a person who vomits while 

passed out can literally choke and die. 

And a person who survives may suffer 

irreversible brain damage. 

The risk of alcohol poisoning is also 

increased when teens drink alcohol 

along with energy drinks or consume 

energy drinks that contain alcohol. 

These drinks, which are on most 

grocery store shelves, are loaded with 

caffeine, other plant-based stimulants, 

and other additives. They are very 

popular and regularly consumed by 

31 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds and 

34 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds.32 But 

when mixed with alcohol, caffeine 

masks the depressant in the alcohol, 

and people feel more alert and sober 

than they really are. They eventually 

go to bed—not realizing they have 

consumed a lethal dose of alcohol. A 

person who appears to be sleeping it 

off may be in real danger. More than 

13,000 ER visits related to the highly 

caffeinated drinks were reported in 

2009; nearly half the emergencies 

occurred after beverages were mixed 

with alcohol or other drugs.33 

Discuss the signs of alcohol poisoning 

with your children. Those signs include 

mental confusion 

stupor 

coma (or inability to be roused) 

vomiting 

seizures 

slow breathing or irregular 

breathing 

hypothermia (low body 

temperature) 

bluish skin color and/or paleness 

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS: 

iNHALANTS 

If you suspect someone has alcohol 

poisoning, call 911 immediately. 

Items in your cabinets at home may 

be enough for your child to get high— 

even items that you might not consider “drugs.” Hundreds of products 

such as nail polish remover, cleaning 

fluid, hair spray, gasoline, spray paint, 

and the propellant in aerosol whipped 

cream contain chemicals that youths 

inhale to get high. Because these 

inhalants are easily available, they are 

often among the first drugs that young 

adolescents abuse.34 

Why do children in this group 

experiment with inhalants? They’re 

cheap. They’re available. And most 

important, kids don’t understand the 

dangers of inhalant use—that these 

inhalants starve the body of oxygen 

and can cause unconsciousness, severe 

damage to the brain and nervous 

system, and even death. 

Inhalants generally fall into the 

following categories. 

Volatile solvents are liquids that 

vaporize at room temperature. They 

9 

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SECTION 2

10 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

MEET SETH BRAMLEY 

When Seth Bramley changed high 

schools in 10th grade, his new 

friends introduced him to alcohol 

and marijuana. That was also when 

he started to get into trouble. He 

and his mom thought it would 

be a good idea to change his 

environment and go to Arkansas 

to live with his dad. After a month, 

Seth’s dad caught him smoking pot 

and sent him back home. 

Seth realized that he had a drug 

problem, and he went to rehab 

(rehab means a drug abuse 

treatment facility). He did well, 

although it was very hard on 

him and he wanted a different 

program. He went to another 

rehab, graduated, and went to 

a halfway house. But the grip of 

addiction was still there. He told 

his mom, “Mom, I so much want to 

live ... I don’t want to get high, but 

I just can’t stop.” On Father’s Day, 

Seth came home for a visit and got 

high with friends. 

Giving up wasn’t Seth’s way, so he 

told his mom he wanted to get his 

life back on track and go back to 

southern California to live with his 

grandmother. He was there for two 

days. He went to dinner with his 

mom and grandmother on Friday 

night. On Sunday morning, he died 

after “bagging” a can of shaving 

gel. He was 19 years old. 

Would you have pursued further 

rehabilitation options in this case? 

Rehab is often not a one-time 

event. Do not give up hope if your 

child relapses after being in a drug 

treatment facility. Continue to work 

with your physicians, counselors, 

and other substance abuse 

professionals to seek appropriate 

treatment and follow-up care. 

SHOULD YOU SCREEN YOUR CHiLD 

FOR DRUGS? 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggested in 2011 that all 

adolescents should be screened for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use at 

every office visit because their vulnerability to addiction is particularly high, 

as are risk-taking and injuries related to alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.35 

Screening may consist of the pediatrician simply asking your child about 

the use of alcohol, marijuana, or anything else to get high. Depending on 

the answers, the pediatrician can provide positive feedback, advice, or a 

treatment referral when needed. This type of screening is one indicator of 

whether you are on the right track with keeping your child drug free. 

are found in many easily available 

products such as paint thinners 

and removers, dry-cleaning fluids, 

degreasers, gasoline, glues, correction 

fluids, and felt-tip markers. 

Aerosols are sprays that contain 

propellants and solvents, such as 

spray paints, deodorant and hair 

sprays, vegetable oil sprays for 

cooking, and fabric protector sprays. 

Gases include medical anesthetics 

(ether, chloroform, and others), as 

well as gases used in household 

or commercial products. Nitrous 

oxide—the most abused of these 

gases—is found in whipped 

cream dispensers and products 

that boost octane levels in racing 

cars. Other products containing 

gases include butane lighters, 

propane tanks, and refrigerants. 

Nitrites, unlike most other inhalants, 

act directly on the central nervous 

system to dilate blood vessels and 

relax the muscles. Nitrites are now 

prohibited by the Consumer Product 

Safety Commission but can still be 

found, typically labeled as video head 

cleaner, room odorizer, leather cleaner, 

or liquid aroma. 

People who abuse inhalants breathe 

in the vapors through their nose or 

mouth by 

Sniffing or snorting fumes 

from containers 

Spraying aerosols directly into the 

nose or mouth 

Sniffing or inhaling fumes from 

substances sprayed or placed into 

a plastic or paper bag (“bagging”) 

“Huffing” from an inhalantsoaked rag stuffed in the mouth 

Inhaling from balloons filled with 

nitrous oxide 

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The lungs absorb the inhaled 

chemicals into the bloodstream 

very quickly, and the user feels 

effects similar to those produced by 

alcohol (e.g., slurred speech, lack of 

coordination, euphoria, dizziness). 

But because the high lasts only a 

few minutes, people often inhale 

repeatedly for several hours. 

Inhalants can damage brain cells 

by preventing them from receiving 

enough oxygen. Repeat abusers may 

have difficulty learning, carrying 

on conversations, and solving 

problems. Long-term inhalant users 

can experience muscle spasms 

and permanent difficulty walking, 

bending, and talking. Inhalants can be 

addictive and can cause heart damage, 

liver failure, and muscle weakness. 

Prolonged sniffing of these highly 

concentrated chemicals can cause 

irregular or rapid heart rhythms, and 

can lead to heart failure and death 

within minutes. High concentrations 

of inhalants also can cause death from 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

suffocation when the inhalant vapor 

takes the place of oxygen in the lungs 

and brain, causing breathing to stop. 

OvER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) 

MEDiCATiONS 

An over-the-counter (OTC) medication 

is a drug sold without a prescription, 

such as a medicine for a cold or cough. 

Many of these medications contain 

dextromethorphan (DXM), and the 

products are very effective when used 

as directed. But sadly, young people 

are abusing this type of OTC drug by 

drinking cough and cold medications 

(e.g., Robitussin, Coricidin, and Nyquil) either alone or with soft drinks or 

alcohol. Gelcaps and pills are swallowed or crushed and put into drinks. 

Products containing DXM are 

available over-the-counter in 

pharmacies and grocery stores; DXM 

is also sold on the Internet. Some 

websites even tell users how much to 

take, what drugs to combine it with, 

and how to extract the DXM from 

cough medicines—some even sell a 

powder form of DXM for snorting. 

These products are easy enough to get 

such that one in 10 teens (10 percent 

or 2.4 million) report abusing cough 

medicine to get high.36 

As part of CASA’s 2011 national online 

survey, teens aged 12–17 were asked 

if they knew a friend or classmate 

who used OTC medicines to get high. 

Those who answered YES were asked 

if they knew more than one friend or 

classmate who used OTC medicines 

to get high. An astounding 70 percent 

said they did!37 

Labels on these medications warn of 

the side effects when taken in high 

doses, including confusion, dizziness, 

double or blurred vision, slurred 

speech, loss of physical coordination, 

rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, and 

disorientation. The problem is that 

teens rarely read labels and don’t 

understand the danger in using 

OTC medications. According to the 

results of a Partnership for a Drug 

Free America survey, more than half 

of teens didn’t think using cough 

medicines to get high was risky.38 

Because OTC medications are so 

widely available, it’s important 

to know which ones are stored in 

your home and their potential side 

effects. More importantly, keep all 

medications—particularly cough and 

cold medicines—in a secure location 

(such as a locked cabinet) where they 

aren’t accessible to young people. 

PRESCRiPTiON 

MEDiCATiONS 

For decades, people have taken 

prescription drugs—prescribed by 

a doctor or dentist and dispensed 

by a pharmacist—to relieve a 

host of symptoms. The number of 

prescription drugs available today is 

mind-boggling, as is the number of 

young people abusing these drugs. It 

is sometimes their first introduction to 

drug use. 

Research indicates that as many 

as one in five teens say they 

have taken a prescription drug 

without having a prescription for 

it themselves.39 

Every day, 2,100 teenagers use a 

prescription drug for non-medical 

use for the first time.40 

One reason for this increase is that 

many teens mistakenly believe 

prescription drugs are safer than 

“street drugs” because they are 

medicine prescribed by a physician. 

According to a Partnership for a Drug 

Free America survey, two in five teens 

felt prescription medicines, even if not 

prescribed by a doctor, were “much 

safer” to use than illegal drugs.41 

And nearly one-third of those teens 

believed there was “nothing wrong” 

with using prescription medicines 

without a prescription “once in a 

while.” But when used to get high, 

prescription medications are every 

bit as dangerous as “street drugs.” 

Overdosing (especially on prescription 

pain relievers such as Vicodin, 

Percocet, Loritab, and others) can be 

fatal. 

Another reason for the rising rates 

of use is that prescription drugs are 

so readily available. The majority of 

teens get prescription drugs from the 

medicine cabinets of family, friends, 

and acquaintances.42 Some young 

people traffic among themselves— 

handing out or selling extra Ritalin 

or Adderall pills of their own or that 

they’ve acquired or stolen; some 

get theirs illicitly from doctors, 

pharmacists, or online. 

What drugs in your medicine cabinet 

can potentially be abused? 

11 

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Also known as opioids, narcotics dull the senses and relieve 

pain. Hydrocodone products are 

the most frequently prescribed 
SECTION 2

12 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

MEET JASON SURKS 

Jason Surks was 19 and in his second year of college, studying to be a 

pharmacist, when he died of an overdose of pills. After his death, his 

parents discovered that he had been ordering pills from an Internet 

pharmacy in Mexico. 

His mother, Linda, writes: “I think back to the last several months of my son’s 

life, trying to identify any signs I might have missed. I remember that during 

his first year in college, I discovered an unlabeled pill bottle in his room. I took 

the pills to my computer and identified them as a generic form of Ritalin. 

When I confronted Jason, he told me he got them from a friend who’d been 

prescribed the medication. He wanted to see if they would help him with his 

problem focusing in school. He promised he would stop using the drug. But as 

a pre-pharmacy major, maybe he felt he knew more about these substances 

than he actually did and had a ‘professional curiosity’ about them.” 

As a parent, would you have allowed Jason to self-medicate? If your child— 

regardless of age—feels there is a medical need for a prescription medication, 

see your family physician or pediatrician. Taking pharmaceuticals prescribed 

for someone else is illegal and can be deadly. 

opioids in the United States, and 

they are the most abused narcotic 

in this country.43 Found in pharmaceutical drugs like Vicodin, 

Lorcet, and Lortab, Hydrocodone 

is used for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain. 

Stimulants speed up the body’s 

systems. This class of drugs 

includes prescription drugs such 

as amphetamines (Adderall and 

Dexedrine), methylphenidate 

(Concerta and Ritalin), and diet 

aids (such as Didrex, Bontril, Preludin, Fastin, Adipex P, Ionomin, 

and Meridia). 

Barbiturates depress the central 

nervous system. They have been 

used as sedatives, hypnotics, 

anesthetics, and anticonvulsants. 

Abusers prefer the short-acting 

and intermediate barbiturates 

such as Amytal and Seconal. 

Benzodiazepines are depressants 

that produce sedation, induce 

sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle 

spasms, and prevent seizures. The 

most common benzodiazepines 

are the prescription drugs Valium, 

Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, and 

Klonopin. Others include ProSom, 

Dalmane, Restoril, Versed, 

Librium, Tranxene, Paxipam, 

Serax, Centrax, and Doral. Ambien 

and Sonata are sedative-hypnotic 

medications approved for the 

short-term treatment of insomnia 

and that share many of the properties of benzodiazepines. 

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Teens take these drugs for a variety of 

reasons. Some take stimulants (such 

as those used to treat attention deficit 

hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD) 

to give them additional energy and 

an ability to focus when studying or 

taking tests. Some try pain relievers 

to cope with stress. Others abuse 

prescription amphetamines to lose 

weight or prescription anabolic steroids 

to bulk up. And, sadly, some simply 

take prescription medicine to get high. 

Many parents don’t talk with their 

children about the non-medical use of 

prescription drugs—because parents 

don’t realize how popular these drugs 

are or how dangerous they can be, 

particularly when taken with over-thecounter medication and/or alcohol. 

In fact, one national study showed 

that 28 percent of parents have taken 

a prescription drug without having a 

prescription for it themselves.44 This 

sets a dangerous example for kids, and 

it is illegal. 

Just as with OTC medications, talk 

to your teens about the dangers of 

abusing prescription drugs, and 

safeguard your own medicines by 

keeping prescription drugs in a secure 

place—preferably a locked cabinet— 

and monitoring the number of pills 

you have. Regularly dispose of expired 

or unused medications in a safe 

manner by removing the substance 

from its original container, mixing 

it with an undesirable substance 

(such as used coffee grounds or kitty 

litter), and placing it in a sealable bag, 

empty can, or other container prior to 

disposal in household trash. Another 

alternative is to drop the substance at 

a medication “take-back” program in 

your community. 

Finally, report suspicious online 

pharmacies. If you or your teen 

is aware of someone distributing 

prescription drugs or selling them on 

a suspicious Internet pharmacy site, 

call the DEA hotline at 1-877-792-2873. 

It is open around the clock, 365 days 

per year. 

Anabolic Steroids 

Weightlifters, football players, and other 

athletes often use anabolic steroids 

illegally to bulk up. They take the drug 

in pill form, apply it to the skin, or 

(more commonly) inject it into muscles 

with a hypodermic needle. 

Abusing anabolic steroids can pose 

serious risks. A 2010 study funded by 

the National Institute on Drug Abuse 

(NIDA) asked teens if they had ever 

tried steroids—even once. Only 1.1 

percent of eighth-graders, 1.6 percent 

of 10th-graders, and 2.0 percent of 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

12th-graders responded that they 

had.45 Still, talk with your child about 

the dangers of using them. 

In some individuals, steroid use 

can cause dramatic mood swings, 

increased feelings of hostility, 

impaired judgment, and increased 

levels of aggression (often referred to 

as “roid rage”). Other side effects can 

include stunted growth, accelerated 

puberty changes, jaundice, fluid 

retention, high blood pressure, 

increases in LDL (bad cholesterol) and 

decreases in HDL (good cholesterol), 

severe acne, trembling, and liver and 

kidney tumors. Abusers who inject 

steroids may share contaminated 

needles, putting them at risk for 

viral infections such as HIV/AIDS or 

hepatitis B or C. 

Steroid abuse can cause extreme 

mood swings that include depression, 

paranoia, and extreme irritability. 

While it is important to stop using 

anabolic steroids, some users 

experience dangerous withdrawal 

symptoms when they stop, including 

depression, which sometimes leads to 

suicide attempts. 

STREET DRUGS 

“Street drugs” in this publication 

means illegal drugs such as marijuana, 

cocaine, Ecstasy, methamphetamine, 

and heroin. All street drugs are illegal, 

and the penalties for possessing them 

can be harsh. 

Marijuana 

Marijuana use among adolescents is 

on the rise after a decade of decline.46 

Part of this increase appears to be 

because adolescents don’t accurately 

perceive the risks associated with 

marijuana use. This may be because 

of conflicting messages—they hear 

and read about drug legalization, 

decriminalization, and the use of 

medical marijuana. 

As with other substances, young 

people tend to form opinions based on 

what their parents think and do. For 

example, recent studies and surveys 

revealed that 

Marijuana use was much less 

prevalent among youths who perceived strong parental disapproval 

for trying marijuana or hashish 

once or twice.47 

Compared to teens whose parent never used marijuana, teens 

whose parent has used marijuana 

are two-and-a-half times as likely 

to have also used it.48 

It seems that marijuana is easy to 

obtain. In the 2010 national CASA 

survey, 58 percent of teens who said 

they can get marijuana do so by 

calling a cell phone or by sending a 

text message; 57 percent said they 

simply ask for it face to face; and 14 

percent said they use websites like 

Facebook or MySpace.49 

MEET TAYLOR 

HOOTEN 

Taylor Hooten died at age 17. It 

took a while for his parents to 

connect Taylor’s recent weight 

and muscle increases with his 

uncharacteristic mood swings and 

violent, angry behavior. He’d been 

using a cocktail of steroids and 

other hormones to bulk up, and the 

drugs were wreaking havoc on his 

body and emotions. Taylor went to 

his room and hanged himself. 

What would you have done if 

Taylor were your son? Frequent 

extreme or unusual physical or 

emotional changes that affect 

your child’s relationships, health, 

academic performance, or other 

aspects of life are not normal. Those 

uncharacteristic changes may be your 

red flag that your child is addicted to 

drugs or alcohol. 

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SECTION 2

In the 2011 MTF survey, one in 

four—25 percent—of the 47,000 

teens surveyed said they had used 

marijuana during the last year. 

The survey, which polled students 

nationwide in the eighth, 10th, and 

12th grades, also found that nearly one 

in 15 high school students used pot on 

a daily or near-daily basis! 

Marijuana use and addiction can’t 

be taken lightly. Approximately 

1.1 million drug-related treatment 

admissions to publicly funded 

facilities occurred in 2009 (the latest 

year for which data are available). Of 

those, 31 percent reported marijuana 

as their primary drug of choice.50 

Bottom line: marijuana is a drug, it is 

dangerous, and it is illegal. 

Stimulants 

Stimulants are drugs that speed up 

the body’s systems. Examples of 

illicit stimulants include cocaine, 

methamphetamine, and Ecstasy. 

Cocaine comes in two forms. 

Powder cocaine is made from 

the leaf of the coca plant and 

is usually snorted or injected 

into a vein with a needle, while 

crack is a form of cocaine that 

is often smoked in a glass pipe. 

Physiological effects of cocaine 

include increased blood pressure 

and heart rate, dilated pupils, 

insomnia, and loss of appetite. The 

widespread abuse of pure street 

cocaine has led to many severe 

adverse health consequences such 

as cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic 

heart conditions, sudden cardiac 

arrest, convulsions, strokes, or 

death. Additionally, cocaine is 

highly addictive. 

Ecstasy (or MDMA) is both a 

stimulant and psychedelic—and 

it is highly addictive. Researchers 

have determined that many 

Ecstasy tablets contain additional 

drugs or drug combinations that 

can be harmful.51 Other drugs are 

often sold as Ecstasy, which can 

lead to overdose and death when 

the user takes additional doses to 

obtain the desired effect. Ecstasy 

is usually taken in pill form and 

often combined with alcohol and/ 

or other drugs. In high doses, 

MDMA can interfere with the 

body’s ability to regulate temperature, which can then result in liver, 

kidney, and cardiovascular system 

failure—or death. 

Methamphetamine (or “meth”) 

is a powerful stimulant derived 

from amphetamine. It comes in 

clear crystals or powder and easily dissolves in water or alcohol. 

Meth is sometimes made using 

inexpensive over-the-counter 

ingredients such as drain cleaner, 

battery acid, and antifreeze—definitely NOT the kinds of products 

you want your child to consume! 

Meth is swallowed, snorted, 

injected, or smoked. “Ice” (or 

crystal meth) is a large, usually 

clear crystal of high purity that 

is smoked, like crack, in a glass 

pipe. Like other stimulants, meth 

is highly addictive. 

❯	 

❯	 

Heroin 

Heroin is typically sold as a white or 

brownish powder or as the black sticky 

substance known on the streets as 

“black tar heroin” that can be injected, 

smoked, or sniffed/snorted. Because 

most street heroin is cut with other 

drugs or with substances like sugar or 

starch, heroin users do not know the 

actual strength of the drug or its true 

contents. This puts them at a high risk

of overdose or death. Heroin users 

develop a tolerance to the drug, making it particularly addictive.

When teens were asked in the national 

2011 CASA survey on substance abuse 

if they knew a friend or classmate who 

used illegal drugs like acid, Ecstasy, 

meth, cocaine, or heroin, two out of 

five (42 percent) said they did. Of 

those who knew a friend or classmate 

who used such drugs, 73 percent said 

they knew more than one who did. 

❯	 

FAMiLY OUTRAGED AT TEENS’ EASY ACCESS 


TO DRUGS52
 

Late in 2011, a young girl in Indiana nearly died, according to her parents, 


after taking a “designer drug” called “bath salts.” She was with a group of 


teens who all tried the drug that’s making its rounds across the country.
 

Her mother was shocked. “I had heard a little bit about it, didn’t know 

much about it. I assumed bath salts—like a lot of people—is what you put 

in a bath tub, what you buy in a store.” In fact, it’s a chemical compound 

made to be taken as a drug, but packages often indicate that it’s not for 

consumption. 

“You just go into the gas station, if you’re 18, and you tell them what you 


want, they’ll give it to you,” the girl explained. “And I guess if you’re not, 


you can just tell them a code word, and they’ll give it to you.”
 

The young girl said she didn’t know the dangers of bath salts but was
 

curious, so she tried it. Afterward, she said, “I had no idea where I
 

was or what I was saying or what was even going on around me.” In a
 

cell phone video, her mother shows the teen at the hospital, rocking
 

incessantly and crying.
 

14 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

Synthetic stimulants sold as “Bath Salts.” DEA photos. 

SYNTHETiC DRUGS 

MEET iRMA PEREZ 

Irma was a 14-year-old girl from 

Belmont, California, who took an 

Ecstasy pill on April 23, 2004. She 

became sick immediately—vomiting 

and writhing in pain—yet her friends 

did not seek medical help for her. 

Instead, they gave her marijuana, 

thinking it would relax her and 

possibly help her because they had 

heard it had medicinal qualities. 

Irma suffered for hours and when 

she was finally taken to the hospital 

the next morning, she was in 

terrible shape. Five days later, she 

was taken off life support and died. 

We don’t know if this was Irma’s 

first time to experiment with drugs. 

As a parent, do you know whether 

your child has experimented with 

drugs? Have you taken time to 

educate your child about the 

dangers of illicit drugs like Ecstasy? 

Have you also discussed the facts 

and myths about marijuana? 

Synthetic drugs have emerged as a 

serious problem during the past few 

years because they are marketed 

openly and sold as legal alternatives 

to illegal drugs. Synthetic drugs 

generally fall into two categories: 

Synthetic cannabinoids (synthetic 

marijuana, sometimes called K2/ 

Spice). Often marketed as 

incense, K2/Spice and other 

synthetic marijuana products are 

sold primarily in paraphernalia 

shops, smoke shops, adult book 

stores, convenience stores, and 

online. In the 2011 MTF national 

survey, researchers asked 12thgrade students about synthetic 

marijuana and were surprised to 

learn that 11 percent of the high 

school seniors surveyed had tried 

the substance. Emergency room 

physicians report that individuals 

who use these types of products 

experience dangerous side effects, 

including convulsions, anxiety 

attacks, dangerously elevated 

heart rates, increased blood 

pressure, vomiting, and disorientation. Synthetic cannabinoids 

are sprayed on plant material that 

provides a vehicle for the most 

common route of administration— 

smoking (using a pipe, a water 

pipe, or rolling the drug-spiked 

plant material in cigarette papers). 

Because the ingredients are 

unregulated and often unknown, 

synthetic marijuana can be much 

more dangerous than plant-based 

marijuana. Some of the chemicals 

in synthetic marijuana have been 

reclassified as controlled substances, which makes them illegal. 

Synthetic stimulants (sometimes 

called Ivory Wave or Vanilla Sky). 

Often marketed as bath salts or 

plant food, synthetic stimulants 

are sold as legal alternatives to 

cocaine, amphetamine, Ecstasy, 

and methcathinone. Much like 

K2/Spice, they are sold in smoke 

shops, paraphernalia shops, convenience stores, adult bookstores, 

gas stations, and online. Overdoses have resulted in emergency 

room visits, hospitalizations, and 

severe psychotic episodes, some of 

which have led to violent outbursts, self-inflicted wounds, and 

at least one suicide. Abusers of 

bath salt products have reported 

that they experienced chest pain, 

increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, agitation, panic 

attacks, hallucinations, extreme 

paranoia, and delusions. Users of 

bath salt products self-administer 

the drugs by snorting the powder, 

smoking it, or injecting themselves intravenously. Some of the 

chemicals in bath salts have been 

classified as controlled substances 

which make them illegal. 

These synthetic drugs are extremely 

dangerous. Calls to poison control 

centers have risen dramatically since 

these products hit the United States, 

as users of synthetic marijuana and 

synthetic stimulants can experience 

severe adverse effects.53 Nationwide, 

more than 4,000 calls about bath salts 

came in to poison centers during the 

first seven months of 2011—up from 

303 calls in all of 2010.54 

❯	 

❯	 

What are the effects of drugs like marijuana or cocaine? 

Why are drugs so hard to quit? Does drug treatment work? Get 

the answers to these and other important questions on the Easyto-Read Drug Facts website created by the National Institute on 

Drug Abuse (NIDA) at www.easyread.drugabuse.gov. 

15 
SECTION 2 

18	 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Tobacco Use Among 

Middle and High School Students. United States. 2000-2009. Volume 59, Number 33, August 27, 2010. 

19 Ibid. 

20 Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings. 

21 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students. 

22	 Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Smoking and Tobacco Use Fact Sheet: Smokeless Tobacco Facts. Last updated August 4, 2011. 

23 Monitoring the Future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2011. 

24 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents. 

25	 Alcohol Policy Information System. State Profiles of Underage Drinking Laws. Accessed September 21, 2012, 

www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/State_Profiles_of_Underage_Drinking_Laws.html. 

26	 National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Make a Difference – Talk To Your Child About Alcohol. NIH 

Publication No. 06-4314. Revised 2009. 

27	 National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Underage Drinking – A Growing Health Care Concern. Accessed 

September 21, 2012. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/PSA/underagepg2.htm. 

28 Ibid. 

29 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XV: Teens and Parents. 

30 Make a Difference – Talk To Your Child About Alcohol. 

31 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents. 

32	 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol and Public Health Fact Sheet: Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages. Last updated July 10, 2010. Accessed 

September 21, 2012, www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/cab.htm. 

33	 Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The DAWN Report: Emergency 

Department Visits Involving Energy Drinks. November 22, 2011. Accessed September 21, 2012, www.samhsa.gov/data/2k11/WEB_DAWN_089/WEB_ 

DAWN_089_HTML.pdf. 

34	 National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA for Teens, The Science Behind Drugs Abuse. Facts on Drugs: Inhalants. Last updated March 2012. Accessed 

September 21, 2012, http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php. 

35	 AAP Committee on Substance Abuse Pediatrics. 2011. Substance use screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for pediatricians. DOI: 10.1542/ 

peds.2011-1754. 

36	 Drug Enforcement Administration. Prescription for Disaster – How Teens Abuse Medicine. A DEA Resource for Parents. December 8, 2008. Accessed 

September 21, 2012, www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com/Files/File/DEApillbook_1_5_08.pdf. 

37 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents.
 

38 Prescription for Disaster – How Teens Abuse Medicine.
 

39 Preventing Teen Abuse of Prescription Drugs Fact Sheet. The Partnership at DrugFree.org. 2010. Accessed September 21, 2012, 


www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Preventing-Teen-Abuse-of-Prescription-Drugs-Fact-Sheet-2draft-Cephalon-sponsored.pdf. 

40 Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings.
 

41 Prescription for Disaster – How Teens Abuse Medicine. 


42 Preventing Teen Abuse of Prescription Drugs. 


43 Prescription for Disaster – How Teens Abuse Medicine.
 

44 Preventing Teen Abuse of Prescription Drugs.
 

45 Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2010: Volume I, Secondary
 

school students. Overview of Key Findings. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research. The University of Michigan. 2010. 

46	 U.S. Department of Justice, National Drug Intelligence Center. National Drug Threat Assessment 2011. August 2011. Accessed September 21, 2012, 

www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs44/44849/44849p.pdf. 

47 Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Summary of National Findings.
 

48 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents.
 

49 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XV: Teens and Parents.
 

50 National Drug Threat Assessment 2011.
 

51 Drug Enforcement Administration. Drug Fact Sheet: Ecstacy or MDMA Overview. Accessed September 21, 2012, 


www.justthinktwice.com/drugs/ecstasy_or_mdma.html. 

52	 Miller, Daniel. Family outraged at teens’ easy access to drugs. LIN Television Corporation at WishTV.com. Published October 

31, 2011. Updated November 1, 2011. Accessed September 21, 2012, www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/hamilton_county/ 

family-outraged-at-teens-easy-access-to-drugs. 

53 National Drug Threat Assessment 2011. 

54	 National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA for Teens, The Science Behind Drugs Abuse. The Sara Bellum Blog. Keep “Bath Salts” in the Tub. Posted 

September 16, 2011. Accessed September 21, 2012, http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/bath-salts-tub. 

16 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

WHY DO KIDS USE DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

SECTION 3: 

WHY DO KIDS USE DRUGS? 


Section 3: Why Do Kids Use Drugs? Which children are at risk for 

drug and/or alcohol use? 

All of them! 

RiSK FACTORS AND 

PROTECTivE FACTORS 

Children are more likely to try drugs 

or develop abuse issues because of 

risk factors—circumstances or events 

that increase a person’s chances for 

drug abuse. The more risk factors 

present, the more likely a child may 

be to develop problems from drug 

use. Those with a higher risk include 

children who are 

Failing in school 

Victims of bullying (including 

cyberbullying) 

Experiencing low self-esteem 

Living with an addicted family 

member 

Residing in a community with a 

high tolerance for smoking, drinking, or drug use among youths 

Attending a school without strict 

rules that address tobacco, alcohol, 

or drugs and consistent enforcement for breaking those rules 

❯	 ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 

Some kids have a lower risk of 

drug use and abuse because of 

protective factors. A protective factor 

is a preventative measure, of sorts— 

something that makes a child less 

likely to use drugs. 

Protective factors include 

Experiencing a strong bond with a 

parent or caregiver 

Having high self-esteem 

Having parents who talk regularly 

with their child about drugs 

Being active in faith-based organizations, or school, athletic, or 

community activities 

Spending time around positive 

role models who don’t use tobacco, drugs, or alcohol 

Being involved in healthy activities 

that involve managed risk, such as 

rock climbing, karate, or camping 

Living in a community that offers 

youths activities where drugs and 

alcohol are prohibited 

Attending a school with an effective drug education program and 

a no-tolerance policy for alcohol 

and drugs 

Risk and protective factors are present 

in homes, schools, and communities. 

As a parent, it is impossible to 

control all risk and protective factors. 

However, you can control the risk 

and protective factors in your home 

and work to change others in your 

child’s environment. Ideally, it’s not 

enough to simply “balance” risk and 

protective factors. You want the scales 

weighted heavily in your favor! To 

increase your odds of that, (1) remove ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 

17 
U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

SECTION 3

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

as many risk factors as you possibly 

can, and (2) add as many protective 

factors as you can. 

RiSK FACTORS 

Some risk factors we can control; 

others we can’t. But we first 

need to know what we are up 

against—what influences and 

temptations our children face and 

what we can do to shift the odds 

in favor of a drug-free lifestyle. 

Academics 

How well children are doing in school 

might be an indicator of whether or 

not they will use drugs.55 Students 

with higher grades are significantly 

less likely to have engaged in 

behaviors such as 

Alcohol use 

Binge drinking 

Trying alcohol for the first time 

before age 13 

Marijuana use 

Taking prescription drugs to 

get high 

Using Ecstasy 

A national CDC survey found that 

only 32 percent of ninth- through 12thgrade students with mostly A’s used 

alcohol, while 62 percent of students 

with mostly D’s or F’s used alcohol.56 

Kids who don’t feel they are “making 

the grade” in school likely suffer 

from low self-esteem, which further 

increases their vulnerability to try 

drugs. It makes sense, then, to be sure 

your child has every opportunity to 

learn and to succeed academically. 

WHY KiDS USE 

Many behaviors, such as the desire 

to do something new or risky, are a 

normal part of development. Kids 

may also use drugs or alcohol to 

relieve boredom 

feel good 

forget their troubles and relax 

satisfy their curiosity 

ease their pain 

feel grown up 

show their independence 

belong to a specific group 

Parents (and caregivers) are the 

most important role models in 

children’s lives. Young people have 

24/7 access to information about 

drugs and, in some cases, to drugs 

themselves. What we teach them 

through our words and through our 

actions can change their future. 

Your Own Alcohol, Tobacco, 

and Drug Use 

y

y

y

y

y

y

y

y

Myth #5 (on page 4 of this 

publication) explained that some 

parents believe it’s okay for them 

to use even though they tell their 

children not to. This can be a 

very touchy subject if you like to 

occasionally have wine with dinner 

or a cold beer on the weekend. With 

alcohol, you must drink responsibly, 

limiting the amount you consume. 

A 2012 report shows that 7.5 million 

children under age 18 (10.5 percent 

of this population) lived with a 

parent who experienced an alcohol 

use disorder in the previous year.57 

Children of parents with untreated 

alcohol disorders are at far greater 

risk for developing alcohol and other 

problems later in their lives, so don’t 

be afraid to seek help if you need it. 

And what if you smoke? While it is 

legal for adults to smoke cigarettes, it 

isn’t a habit you want to pass along to 

your children. If your child wants to 

know why you smoke, explain why 

you started, and explain that you 

have become addicted and how it has 

negatively affected your life. Ask your 

child to support your efforts to quit. 

Then do it. 

At some point, your child is likely to 

ask, “Have you ever used drugs?” 

Do not be uncomfortable with the

question. Instead, be honest and 

use the opportunity to talk with 

your child about the importance of 

avoiding drug use. 

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

If your answer is NO, explain to your 

child how you were able to avoid 

temptation and peer pressure, the 

reasons you felt it was important, and 

why you are happy that you chose to 

do so. Talk about the opportunities 

you’ve had (relationships, college, 

jobs, etc.) because you resisted the 

temptation. Did it enable you to save 

money for college or to buy a home? 

Did it allow you to enter the military? 

Point out the positive things in your 

life that happened because you chose 

not to use drugs. 

If your answer is YES, expand on that 

with why you don’t want your child 

to do the same thing. Don’t forget to 

include: it is illegal! You don’t need to 

18 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

WHY DO KIDS USE DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

confess every single event from your 

past. Skip the details and explain 

honestly what attracted you to drugs, 

what you’ve since learned about the 

dangers of drugs, and why you want 

your child to avoid making the same 

mistake. Was your friend killed in an 

and leaving a party? Wer

your first job at a young age because 

you couldn’t pass a drug test? You 

might say things like 

“I tried smoking pot to fit in. Now 

we know more about the dangers of drugs than we did then. 

If I could do things over, I never 

would have tried it. I hope you 

don’t either.” 

“I’m not proud of my mistakes, 

and it’s hard for me to admit that 

I did try drugs. I’m glad you are 

smart enough not to make the 

same mistakes I made.” 

“I used drugs because I was 

bored, but it seemed like I wanted 

to do them more and more. I was 

terrified of getting addicted to 

them, so I got into a drug abuse 

treatment program that helped me 

quit, but it was very hard. I’ve also 

relapsed a few times ... I hope you 

aren’t ever in that situation.” 

“I started drinking and doing 

drugs when I was young, and I 

missed a big part of growing up. 

I love you too much to watch you 

set yourself on the same path.” 

“It was illegal then just like it is 

now, and there are serious consequences for getting caught. I would 

hate for you to ruin your future by 

doing something illegal.” 

If you are currently smoking 

marijuana or using other illegal drugs, 

your child will likely follow in your 

footsteps. As a parent, your own use 

affects your child’s sense of acceptable 

behavior. Remember, you are an 

important role model! 

It’s also important for older siblings 

to set a good example. According to 

a 2011 report by CASA,58 teens who 

believed their siblings have tried an 

illegal drug were 

More than five-and-a-half times as 

likely to have used tobacco 

Almost three times as likely to 

have used alcohol 

Six-and-a-half times as likely to 

have used marijuana 

Genetics 

If substance abuse is a persistent 

generational problem in your family, explain to your children that they 

may have inherited genes that put 

them at a higher risk of becoming 

addicted to alcohol or drugs. Using 

the example of a family member— 

or yourself—to illustrate why your 

children should be careful about trying alcohol or drugs makes it easier 

for them to understand because it 

involves someone they know, and they 

have likely witnessed troublesome 

issues firsthand. And if the abuser 

still lives in the home, get help from 

your family physician, professional 

counselors, and/or any of the support groups shown in the Resources 

section at the back of this publication. 

Online Environmental Risks 

In past generations, drugs were often 

purchased from a “dealer on the 

corner.” But today, youths can use the 

Internet to buy drugs, learn how to use 

and mix them to get high and can see 

what to expect from the experience. 

They can even view photos and videos 

of other people actually using drugs. 

All of that is possible online through 

social networking. 

“Social networking” simply means 

interacting with others on the 

Internet—either on a computer or 

with a “smartphone” (a smartphone 

is a cell phone that can connect to 

the Internet). It most often occurs on 

websites that host blogs, chat rooms, 

or forums, but also on websites where 

people post photos and videos. Some 

of the best-known social networking 

sites today are Facebook, Twitter, 

MySpace, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

19 

automobile accident after getting high 

e you denied 

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

Monitor what your children do 

online by becoming acquainted 

with the websites they visit. 
U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

SECTION 3

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Chances are good that your child 

already has an account on at least 

one of those social networking sites. 

Should you be concerned? Yes! The 

2011 CASA survey revealed that, 

compared to teens who, in a typical 

day, do not spend time on a social 

networking site, those who do are 

Five times as likely to use tobacco 

Three times as likely to use alcohol 

Twice as likely to use marijuana 

Also alarming is that half of the teens 

who spend time on social networking 

sites have seen pictures of kids drunk, 

passed out, or using drugs on these 

sites.59 That is a lot of visual temptation 

at a young age! 

Unfortunately, most parents are not 

concerned about the risks of social 

networking. In fact, only about 

one-third of parents whose teen has 

a social networking page actually 

monitor it.60 Clearly this means that 

most parents do not. 

The Internet is a tremendous resource 

that has changed the world, and it can 

provide positive ways for teens to learn 

about the dangers of drug abuse. How 

can you ensure that your children use 

online privileges wisely and avoid 

inappropriate drug-related material? 

1. Monitor what your children do 

online by becoming acquainted 

with the websites they visit. 

2. Know what your children are 

saying on their smartphones 

and in chat rooms and instant 

messages. Kids are speaking 

in an abbreviated language 

that evolves, so stay aware of 

new lingo. At the time of this 

publication, for example 

DOC means Drug of Choice. 

PAL means Parents 

Are Listening. 

P911 means Parent Alert. 

The number 420 is 

code for marijuana. 

KPC means Keeping 

Parents Clueless. 

3. Watch credit card and bank 

statements for online purchases 

that may indicate your child is 

buying drugs on the Internet. 

Another sad trend to come from social 

networking sites is cyberbullying, 

which is a widespread problem that 

causes serious and lasting harm. 

Cyberbullying includes sending 

hurtful, rude, or mean text messages; 

spreading rumors or lies about others 

by e-mail or on social networking 

sites; and creating websites, videos, or 

social media profiles that embarrass, 

humiliate, or make fun of others. 

More than 4.5 million kids have been 

cyberbullied, and the 2011 CASA 

survey on substance abuse reveals 

that cyberbullied teens are more than 

twice as likely to smoke, drink, and use 

marijuana. Even more alarming is that 

some kids ultimately kill themselves 

because they are embarrassed about 

the chronic bullying and feel helpless 

to stop it. Caution your children not 

to post secrets, photos, or anything 

that might be embarrassing online 

that can later be used against them, 

and encourage your children to report 

cyberbullying—whether it is happening 

to them or to someone they know. 

Bottom line: social networking won’t 

“make” your children use drugs. But 

spending too much time on social 

networking sites may increase the 

likelihood that they will. 

Other Environmental 

Influences 

While not interactive like social media, 

the power of television on young 

people is worth mentioning. 

The same CASA survey that asked 

teens about social networking also 

asked about whether, in a typical week, 

they watched reality shows like Jersey 

Shore, Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, or any 

teen dramas like Skins or Gossip Girl. A 

third of all teens (46 percent of girls and 

19 percent of boys) watch “suggestive 

teen programming,” and the survey 

says those that do are likelier to use 

tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. 

Television shows and characters 

change from year to year. The ones 

mentioned here were popular at the 

time this publication was written— 

so stay involved by monitoring the 

programs your children watch, even 

if that simply means sitting and 

watching the show(s) with them. 

You may not like the characters 

or the program, but the plot and 

story lines can provide great ways 

to start conversations with your 

kids about what is going on in their 

lives. At the very least, you will 

20 

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

WHY DO KIDS USE DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

One of the best 

protective factors you 

can provide is a strong 

parent-child bond. 

know what messages your child is 

seeing and hearing about sex, drugs, 

relationships, and other social issues. 

While parents can control what 

happens within their home, it is 

impossible to control every aspect of 

your child’s environment when he 

or she walks out the front door. Risk 

factors that occur at school (such as 

lack of a drug education and enforcement program) or in the community 

(such as a high tolerance for youths 

who smoke) make your already 

challenging job even more difficult. 

Section 4 (How Do I Teach My Child 

About Drugs?) will present ideas for 

how you can become more involved 

in school and community efforts to 

reduce risk factors. 

PROTECTivE FACTORS 

A number of protective factors are 

quite effective in helping children 

grow up drug-free. One of the best 

protective factors you can provide is a 

strong parent-child bond. Why? First, 

it tells your children that you are there 

24/7 for advice. It also tells them they 

are valuable members of the family 

and that you love them, and it boosts 

their self-esteem so they feel good 

about who they are without the need 

for drugs or alcohol. Let’s look at some 

of the ways to strengthen the parentchild bond. 

Family Time 

Make no mistake: quality family time 

is a powerful protective factor. With 

school activities, work, and social 

commitments, it’s not always easy to 

get everyone in the family together at 

the same time. But family time goes 

beyond just getting together for meals, 

as mentioned in Myth #3. 

Juggle your schedule so that you 

can spend regular one-on-one time 

with each child in your family— 

even if it’s only for short periods. 

This gives you and your children 

time to talk about whatever is 

going on in their lives without anyone else hearing or interrupting. 

For some, that may mean taking 

a Saturday morning bike ride. For 

others, it may mean chatting while 

you drive to or from a school activity. It may even mean talking while 

you’re folding a load of laundry 

on Sunday afternoon. Whatever 

works for you, make the moments 

count. Ask your teens what is going on in their lives, and then listen 

to the answer. These formal or 

informal rituals help establish the 

open communication that is essential to raising drug-free children. 

Family meetings help create 

bonds, too. Once a week, get 

everyone together to talk about 

family issues—to celebrate what’s 

working and resolve what isn’t 

working. Set some simple ground 

rules for your meetings, such as 

(1) everyone gets a chance to talk, 

(2) no interrupting, and (3) only 

positive feedback is allowed. You 

can combine this meeting with one 

of your family meals—say, every 

Sunday night. 

Open Communication 

Myth #3 also mentioned the 

importance of being there for your 

child, especially during times of 

transition (e.g., changing schools, 

moving, or divorce) because the 

risk of drug abuse increases greatly 61 during these transitional times. As 

previously mentioned, family dinners 

and one-on-one time are also excellent 

ways to let your children know you 

will be there for them. 

Another time when it’s critical for 

you to be there is—well, any time! 

Assure your children that you are 

available any time they need to leave 

a place where alcohol or drugs are 

being used. Even if your children 

don’t use drugs or alcohol, you don’t 

want them riding in a vehicle with 

someone who does. When you can’t 

provide transportation at a moment’s 

notice, such as during your night shift, 

nominate a responsible adult who can. 

Other Role Models 

Parenting can feel overwhelming, 

especially if you are employed outside 

the home or are a single parent. If 

possible, try to find other family 

members or caregivers who can serve 

as positive role models in your child’s 

life to ease some of your burden. 

Grandparents, for example, can bring 

a calmer, more seasoned approach to 

21 

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U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

SECTION 3

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

interactions with their grandchildren. 

They (and other extended family 

members) can use their positions of 

trust to reinforce the same lessons in 

self-respect and healthy living that 

you are trying to portray to your 

children. Even a neighbor or faithbased community member can serve 

as a positive role model if one isn’t 

available in the family. This person can 

often ask more direct questions than 

parents can (What kinds of drugs do kids 

take nowadays? What types of alcohol have 

you been offered at parties?), and they 

might get more honest answers. 

If grandparents or older family 

members who can serve as positive 

role models don’t live nearby, use 

technology such as email or real-time 

video chats to bridge the miles. 

Rules and Consequences 

Myth #4 mentioned that youths 

aged 12 to 17 who believed their 

parents would strongly disapprove 

of their using substances were less 

likely to use that substance. That’s 

why one critical protective factor is 

being consistent in your “NO drugs, 

NO alcohol” message. Repeat it 

frequently so there is no doubt about 

how you feel. Don’t assume that your 

children know where you stand— 

they want you to set boundaries that 

help them make life choices. 

Think of it this way: your child is the 

captain of a ship, and the seas (of life) 

are rough. The ship’s instruments 

aren’t wired perfectly, so your 

child’s judgment may be clouded by 

inaccurate information. As much as 

your child wants to steer the ship, your 

child needs guidance. YOU can serve 

as a lighthouse—a beacon, of sorts—to 

help guide your child safely into the 

harbor (of adulthood). 

That example may seem simplistic, 

but it demonstrates that growing up 

drug free can be hard. 

22 

❯

❯

❯

❯

School connectedness is an 

important protective factor. 

Kids receive conflicting messages 

from television, peers, social media, etc., and may not know which 

way to turn. They need you to 

help them, so state your position 

clearly. Tell your children that you 

forbid them to use alcohol and 

drugs because (1) you love them, 

(2) those substances are harmful for their health, and (3) those 

substances are illegal. 

Let them know how disappointed 

you’d be if you found out they 

were using. Rules also give your 

child a “way out” when tempted. 

If someone offers your child a cigarette, for example, your child can 

say, “If my mom caught me smoking, I’d be grounded and have to 

miss the homecoming game!” This 

takes the pressure off your child 

and shifts the blame to you, which 

your child may be more comfortable doing among peers. 

Establish appropriate consequences for breaking rules and consistently enforce them. Be prepared: 

your child may test your rules just 

to see if you’ll follow through with 

consequences. By all means, do 

so! This makes children feel loved 

and secure. 

Finally, praise your child often 

for respecting the rules and doing 

what’s right. It only takes a minute 

a day to hug your child and say, 

“Thanks for being a good kid.” 

This positive reinforcement boosts 

your child’s self-esteem and lessens the likelihood that your child 

needs drugs to feel good. 

Positive Activities 

One reason kids may experiment with 

drugs is simply that they are bored. 

While you don’t want to enroll children 

in every single activity, you should 

encourage them to find something 

they are interested in (e.g., sports, 

music, volunteer work, and faith-based 

activities) and to participate in it. 

Being active accomplishes several 

things. First, it fills the empty 

hours after school, on weekends, or 

during the summer when children 

aren’t otherwise occupied. This 

is especially true if you work and 

can’t be home to monitor what your 

children are doing during free time. 

It also keeps them from spending 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

WHY DO KIDS USE DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

hour upon hour watching television 

or surfing the Internet. 

Extracurricular activities help meet 

other needs, too. For example, 

involvement in activities such as rock 

climbing, karate, or camping fill the 

natural desire to engage in something 

risky, which may reduce their desire 

to use drugs. Participating in sports 

activities promotes a sense of team 

building, which shows your child that 

everyone matters. After all, you can’t 

play football with only two people! 

Physical activities also encourage your 

child to stay healthy and drug-free, as 

some schools now perform drug tests 

on athletes. 

Less athletic children may enjoy 

participating in art classes, attending 

Girls Scouts or Boy Scouts, 

performing volunteer work for a 

faith-based organization, or helping 

tutor younger children. 

These types of positive activities 

have another benefit, too. They may 

help children discover a talent for 

something they didn’t realize they had 

or a desire to pursue an occupation 

they never would have otherwise. 

School and Community 

Schools with a drug and alcohol 

education program and a “no 

tolerance” policy for substances 

that aligns with yours provide yet 

another protective factor for your 

children because they are hearing the 

same message at school as at home. 

Similarly, an organized anti-drug 

effort in the community—or at least 

a low tolerance for drug and alcohol 

abuse—will reinforce the messages 

you are trying to convey to your 

child. Again, you can’t control every 

situation in your child’s environment, 

but Section 4 will present ideas for 

how you can become more involved 

in school and community efforts to 

increase protective factors. 

10 WAYS TO iNCREASE YOUR CHiLD’S 


CONNECTiON TO SCHOOL
 

1.	 Encourage your child to talk openly with you, teachers, counselors, and 

other school staff about any ideas, needs, and worries. 

2.	 Find out what the school expects your child to learn and the appropriate 

behavior for school by talking to teachers and staff, attending school 

meetings, and reading information the school sends home. Support these 

expectations at home. 

3.	 Help your child with homework, and teach your child how to use time 

well. Make sure the tools—books, supplies, a quiet place to work—needed 

to do homework are available. 

4.	 Read school newsletters, attend parent-teacher-student conferences, and 

check out the school’s website to learn what is going on at the school. 

Encourage your child to participate in school activities. 

5.	 Meet regularly with your child’s teachers to discuss grades, behavior, and 

accomplishments. 

6.	 As time allows, help in your child’s classroom, attend afterschool 

events, or participate in a school committee, such as a health team or 

parent organization. 

7.	 Offer to share important aspects of your culture with your child’s class. 

8.	 If your first language is not English, ask for materials that are translated 

into the language you speak at home, and ask for interpreters to help you 

at school events. 

9.	 Talk with teachers and school staff to suggest simple changes that can make 

the school a more pleasant and welcoming place. For example, the school 

might decorate the eating area with student-made posters, allow families to 

use the school gym or other facilities during out-of-school times, or create a 

place in the school or on school grounds for kids and families to socialize. 

10.	 Ask whether your school or school district provides—or could offer— 

programs or classes to help you become more involved in your child’s 

academic and school life. For example, the school or school district might 

offer training to help you talk with your child and to help manage his or 

her behavior; educational programs for parents by telephone or online; 

and/or General Education Development (GED), English as a second 

language, or other classes to help you work better with your child and 

with the adults at school. 

Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

According to the CDC, school connectedness—the belief held by students that 

adults and peers in the school care about 

their learning as well as about them as 

individuals—is an important protective factor.62 (See the sidebar above.) 

Research has shown that young people 

who feel connected to their schools 

are less likely to engage in many risky 

behaviors such as early sexual initiation; 

alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; 

and violence and gang involvement. 

Students who feel connected to 

their schools are also more likely to 

have better academic achievement, 

including higher grades and test 

scores, have better school attendance, 

and stay in school longer. 

23 
SECTION 3 55	 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol and Other Drug Use and Academic Achievement. 

2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. June 4, 2010. Accessed September 21, 2012, 

www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/alcohol_other_drug.pdf. 

56 Ibid. 

57	 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Report shows 7.5 million children live 

with a parent with an alcohol use disorder. News release dated February 16, 2012. 

www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1202151415.aspx. 

58 The Importance of Family Dinners VII. 

59 National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents. 

60 Ibid. 

61	 National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction. NIH Pub 

No. 10-5605. Printed April 2007. Revised February 2008, August 2010. 

62	 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective 

Factors Among Youth. 2009. Accessed September 21, 2012, 

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/adolescenthealth/pdf/connectedness.pdf. 

24 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

HOW DO I TEACH MY CHILD ABOUT DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

WHY DO KIDS USE DRUGS?

SECTION 4: 

HOW DO I TEACH MY CHILD 

ABOUT DRUGS? 

Section 4: How Do i Teach My Child About Drugs? We’ve already mentioned the 

importance of establishing 

open communication 

with your child—but many parents 

find it difficult to actually talk openly 

about drugs. What if your child 

asks a question you don’t know the 

answer to? If your children don’t seem 

interested in drugs, should you talk to 

them anyway? 

This section will suggest ways to 

talk with your child at different ages 

and proposes ideas for initiating 

conversations. It also explains the 

importance of being an active parent, 

which creates a bond that serves as a 

strong protective factor for your child. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF 

You aren’t expected to know 

everything about parenting or drugs. 

And even if you did, your children— 

at certain rebellious stages—may not 

seem to be listening to you. They are, 

though, so don’t let up! To effectively 

communicate with them about 

substance use, it’s important that you 

understand what they face so you 

can provide advice and guidance. 

Reading this publication is a good first 

step in educating yourself about the 

types of drugs young people use, how 

they acquire them, and their negative 

health consequences. 

No matter where you live, your 

children will eventually be exposed 

to tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs, 

so you need to be familiar with the 

substances they may encounter. The 

names of drugs and how they’re 

used change constantly, so take time 

to review the more common drugs, 

paraphernalia, and street names in 

the Drug Identification Chart at the 

back of this publication. 

EDUCATE YOUR CHiLD 

Another indisputable fact is that kids 

will learn about drugs. They will 

learn from media (television, music, 

movies, social networking), and they 

will learn from friends. But if you 

intervene, they will also learn from 

YOU. They will learn how you feel 

about drugs and how you expect them 

to act when tempted to use drugs. 

That’s why it is crucial to (a) begin 

talking with your children about 

drugs at a young age, and (b) talk 

with them at a level they understand. 

Talking to children about drugs isn’t 

a one-time event. Instead, strive for 

a number of talks about substance 

use from preschool throughout the 

teenage years. Think of each talk as one 

“chunk” of an ongoing conversation. 

A big part of talking is listening. Ask 

your kids what they know about 

marijuana. Ask if they think alcohol 

is dangerous. Ask what they think 

can happen if someone takes heroin. 

These attitudes are important because 

national drug prevention surveys have 

shown that the level of drug use goes 

25 
U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

SECTION 4

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Remember: If children perceive a substance as 

dangerous, they may be less likely to use it. If they see 

it as not that risky, they may be more likely to use it. 

MEET MARK BAUER 

Phil Bauer writes: Since the death of 

my son Mark in 2004, I have asked 

myself many questions. What if I 

had talked to Mark more about the 

dangers of drugs? Or spent more 

time learning about what kids were 

doing at the time? If I hadn’t missed 

the signs of addiction, would he still 

be alive? 

A few times during Mark’s teen 

years, we found marijuana in his 

room. We also knew he occasionally 

drank beer. I talked with him and 

assigned some form of punishment. 

I didn’t see this as a life threatening 

behavior and didn’t believe Mark 

had an addiction problem. 

On May 27, Mark went to school, 

played basketball, and then 

went to work. He was looking 

forward to a camping trip and 

to his graduation the following 

week. But the next day, Mark 

never woke up. He died from 

an overdose of prescription 

drugs, including oxycodone, 

morphine, acetaminophen, and 

amphetamines. I never knew Mark 

was using prescription drugs, and 

I don’t recall ever talking with him 

about the dangers. 

Unfortunately, his life here on 

earth is over, but I hope his 

story will serve as a “second 

chance” for others. 

What would you have done 

differently—if anything? If you 

suspect your child is using, talk to 

your family doctor or pediatrician 

to see about having your child 

assessed for substance abuse. 

up as the perceived risk of using the 63 drug goes down. In other words, 

if young people think a particular 

drug is harmful, they are less likely 

to use that substance; if they think a 

particular drug isn’t as harmful, they 

may be more likely to use it. 

In the 2010 MTF survey, for example, 

eighth-grade students were asked How 

much do you think people risk harming 

themselves if they smoke one or more packs 

of cigarettes per day? Only 61 percent 

thought it was a “great risk.” This is 

especially alarming because that is 

about the age when most teens are 

first exposed to cigarettes—and many 

of them apparently don’t perceive 

smoking as risky. The same survey 

asked the eighth-graders How much do 

you think people risk harming themselves if 

they try inhalants once or twice? Only 36 

percent answered that it was a “great 

risk.” Again, students are most likely to 

use inhalants at about this age. 

Remember: If children perceive a 

substance as dangerous, they may 

be less likely to use it. If they see it as 

not that risky, they may be more likely 

to use it. It’s up to YOU, as a parent 

and role model, to make sure your 

children know that using tobacco, 

drugs, and alcohol has serious health 

and social effects, and it’s illegal for 

children to use them. It’s up to YOU 

to explain how USING drugs can 

lead to ABUSE, which can lead to 

ADDICTION. 

BE AN iNvOLvED PARENT 

An excellent way to let your children 

know how strongly you feel about 

not using drugs is to show them by 

example—by being an active parent 

in all aspects of their lives and by not 

using drugs or alcohol. 

Be Involved at Home 

As discussed in the section on social 

networking, children are exposed to 

all kinds of information online. Be 

involved in their lives at home by 

Monitoring the computers in your 

home—and the cell phones, too, if 

your children use a smartphone to 

access the Internet. 

Knowing what types of websites 

they visit and who they communicate with online, as well as what 

they are watching on television and 

what music they are listening to. 

Establishing some structure for 

your children so that there isn’t too 

much free time. If you work and 

your children will be home alone 

after school, assign age-appropriate 

household chores to accomplish 

and set rules about watching television or using the computer. 

Be Involved in Your Child’s 

Social Life 

Regardless of your children’s ages, 

you need to be involved in their 

social lives. That doesn’t mean 

tagging along every time they leave 

the house, but you need to know 

where they are going, what they’ll be 

doing, and what friends will be there. 

When your children leave home to go 

hang out with friends, for example, 

do you know who those friends 

are? When your child asks to attend 

a sleepover, do you meet and talk 

with the host parents to be sure the 

group will be chaperoned? Do your 

teens know the laws regarding teen 

driving? Did you set a time for them 

to return home? Do you know how 

many kids will be in the car? How old 

are they? Who are they? 

And don’t forget—when your child’s 

friends come to your home, you are 

responsible for their well-being. Most 

states have stiff penalties for serving 

alcohol to minors or furnishing them 

26 

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WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

HOW DO I TEACH MY CHILD ABOUT DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

drugs. It’s not enough to just lock up 

your wine; you also need to be sure 

nobody in attendance brings alcohol 

or drugs with them to your home. 

Even if you don’t believe your own 

child is using drugs or alcohol, you 

should be concerned if you suspect that 

your teen’s friends are using. In the 

national 2011 CASA study on substance 

abuse, two in five teens reported knowing at least one friend or classmate who 

used illegal drugs, like acid, Ecstasy, or 

methamphetamine; and approximately 

one in four teens knew at least one 

friend or classmate who used prescription drugs to get high. 

Get to know the parents of your 

child’s friends, too. They can be terrific 

allies because they also want to raise a 

drug-free child. Explain to the parents 

that your family has a strict NO use 

policy for tobacco, alcohol, and other 

drugs in your home. Exchange contact 

information and ask them to forbid 

your child’s use of alcohol, tobacco, 

and other drugs in their home. 

Promise to do the same for them. 

If your child is attending a party, 

call the parents of the other child 

to be sure there actually is a party 

taking place and ask who will be 

chaperoning. Explain your NO use 

policy to the parents and ask that 

no alcoholic beverages or illegal 

substances be present. Also, don’t 

be afraid to go check out the party 

yourself. If possible, meet with other 

parents who have kids the same age 

as yours—even if it’s just sharing a 

cup of coffee now and then or chatting 

during a school sporting event. It 

helps to find out what other parents 

are doing or to simply share opinions. 

My child wants to go to a party where the 

chaperone will be a 20-year-old cousin. 

Are you allowing your child to go? 

Be Involved at School 

Your chances of raising a drug-free 

child are better if school regulations 

and policies reflect the same attitude 

that you express at home—tobacco, 

alcohol, and drug use is not 

acceptable—and if those rules are 

enforced with consistent consequences. 

27 

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

❯

Get to know the parents of 

your child’s friends, too. 

They can be terrific allies. 

Learn the policies regarding alcohol and drug use at your child’s 

school. For example, does the 

school have a student handbook 

that clearly states its drug and alcohol policy? Does it explain what 

constitutes an offense and the consequences for breaking the rules? 

Does it include an agreement for 

students and parents to sign about 

adhering to the policy? Is there 

fair and consistent punishment so 

that all students breaking the same 

rule face the same consequences? 

If there’s no policy in place, schedule a meeting with the principal, 

arrange to meet with school board 

members, and/or attend PTA 

meetings to help develop a policy. 

Ask how drug education is provided in your child’s school. Does 

the school use an evidence-based 

drug abuse curriculum or program? Do faculty members receive 

regular training? Is drug education 

provided at age-appropriate levels 

throughout the year or only once 

during a special “drug-free” week? 

Does the drug education program 

offer educational material for parents, too? 

What procedures are in place to 

ensure that school activities (e.g., 

sports events, prom, graduation) 

are alcohol and drug free? 

Review all drug education materials your child brings home. Do 

they contain a clear message that 

alcohol, tobacco, and other drug 

use is harmful? Does your child 

have any questions or need clarification on anything in the material? 

Does the school have outside 

resources to help educate students 

in school? If not, work through 

the school to contact agencies 

and organizations like the Drug 

Enforcement Administration 

(www.justice.gov/dea); the 

National Guard 

(http://ngbcounterdrug.ng.mil); 
U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

SECTION 4

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

DEvELOPiNG A COMMUNiTY PREvENTiON PLAN 

The first step in planning a drug abuse prevention program is to assess the 

type of drug problem within the community and determine the level of risk 

factors affecting the problem. The results of this assessment can be used to 

raise awareness of the nature and seriousness of the community’s problem and 

guide selection of the best prevention programs to address the problem. 

Next, assessing the community’s readiness for prevention can help determine 

additional steps needed to educate the community before launching the 

prevention effort. Then, a review of current progr

additional resources. 

ams is needed to determine 

existing resources and gaps in addressing community needs and to identify 

Finally, planning can benefit from the expertise of community organizations 

that provide youth services. Convening a meeting with leaders of these service 

organizations can set the stage for capturing ideas and resources to help 

implement and sustain research-based programs. 

Prevention research suggests that a well-constructed community plan 

Identifies the specific drug and other child and adolescent problems in a 

community; 

Builds on existing resources (e.g., current drug abuse prevention 

programs); 

Develops short-term goals related to selecting and carrying out researchbased prevention programs and strategies; 

Projects long-term goals so that plans and resources are available for the 

future; and 

Includes ongoing assessments of the prevention program. 

Courtesy of NIDA64

y

y

y

y

y

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) (www.dare.com); 

the Elks organization (www.elks. 

org); the Mothers Against Drunk 

Driving (MADD) (www.madd.org) 

and Students Against Destructive 

Decisions (SADD) (www.sadd. 

org) chapters nearest you; or the 

other resources listed in the back of 

this publication. 

Determine whether the school has 

a school nurse, a school resource 

officer, or a school counselor on 

staff or on call. 

Does the school have a referral system to a substance abuse treatment 

agency for students who need help? 

Find out how the school assesses 

its alcohol and drug problem and 

whether it responds to the assessment results by adjusting its substance abuse education program. 

Finally, being involved in these 

efforts at your child’s school serves 

another purpose. It lets you observe 

firsthand what is happening and lets 

you participate in shaping the drug 

education efforts at that school. And 

according to a recent CDC report, 

parent engagement also makes it more 

likely that adolescents will choose 

healthier behaviors, such as avoiding 

tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use.65 

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

Be Involved in the 

Community 

Active parenting also includes 

knowing what is going on in your 

own neighborhood. If you haven’t 

already done so, get to know your 

neighbors! Ask them to report 

suspicious or unusual afterschool 

activity when you can’t be home with 

your child. If you are a stay-at-home 

parent, watch for signs that your 

child (or other children) may be doing 

things they shouldn’t. 

On a larger scale, it’s important to 

know what community leaders are 

doing to help prevent drug abuse. 

And if it’s not enough, then get 

involved with that, too. For example, 

does your community support 

student-run clubs where teens can 

hang out, listen to music, and play 

sports? If not, meet with officials 

and/or organizations who can help 

you establish such places. Does the 

community have underage ordinances 

that prohibit minors from purchasing 

or using tobacco and alcohol? If so, 

are they enforced? For example, in 

stores where signs say the clerks ask 

for identification to ensure patrons 

are of legal age to purchase beer or 

cigarettes, do the clerks actually ask 

for an ID? 

You can also check to see if an 

anti-drug coalition exists in your 

community. To find out, look online 

using a search engine such as 

Google or go to the website for the 

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of 

America (CADCA) at www.cadca. 

org. There you’ll find a link to email 

them, and a CADCA representative 

will contact you with details about 

existing community coalitions in your 

area or walk you through the process 

of starting a coalition and explain the 

various resources available through 

CADCA to help your coalition 

succeed. Since 1992, CADCA has 

offered training to local and state 

drug abuse prevention coalitions— 

teaching them how to assess their 

local substance abuse problems and 

develop a comprehensive plan to 

address them. Each community’s drug 

and alcohol problems are different, 

28 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

HOW DO I TEACH MY CHILD ABOUT DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

of course, so CADCA brings together 

concerned citizens, schools, parents, 

businesses, healthcare providers, 

law enforcement, and faith-based 

institutions to share ideas, problems, 

and solutions that are unique to a 

particular community. 

BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL 

As previously mentioned, children 

learn what they see. This means 

that many of their attitudes about 

substance abuse will be shaped by 

your attitudes and your actions. If 

you occasionally drink alcohol, do 

so in moderation, and never imply 

that alcohol is a good way to handle 

problems. Instead, show your child 

how to use healthy ways to cope with 

stress, such as exercising, listening to 

music, or talking your issues over with 

a friend. 

COMMUNiCATE NO 

TOLERANCE FOR 

SUBSTANCE USE 

As a parent, you can have more 

influence over your child’s behavior 

than his friends do, and more 

influence than music, TV, social 

networking sites, and celebrities. 

As mentioned previously, make it 

perfectly clear that you do not want 

your child to use tobacco, alcohol, 

or drugs. Period. Stress that it is 

unhealthy and it is illegal. 

TALK WiTH YOUR 

CHiLDREN ABOUT DRUGS 

Parents of very young children must 

quickly learn to answer a lot of 

questions—no matter how ridiculous 

they seem. Taking time to do so 

lets kids know that it’s okay to ask 

questions and that you can be trusted 

to provide answers. Children don’t 

forget this! As they grow, your own 

willingness to ask questions and to 

be a good listener is also important. 

It tells children you care about what 

fashion, music, or movies they are 

interested in, and it provides you 

insight into their world. 

These casual conversations don’t have 

to be long and drawn out, but they 

are an excellent time to introduce the 

subject of drugs and alcohol. Don’t 

worry that you are giving your child 

ideas. Kids are exposed to alcohol and 

drugs through the media every day. 

Even elementary school children likely 

know someone who uses prescription 

drugs for allergies or asthma. If not, 

they probably remember having a cold 

and being given medicine to make 

them feel better. 

NOTE: The following text suggests 

ways to talk with children at various 

ages. Although divided into preschool, 

elementary, middle school, and high 

school, the exact age range of students 

in these grade levels may be different in 

your area. Also, children don’t necessarily 

develop at the same pace, and drug 

issues vary among communities. Use the 

suggestions most suitable to your child’s 

maturity level and environment. 

Talking With Preschoolers 

It may seem premature to talk about 

drugs with preschoolers, but the 

attitudes they form now are the 

foundation for the decisions they will 

make when they’re older. Talk often 

with your preschoolers, and listen 

often to what they have to say. 

29 

1. Playing grownup. At this early 

age, children often like to play 

grownup by pretending to be 

adults. They mimic what adults 

do and say. What they hear you 

say and see you do makes a lasting 

impression, so when opportunities 

arise to let your child know how 

you feel about substance use, share 

those feelings. If you drive up to 

the supermarket, for example, 

and see someone standing outside 

smoking, tell your child that 

smoking is harmful and that it 

causes people to get very sick and 

sometimes die. 

2. Teaching on their level. 

Children this age are capable of 

understanding your explanation 
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DOs AND DON’Ts OF TALKiNG WiTH KiDS 

ABOUT DRUGS

When it comes to talking with kids at any age, make your messages clear 

and consistent. 

DO:

Tell them the dangers of using drugs and alcohol using age-appropriate

explanations. 

Explain why you don’t want them to use drugs. For example, explain how 

drugs and alcohol interfere with young people’s concentration, memory, 

and motor skills, and that it leads to poorer school performance. Tell them 

you wouldn’t want these outcomes for them.

Make it easy for your child to talk honestly with you. Also, make yourself 

available when your child wants to talk—no matter the time of day or the 

other tasks you face. 

Believe in your own power to help your child avoid using alcohol and drugs.

DON’T:

Don’t react in anger—even if your child makes statements that shock you.

Don’t expect every conversation to be perfect. They won’t be.

Don’t simply demand that your children not do drugs. Instead, educate them 

about the risks so they will be equipped to make decisions about drug use 

based on their own knowledge. 

Don’t talk without listening. Aim for a 50/50 conversation—you talk half 

the time and listen the other half.

Don’t make stuff up. If your child asks a question you can’t answer or wants 

information about something you’re unsure of, promise to find the correct 

answer so you can learn together. Then follow up on that promise.

about poison and bad things 

in your home, such as cleaning 

products, paint, etc. Caution your 

children to eat or drink only what 

you, a grandparent, or another 

caregiver gives them. If your child 

becomes sick and you administer 

medicine, use this opportunity 

to explain that medicine helps 

the person it is meant for but can 

harm someone else who takes 

it. Warn children to never take a 

drug unless it is meant for them. 

3. Short but honest answers.

Preschool children are curious and 

eager to learn, but they also have 

relatively short attention spans. 

When they ask questions, answer 

honestly but don’t overwhelm 

them with information they aren’t 

capable of understanding. For 

example, you or another adult 

family member occasionally drink 

wine with dinner or enjoy a beer 

on the weekend. Four-year-old 

Jimmy wants to know if he can 

taste it. You might say, “No, Jimmy, 

this is only for adults who are at least 

21 years old. It can make children 

very sick if they drink it. Why don’t 

you help me fix you a glass of apple 

juice instead?” 

4. Decisions, decisions ... Even 

at this early stage of life, it’s 

important to teach your children 

how to make good decisions. One 

way to do that is to let your children make their own decisions—

but only if they don’t endanger 

their well-being. For example:

Explain early (and often) 

about why healthy foods help 

children grow up to be fit 

and strong. If they are especially enamored by a fictional 

character or famous athlete, 

encourage them to eat healthy 

foods so they will grow up to 

be healthy and strong like thier 

idols. This gives your child 

the background knowledge to 

make smart food choices.

When feasible, let your preschooler choose what clothing to wear—even if they 

make a few mistakes. Letting 

them choose builds confidence in their own decisionmaking ability.

Talking With Elementary 

School Students (6–10 

years old) 

At the lower end of this age range, 

children are very perceptive and 

anxious to learn. This is a good time 

to introduce more detail into your 

conversations about drugs, especially 

what they are and the consequences 

of using them. Explain the concept of 

addiction—that some people may not 

understand how harmful drugs are or 

that some people try drugs and then 

have a hard time quitting. Introduce 

them to the idea that drug use can lead 

to abuse, which can lead to addiction.

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1. Good drugs and bad drugs.

Kids in this age group may ask 

why some drugs are good for you 

and others aren’t. With the rise in 

prescription drug abuse, this is a 

good time to explain to them that 

prescription medication should be 
Talk to your kids often about making 

good choices and about healthy 

living and smart goal setting.

taken only when a doctor tells you 

to and only when administered 

by an adult. Tell your child that 

bad drugs can make you sick or 

even kill you and that is why it is 

wrong to take them—even once. 

They may even understand the 

sadness that accompanies death if 

they’ve lost a loved one (such as a 

grandparent).

2. Honesty and praise. Explain 

in more detail how dangerous it 

is for children to drink alcohol 

and how harmful it is to their 

developing brain and body. Tell 

them the truth: even relatively 

small amounts of alcohol can make 

a child sick. If your children aspire 

to be like someone famous, such as 

a sports figure, remind them that 

it’s important to take care of their 

body and not use tobacco, alcohol, 

or drugs if they want to excel. 

Children this age crave praise, so 

give it out freely when deserved. 

For example, let them know you 

think they are super smart for 

disliking the smell of cigarette 

smoke. This type of interaction also 

assures children they are capable 

of making healthy choices—in this 

case, they dislike cigarettes and 

don’t want to be around them.

3. Repeat yourself. While in 

elementary school, children need 

to be warned about not using 

inhalants. (For a review, see the 

section on inhalants.) Tell them—

repeatedly—that even one instance

of inhaling can lead to severe brain

damage or even death.

4. When they ask ... When 

children in this age group ask 

questions, it’s often because of 

something they have seen or 

heard, and it’s important to know 

where they are getting their 

information. For example, your 

eight-year-old may ask, “What is 

pot?” First, clarify that your child 

CONvERSATiON STARTERS 

Starting a conversation about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs with 

your kids is never easy—but it’s also not as difficult as you may think. Take 

advantage of teachable moments to begin a conversation with your child 

when the opportunity arises. 

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If you see a young person smoking a cigarette, you might talk about the 

negative effects of tobacco. 

If you see an interesting news story, discuss it with your child. Did a drunk 

driver hit and kill a family? Did a young couple lose custody of their children because they were busted for drugs? How does your child feel about 

what happened? What consequences does your child think are appropriate in these cases? 

While watching TV with your kids, ask them if they think the shows or the 

advertising make tobacco, alcohol, and drug use look cool? Do they change 

the way your child feels about drugs?
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HOW ALCOHOL AND 

DRUGS ALTER BRAiN 

DEvELOPMENT AND 

FUNCTiON 

Most kids grow dramatically during 

the adolescent and teen years. 

Their young brains, particularly the 

prefrontal cortex that is used to 

make decisions, are growing and 

developing, too—even into their 

twenties! Alcohol can interfere 

with some of the developmental 

processes occurring in the brain. 

For weeks or months after a teen 

stops drinking heavily, parts of the 

brain still struggle to work correctly.66 

Drinking at a young age is also 

associated with the development of 

alcohol dependence later in life. 

Long-term drug use causes brain 

changes that can set people up for 

addiction and other problems. Once 

young people become addicted, 

their brain becomes altered so that 

drugs are now their top priority— 

and they will compulsively seek and 

use drugs even though doing so 

brings devastating consequences 

for their lives and for those who 

care about them. 

means marijuana by asking where 

your child learned about it and 

what exactly was heard, read, or 

seen. Based on that, you might 

answer, “It’s a very dangerous drug 

that people smoke—usually like a 

cigarette but sometimes in a pipe. 

Marijuana has chemicals in it that 

can cause cancer and maybe even kill 

you. People who smoke marijuana 

can get addicted and can’t stop 

using it, or they might try other very 

dangerous drugs, too. It’s nothing 

to mess around with, and I hope you 

don’t ever try it. You are a smart girl, 

and I wouldn’t want you to mess up 

your life.” 

5.	 involve others. Children 

this age still respect adults, 

particularly law enforcement. 

As your child enters elementary 

school, offer to help establish 

or administer a drug education 

program that includes outside 

resources. For more information, 

review the resources in the back 

of this publication. 

6.	 Encourage healthy choices 

and smart decision-making. 

Talk to your kids often about 

making good choices and about 

healthy living and smart goal 

setting. Let them make ageappropriate decisions, and reward 

them when they do well. Doing 

so empowers them and gives 

them confidence in their decisionmaking skills. 

Talking With Middle School 

Students (11–14 years old) 

Your child’s transition to middle 

school (or junior high) calls for 

special vigilance. If you began having 

regular conversations with your 

child at a young age, the child should 

know by now—without a doubt— 

where you stand on the subject of 

drugs and alcohol. If you didn’t 

have those conversations earlier, 

it’s not too late to start! In fact, this 

is the time when you should spend 

even more time talking and listening, 

as your child is likely seeing more 

substance use on television, in 

movies, and online—and at school 

or in social situations. Children 

this age are capable of engaging in 

more in-depth conversations about 

why people use drugs, the potential 

dangers (such as addiction or fatal 

overdose), and the consequences for 

the user and his family. 

1.	 Take the lead. Your child may 

not initiate as many conversations 

about drugs and alcohol with 

you as before. If that’s the case, 

it’s important for you to take the 

lead and engage your child in 

discussions at every opportunity 

by using real-life events in the 

news or in your own lives. For 

example, your child tells you 

that a friend named Kevin rode 

in a vehicle driven by an older 

brother, who was smoking 

marijuana while driving. Explain 

to your child the importance of 

not riding in a car with someone 

who is using alcohol or drugs, 

and explain what to do in that 

situation. You might say, “What 

Kevin’s brother did was illegal, and 

he could go to jail if caught. But 

more important, he could have had 

a serious accident. I hope you know 

you can call me if that ever happens 

to you, and I will come and get you. 

You’ll be driving in a few years, and 

I’m glad you are smart enough to 

know better than to drink or do drugs 

and drive.” 

2.	 Encourage healthy growth. 

Conversations with your child 

should also include talking about 

his interests. As discussed in the 

section on protective factors, 

activities such as youth groups, 

arts, music, sports, community 

service, and academic clubs keep 

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Your ongoing 

conversations with 

your children should 

include how to 

respond if someone 

offers them drugs or 

alcohol. Let your child 

practice his answers. 

children occupied, develop teambuilding skills, provide a sense of 

discipline, and sometimes help 

kids discover talents they didn’t 

realize they had. Encourage your 

children to share their dreams—at 

the very least, ask what types of 

activities they enjoy, and then find 

a way to nurture those interests in 

positive ways. 

3.	 Self-image. In this age range, 

preteens begin going through 

physical changes, and they start to 

care more about their self-image. 

Girls, especially, tend to pay more 

attention to hair and fashion. As 

you notice this happening, initiate 

conversations with your child 

about how he or she looks. Point 

out the obvious downsides to 

smoking, such as bad breath and 

stinky hair. You might even expand 

that into talking about the longterm risks, such as lung cancer and 

emphysema. For children who are 

interested in sports, encourage 

them to stay healthy and avoid 

anabolic steroids as a “quick fix” 

for enhancing their performance. 

4.	 Friends and their parents. 

Friends become extremely 

important during this transition. 

Kids want to fit in or feel normal 

around older teens who may 

expose them to alcohol, tobacco, 

or drugs. So in addition to talking 

to your own child, get to know 

your children’s friends. If you’re 

USE ROLE-PLAYiNG TO HELP YOUR CHiLD SAY 

“NO” TO DRUGS 

Encourage your children to analyze a situation and know how to remove 

themselves from a dangerous environment. A great way to prepare your 

children for real-life situations is to act out scenarios with them so that 

they can practice how they’ll respond. Use the following two scenarios as a 

starting point, and create new ones based on your child’s age and activities. 

Scenario #1: Your child goes to a party at a friend’s house and someone 

has brought some beer. Many of the guys there, including older high school 

guys, are drinking and they ask your child, “You want some?” Take the role 

of the older teens or of your child’s friends who casually offer a can of beer 

to your child. 

Help your child develop firm but friendly responses. Possible answers: 

“No, thanks.”
 

“No, I’m not into that.” 


“Nah man, I’m ok. Thanks.” 


“No, thanks. I’m on the _____ team and I don’t want to risk it.” 


“Nah, I’m training for ______.” 


“No. I gotta go in a bit.” 


Scenario #2: Your child is at a friend’s house with a few close pals and one of
 

them pulls out a joint. While you play the role of the friend offering it to the
 

group, help your child develop firm but friendly responses, and reassure your
 

child that good friends will respect the decision not to try it. Possible answers:
 

“No, thanks, I’m not into that.”
 

“No, thanks. I’m on the _____ team and I don’t want to risk it.” 


“Nah, I’m training for ______.” 


“Nah. I get tested at work/school and I don’t want to risk it.” 


“No, thanks. I don’t like how it makes people act.” 


“No, I’m trying to stay healthy for _________.
 

If your child’s peers keep insisting, suggest that your child use the “broken 


record” technique—just keep repeating the reason for not wanting to drink, 


smoke, or do drugs. Then your child can try to change the subject or, if all 


else fails, your child can simply go home. 

giving a group of kids a ride to
 

the mall, for example, make small
 

talk with the friends by asking
 

about their interests, their family,
 

what music or television shows
 

they like, etc. And as discussed
 

earlier in this publication, get to
 

know the parents of your child’s
 

friends and share with them
 

your desire to raise a drug-free
 

child. You may find some who 

do not share your attitude and 

beliefs about drugs and underage 

alcohol use. But think of it this 

way: if they do agree and your 

child regularly hangs out with 

the same five friends, you could 

have as many as 10 extra parents 

keeping their eyes and ears on 

your child’s activities! 

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DANGERS OF 

UNDERAGE DRiNKiNG67 

Alcohol impairs coordination, 

slows reaction time, and 

impairs vision. 

Beer and wine are not “safer” 

than hard liquor. A 12-ounce can 

of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, 

and 1.5 ounces of hard liquor all 

contain the same amount of alcohol and have the same effects 

on the body and mind. 

On average, it takes 2–3 hours for 

a single drink to leave a person’s 

system. Nothing can speed up 

this process, including drinking 

coffee, taking a cold shower, or 

walking it off. 

People tend to be very bad at 

judging how seriously alcohol 

has affected them. That means 

many individuals who drive after 

drinking think they can control a 

car—but they actually cannot. 

Anyone can develop a serious 

alcohol problem, including a teenager. This is especially true if there 

is a family history of alcoholism. 

Underage drinking is illegal, 

and getting caught may mean 

trouble with the authorities. 

Drinking may cause people to 

engage in risky behavior they 

normally wouldn’t have. 

5.	 Practice makes perfect. Your 

ongoing conversations with your 

children should include how to 

respond if someone offers them 

drugs or alcohol. Let your child 

practice his answers. “Man, that 

stuff is really bad for you!” or “My 

mom will kill me if she finds out I 

drank a beer!” As mentioned earlier 

in this publication, assure your 

children you will come get them 

any time—without scolding—if 

they need to leave a place where 

alcohol or drugs are being used. 

If you can’t be available, find a 

responsible adult who will go in 

your place. 

Asking and listening. 

Remember, your role as a parent 

(or caregiver) isn’t just to talk but 

also to listen. Since your child 

may not ask as many questions 

6. 

at this age, it’s up to YOU to ask 

open-ended questions that require 

more than a simple “yes” or “no” 

answer. Conversation starters can 

come from the media (advertising, 

song lyrics, movies, TV shows) or 

from real life. For example, you 

might say 

In that movie last night, the 

character continued to drink 

even after she found out she 

was pregnant. How do you 

think that might affect her 

unborn baby? 

My coworker Mary has a 

14-year-old child who got 

busted for pot and will have 

to go into a substance abuse 

treatment center. What do you 

think that will be like? 

7.	 Your role as a teacher. You 

must also take the role of an 

educator. For example, young 

teens may think it’s okay if they 

“only” drink but stay away from 

drugs. You need to tell them the 

real risks of all kinds of substance 

abuse—including the risks they 

may not have heard or thought 

about—or teach them how to find 

credible information on websites 

like www.justthinktwice.com, 

which was developed for teens 

and young adults. 

8.	 A particular concern. Just as 

with elementary school students, 

the use of inhalants is of particular 

concern at this age. In a 2011 

survey, 7 percent of eighthgraders reported using inhalants

in the year prior to the survey, 

and 39 percent of eighth-graders

didn’t consider the regular use of 

inhalants to be harmful.68 This is 

troubling because inhalants can 

cause unconsciousness, severe 

damage to the brain and nervous 

system, and even death—the first 

time they are used! Yet 64 percent 

of the eighth-graders surveyed 

didn’t think trying inhalants once 

or twice was risky. Young teens 

may not understand the risks of 

inhalant use, so it’s up to you to 

educate them about the dangers. 

9.	 What do they think? Continue 

to teach your children to be 

critical of how drugs and alcohol 

are portrayed in videos, movies, 

and television shows. Do they 

think engaging in promiscuous 

behavior after drinking too much 

is attractive or disgusting? Does 

a video that shows drugs make 

them curious enough to want to 

try them? Continue to talk to your 

kids often about making good 

choices and about healthy living 

and goal setting. 

Talking With High School 

Students (15–18 years old) 

By the time teens enter high school, 

they have likely had many opportunities to try drugs, alcohol, and/or 

tobacco. Even if they have resisted 

the temptation, they’ve probably seen 

their peers do it—sometimes to excess 

and perhaps even with serious consequences. In fact, they may know fellow 

classmates with addiction issues. You 

can’t choose your children’s friends— 

although parents have been trying for 

years! But you can encourage them to 

develop friendships with kids who do 

not smoke, drink, or do drugs. 

1.	 What they’re thinking. Teens 

this age typically understand how 

substance use can affect unborn 

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children, how combining drugs 

can be deadly, and how easy it is 

to go from casual use to abuse to 

addiction. Enforce these concepts 

when talking with your teenager. 

During the last few years of high 

school, teens are thinking about 

what their future holds, so this is a 

great time to keep reminding them 

that substance use can ruin their 

chances of getting into college, 

being accepted by the military, or 

being hired for certain jobs. Also, 

remind them that keeping the 

community drug free will make it a 

nicer place to raise a family if they 

decide to put down roots there. 

2.	 Debating what’s legal. An important issue to discuss with your 

teenager (and with your preteen in 

middle school) is the debate over 

medical marijuana. Make sure 

your child knows that “smoked 

marijuana” has not withstood the 

rigors of science—it is not medicine and it is not safe. Marijuana is 

harmful and it is illegal. 

3.	 Granting independence—with 

love. Children this age want 

independence, but you need to set 

limits. Set curfews and other expectations for your child’s behavior, 

establish appropriate consequences 

for breaking rules, and consistently 

follow through with enforcement. 

Finally, tell children often that 

they are important to you. Show 

them you mean it by regularly 

spending one-on-one time with

them. Developing this strong bond 

you care about them and that 

will make your child more likely 

to come to you with questions or 

concerns about drugs, alcohol, or 

other sensitive issues—encourage 

that openness. Remember, even as 

children are pushing for independence, they need someone they 

love and respect to be involved. 

They need YOU! 

4.	 Know what’s trendy. Talk 

with your teen about what 

you learn here and elsewhere 

about the dangers of abusing 

prescription drugs. Non-medical 

use of prescription medications 

to get high is rising dramatically, 

as shown in the section on 

prescription medications. The Drug 

Identification Chart at the back of 

this publication is a good way to 

help you identify some prescription 

drugs, but other medications 

become trendy at times, and other 

drugs may be specific to your 

community that aren’t shown in 

the chart. Routinely ask your teen 

which prescription drugs are an 

issue at school, in friends’ homes, 

and at parties. 

5.	 Drinking or drug use while 

driving. As teens begin to 

drive and become even more 

independent, establish clear 

rules about drinking or using 

drugs while driving. Ask for 

their input; then develop a 

written agreement that spells out 

expectations for behavior and 

specific consequences for breaking 

the rules. For example, you may 

want to limit the hours your teen 

can drive and grant (or deny) 

permission to transport younger 

siblings. Whether or not your city 

or state restricts the number of 

passengers in your teen’s car, you 

can do so as part of your written 

agreement. You and your young 

driver should sign the agreement 

to give it more credibility, then 

keep it in a public area of the 

home to serve as a constant 

reminder of what is expected. 

Here are a few other examples you 

might include. 

I will not drink alcohol 

and drive. 

I will drive only from ____ 

a.m. until ____ p.m. 

MARiJUANA MYTHS 

Myth: Marijuana is not harmful 

because it is all natural and comes 

from a plant. 

Truth: Tobacco comes from a 

plant, too—but that hardly makes it 

safe. Both contain cancer-causing 

compounds. Smoking anything is 

not good for the lungs. 

Myth: It’s okay to use marijuana as 

long as you’re not a chronic user 

or “stoner.” 

Truth: You can’t predict when 

occasional use will turn into 

frequent use, problematic use, or 

addiction—and even occasional 

users can get into car wrecks or 

other accidents while under the 

influence of marijuana. 

Myth: Marijuana isn’t as bad as other 

drugs, and I doubt I’d get in trouble 

if I get caught. 

Truth: Marijuana can be as bad 

as other drugs—it affects your 

memory, mood, and coordination. It 

is addictive, and it is illegal! 

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I will not stay at a party 

where alcohol is served or 

drugs are present. 

I will not ride in a car with a 

driver who has been drinking 

or using drugs. 

6. The “at home” party. Some 

parents mistakenly believe “My 

teens and their friends are safer 

drinking at home because they aren’t 

out driving while intoxicated.” Even 

if state law permits teens to drink 

at home at certain ages under a 

parent’s supervision, it doesn’t 

mean you should let them. Doing 

so may be setting a dangerous 

example—essentially signaling 

you approve of what may be 

illegal consumption of alcohol in 

other settings. And if you give 

your teen permission to host a 

party in your home, never supply 

alcohol to your child’s friends. 

Not only is it illegal, but you may 

well be held liable for anything 

that happens to the minors 

and any damage they cause— 

including what happens when 

they leave the premises. Make 

sure two responsible adults are 

present to monitor the festivities 

in your home. 

7. Continue to praise and 

encourage teenagers for 

the things they do well and 

the positive choices they 

make. Knowing you are proud 

of them can motivate them to 

maintain a drug-free lifestyle 

and to serve as a positive role 

model for younger siblings. 

Parenting doesn’t stop when a child 

goes to college.69 

Find out if there is a program during 

freshman orientation that educates 

students about campus policies, and 

health and wellness or prevention 

programs related to alcohol and other 

drug use. If so, attend with your child, 

or at least be familiar with the name 

of the person who is responsible for 

campus counseling or prevention 

programs. 

Learn about the college’s standards of 

conduct. Federal regulations require any 

institution of higher education receiving federal funding (most of them do) 

to have a drug prevention program that 

prohibits, at a minimum, the unlawful 

possession, use, or distribution of illicit 

drugs and alcohol by students on campus property or while participating in 

its activities. Colleges must enforce these 

standards or risk serious consequences, 

including loss of federal student financial assistance. Ask about and understand the college’s parental notification 

policy for standards of conduct violations. Make sure your child understands 

the penalties for underage drinking, 

public drunkenness, illicit drug use, 

using a fake ID, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, assault, and 

other alcohol-related offenses. 

Make certain your child understands 

how alcohol and other illicit drug 

use and abuse can be associated with 

date rape, violence, and academic 

failure, as well as have consequences 

after graduation. 

This is also an important time to stress 

the importance of the responsible 

consumption of alcohol when your 

college-age children are of legal drinking age, and if they choose to drink. 

63 Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2010: Volume I, Secondary school students. Overview of Key Findings 

64 National Institute on Drug Abuse. Preventing Drug Abuse among Children and Adolescents (In Brief). 

How can the community develop a plan for research-based prevention? NIH Publication No. 04-4212(B). 

1997. Updated October 2003. 

65 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parent Engagement: Strategies for Involving Parents in 

School Health. 2012. Accessed September 21, 2012, www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/adolescenthealth/ 

pdf/parent_engagement_factsheet.pdf. 

66 National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA for Teens, The Science Behind Drugs Abuse: The Sara 

Bellum Blog. Real Teens Ask: Got Alcohol on the Brain? Posted May 24, 2011. Accessed September 21, 

2012, http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-alcohol-brain. 

67 Make a Difference – Talk To Your Child About Alcohol. 

68 Monitoring the Future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2011. 

69 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. What Parents Need to Know About College 

Drinking. NIH Publication No. 02-5015. Printed April 2002. Accessed September 21, 2012, 

www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/media/FINALParents.pdf. 
HOW DO I TEACH MY CHILD ABOUT DRUGS? WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

WHAT IF I THINK MY CHILD IS USING DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

❯	 

❯	 

❯	 

SECTION 5: 

WHAT IF I THINK MY CHILD IS 

USING DRUGS? 

Section 5: What if i Think My Child is Using Drugs? 

Sometimes—despite the 

best efforts of parents— 

kids still experiment with 

drugs or alcohol. And sometimes 

experimentation leads to abuse and/ 

or addiction. 

SiGNS OF ABUSE 

What if you suspect your child is 

using alcohol or drugs? First, realize 

that some signs that might indicate a 

problem with alcohol or drugs can 

simply be normal teenage behavior— 

but that doesn’t mean you should 

ignore them. When you’re trying to 

figure out what your teen has been up 

to, it makes sense to make use of all of 

your senses. 70 

Sight: Take a look at your teen. 

Red eyes and cheeks, or difficulty 

focusing on you, may indicate 

your teen has been drinking 

alcohol. Red eyes and constricted 

pupils can be a sign of marijuana 

use. A strange burn on the mouth 

or fingers of your child can be 

a sign of smoking something 

through a metal or glass pipe. 

Someone wearing long sleeves in 

the middle of the summer may be 

trying to hide puncture marks that 

would indicate intravenous drug 

use. Chronic nosebleeds may be a 

sign of cocaine abuse. 

Smell: Marijuana, cigarettes, and 

alcohol all have very telltale smells. 

And whether you notice them on 

your teen’s breath or on clothing, 

they are reason for alarm—simply 

being around other teens who may 

be drinking or smoking makes 

it more likely that your teen will 

too. Follow your nose—and don’t 

forget that excessive “good” smells, 

like breath fresheners, heavy perfumes, and freshly laundered clothing (especially for a teen who’s 

never run the washing machine) 

can be as telling as the smells 

they’re trying to mask. And make 

sure that you take a whiff of your 

teen’s car—the smell of stale beer 

or marijuana smoke may linger in 

the car’s upholstery. 

Sound: Listen for the clues that 

teens give you by the things they 

say, the things they laugh at, or 

the fact that they aren’t saying 

anything at all. Silence can speak 

volumes about the fact that something’s going on in your teen’s 

life. By continuing to listen over 

time, you’ll be able to identify 

which behaviors are the result of a 

short-term mood swing and which 

are indicative of a more serious 

underlying issue. 

Is there a potentially rational 

explanation for many of these 

scenarios? Certainly—your teen may 

be suffering from a cold, trying to 

mask eczema on the arms, may just 

be tired, may be feeling stressed by 

a difficult class in school, or may 

37 
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U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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38 

When it comes to 

identifying the signs of 

drug abuse, the best rule 

to follow is this: No one 

knows your kids better 

than you. If you think 

something’s going on, 

take the steps necessary 

to find out for certain. 

be having issues in a relationship. 

By observing your teen using all of 

your senses, combined with your 

gut instinct, you’ll be better able to 

determine if a certain behavior is 

“typical” or indicative of drug use. 

Other signs to look for that may 

indicate drug use include 

Stories don’t add up, and social 

circles change. When your teen 

goes to the football game but can’t 

tell you which team won, or tells 

you about staying at a friend’s 

house but the friend called your 

house asking to speak to your 

teen, it’s time to be concerned. 

No matter how much your teen 

denies there’s anything going on, 

it’s up to you to confront your 

child and get to the heart of the 

issue. The same thing holds true 

if you see a sudden change in 

your child’s social circle. If your 

teen is no longer associating with 

childhood friends, seems to be 

interested in hanging out with 

kids who are older, or is simply 

spending time with new friends 

that give you a bad feeling, you 

should follow your instincts. And 

don’t accept sullen silence as an 

answer—make sure the conversation occurs. 

School goes downhill. Declining 

grades can be a stark indicator 

that drug abuse is occurring— 

especially if your teen typically 

performs well. A loss of motivation, missing homework, skipping 

school, or foregoing extracurricular activities may be signs that 

there is a drug issue. 

Lying and stealing. Your six-pack 

of beer has suddenly turned into a 

five-pack. Your after-dinner aperitif tastes suspiciously watereddown. You’re missing cash from 

your wallet or a gold ring from 

your jewelry box. When teens 

want to get drunk or high, one of 

the first places they’re going to go 

looking for “resources” is within 

their own homes. If you begin to 

notice missing items, you must 

immediately confront your child 

with your suspicions and say that 

stealing—whether it be $5 from 

your purse or a $500 necklace— 

will not be tolerated. 

When it comes to identifying the signs 

of drug abuse, the best rule to follow 

is this: No one knows your kids better 

than you. If you think something’s 

going on, take the steps necessary to 

find out for certain. 

iS iT OKAY TO SNOOP? 

Sometimes parents who suspect their 

child is using drugs wonder whether it 

is okay to snoop. Only you can decide 

that, but keep in mind that you are 

suspicious for a reason—and your 

suspicions may be right. Remember, it 

is your house, and you are the parent. 

And if you have young children in the 

home, you certainly wouldn’t want 

them to find something harmful. 

Where would you look? And for 

what? Well, drugs are easily hidden in 

drawers, backpacks, the back of closets, 

the corners of bed sheets, small boxes, 

books or bookcases, makeup cases, 

over-the-counter medicine bottles, 

and under the mattresses or beds. You 

might also find drug paraphernalia 

(items related to drug use), such 

as pipes, rolling papers, medicine 

bottles, eye drops, butane lighters, or 

homemade pipes and bongs (pipes that 

use water as a filter) made from soda 

cans or plastic beverage containers. If 

you suspect your child is drinking, look 

for empty cans or bottles. 

HOW TO PROCEED 

Maybe you found evidence. Maybe not. 

But even if all you have are suspicions, 

you need to take action. Remember the 

section on myths. Denying a problem 

exists does not mean there isn’t one, 

and ignoring signs of trouble won’t 

make a problem go away. 

NOTE: Many of the 

recommendations in this section 

were adapted from 

http://timetoact.drugfree.org 

and 

www.getsmartaboutdrugs. 

com/help/intervene.html 

More tips and videos are available 

on those websites. 

If you have a partner or spouse, tell 

him or her about your suspicions 

and plan your actions together. If 

you’re a single parent, you may 

want to speak with someone else, 

such as a doctor, psychologist, pastoral advisor, school nurse, and/or 

a school drug and alcohol counselor. Use the person as a sounding 

board of sorts—someone unbiased 

who can help you sort out your 

feelings. 

Before talking with your child, 

practice the conversation until 

you are sure you can remain calm. 

Also, don’t initiate the conversation unless you’re sure your child 

is sober or has not been using 

drugs, which may mean waiting 

until the next day. 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

WHAT IF I THINK MY CHILD IS USING DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

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What do you say? Begin by voicing your suspicions without making accusations. “Susan, I suspect 

you may be smoking pot occasionally. 

I love you and I’m concerned about 

you. Is there something going on that 

we need to talk about?” 

Be prepared emotionally for 

possible reactions. Your child may 

accuse you of snooping. Your 

child may tell you that you’re 

crazy or call you a hypocrite 

(especially if you smoke or 

occasionally have a drink). Your 

child may express hatred and 

threaten to leave home. 

Whatever the response, make your 

mind up ahead of time to remain 

calm. Even if your child denies 

there is a problem (which will 

probably happen), reinforce what 

you believe about drugs and how 

much you care about your child. 

“I want to believe you, sweetheart, 

because there is a lot of evidence that 

young people who use drugs are at 

risk for many bad things. I’d be very 

disappointed if you didn’t finish 

school or if someone took advantage of 

you sexually while you were high.” 

Having this type of calm, open discussion at least lets your children 

know you care and that you still 

love them. Follow up by being a 

parent. “And remember, we had a deal 

that no member of this family would 

use drugs.” Enforce whatever discipline you agreed on for breaking 

the rules (if that is the case). 

During this conversation, it’s very 

important for your child to feel 

supported, so continue to remind 

your child that you’re always 

there for guidance, especially 

during a stressful time when your 

child may be tempted to use. Express your love, care, and concern 

to your child—both in your words 

and in your tone. “Sweetheart, I 

MEET GARRETT HARNEY 

Cindy Harney beams with pride as she speaks about her son Garrett. 

“Garrett loved to play the piano. He loved all kinds of sports—he wake 

boarded, skate boarded, and played in Little League. He also cared about 

the community. He loved 4-H and was on the board of a local organization 

for children with learning disabilities. Everyone here knew him by his F-150 

pickup. But after a friend shared his mother’s pain medicine, Garrett’s life 

was never the same. Nor was ours.” 

Garrett died at the age of 20 from a prescription drug overdose of 

Oxycodone and Xanax. In addition to his parents, Garrett left behind a sister 

just 16 months younger than he was—a sister who now has no sibling with 

whom to share her life experiences. 

“There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t think of my boy,” says Cindy. “I told 

him about all the illicit drugs, but I never told him about legal drugs. No 

parent should ever have to pick out the casket for their child or the clothes 

he will wear to be buried in.” 

Determined not to let her son die in vain, Cindy now shares her horrific 

experience to help educate others—parents, youths, law enforcement, the 

medical community, and lawmakers—about the dangers of prescription drug 

abuse in hopes of enacting change. 

“After Garrett’s death, I learned that many kids in my Florida community 

were dying because of prescription drugs, and I knew I had to do something. 

I met a woman whose 18-year-old son had taken his life and asked her if she 

would join me in the fight against drug abuse. We traveled to Kentucky to 

learn about its prescription drug monitoring program, and then we went to 

Tallahassee in hopes of getting a similar program in Florida.” 

Cindy and her new acquaintance also founded Families Against Addictive 

Drug Abuse to create awareness of the problem and to enact change. She 

played a role in the creation of a prescription drug task force in her local 

sheriff’s department and in the development of Operation Medicine Cabinet, 

a countywide project to take back old medicine. She also speaks at local, 

regional, and national events. 

“We’re losing approximately 10 Floridians a day, and that’s more than by all 

illegal drugs combined. We must take action so no other family has to suffer 

the loss that we have. Hopefully, through education and by working together 

as a community, we’ll be able to educate our little ones so they never fall 

into this epidemic.” 

Currently, Cindy Harney 

is working with Florida 

Congressman Vernon 

Buchanan’s office to get 

support for the Pill Mill 

Crackdown Bill (H.R. 1065) 

to increase penalties for 

the operators of pill mills. 

(A pill mill is a facility 

that violates federal or 

state laws that pertain to 

prescribing and dispensing 

controlled substances.) Garrett Harney and his sister 

39 
U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

SECTION 5

want to discuss this because I love 

and care about you, and I want you to 

be healthy, safe, and successful.” 

A word of caution. It’s human nature 

to want to believe your children when 

they say they aren’t using drugs. They 

may say they are stashing a pipe for 

someone else or tired because of extra 

schoolwork, or they may provide any 

number of excuses that sound rational. 

But if your suspicions are strong— 

and especially if you are faced with 

hard evidence—do not pretend that 

everything is fine. It obviously isn’t. 

Also, do not blame yourself. Drug 

abuse occurs in all kinds of families. 

If the conversation becomes heated or 

out of control, don’t continue. Assure 

your child you love him or her and 

end the discussion peacefully. You’ve 

at least taken a big step, and you can 

always try again another day. 

If your child flatly refuses to talk 

to you about it, ask for help from a 

school guidance counselor, family 

physician, or a local drug treatment 

referral and assessment center. Your 

child’s school may even have a 

counselor qualified to evaluate your 

child and refer you to a particular 

agency for treatment. 

ADDiCTiON 

No one plans to become addicted. 

Instead, it begins with a single use, 

which can lead to abuse, which 

can lead to addiction—a disease in 

which a person craves the drug (or 

alcohol or nicotine) regardless of the 

consequences. Remember, however, 

that children with more risk factors 

may be more susceptible to using and 

becoming addicted. 

For many years, society believed 

that people addicted to drugs lacked 

willpower or were morally flawed. 

Today, the National Institute on Drug 

Abuse (NIDA) defines addiction as 

“a chronic, relapsing brain disease 

that is characterized by compulsive 

drug seeking and use, despite harmful 

consequences. It is considered a brain 

disease because drugs change the 

brain—they change its structure and 

how it works. These brain changes 

can be long lasting and can lead to the 

harmful behaviors seen in people who 

abuse drugs.” 

The good news is that addiction is a 

treatable disease, but the success of 

any treatment approach depends on a 

variety of factors, including a child’s 

temperament and willingness to 

change. It may take several attempts 

before a child remains drug free, so do 

not give up hope. You are not alone! 

FiNDiNG TREATMENT 

When your child is referred for treatment, it’s important to find a program 

best suited to your child’s needs. 

40 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ❯	 ❯	 ❯	 

Your first step in this journey is to 

find a certified drug and alcohol 

counselor. To do that, consult your 

child’s doctor, other parents whose 

children have been treated for drug 

abuse, the local hospital, a school 

social worker, the school district’s 

substance abuse coordinator, or the 

county mental health society. 

Or, you may call the U.S. 

Department of Health and 

Human Services Substance Abuse 

and Mental Health Services 

Administration (SAMHSA) tollfree at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for 

alcohol and drug information 

and treatment referral assistance. 

When you call this toll-free number, a recorded message gives you 

the option to speak to a representative concerning substance abuse 

treatment, or to request printed 

material on alcohol or drugs. 

Online, parents can go to the 

Partnership At Drugfree.org (www.drugfree.org), a nonprofit 

organization that helps parents 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

WHAT IF I THINK MY CHILD IS USING DRUGS?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

❯	 

❯	 

and caregivers prevent, intervene 

in, and find treatment for drug 

and alcohol use by their children. 

At www.findtreatment.samhsa. 

gov, you’ll find more than 11,000 

addiction treatment programs, 

including residential treatment 

centers, outpatient treatment 

programs, and hospital inpatient 

programs for drug addiction and 

alcoholism. Listings include treatment programs for marijuana, 

cocaine, and heroin addiction, as 

well as drug and alcohol treatment programs for adolescents 

and adults. 

Another drug and alcohol 

addiction treatment website 

is www.drugstrategies.org, 

which is dedicated to providing 

local resources for fighting 

substance abuse. It also offers 

a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-559­

9503. Also, check the resources 

at the back of this publication 

for other possibilities. 

RECOvERY 

Addiction is typically a chronic 

disease, so people cannot simply stop 

using drugs for a few days and be 

cured. Relapse is not uncommon. Most 

patients require long-term or repeated 

episodes of care to achieve sustained 

abstinence and recovery. 

Because the risk of relapse is highest 

for youths in the time period directly 

following treatment, the transition to 

the school setting is an important time 

when appropriate relapse prevention 

services could increase the likelihood 

of long-term recovery.

71 

Families will need to access recovery 

support services for their child to 

help successfully navigate the early 

months of recovery. Some of these 

services will provide a flexible 

and cost-effective mechanism for 

facilitating access to services. 

Some recovery services already exist 

within the education community, 

including recovery schools. Recovery 

high schools provide a serviceenriched and supportive school 

environment for students recovering 

from drug and alcohol problems. 

They offer standard academic courses, 

combined with continuing care 

and/or recovery support services, 

but they generally do not provide 

substance use or mental health 

disorder treatment. The Association 

of Recovery Schools (ARS) website at 

www.recoveryschools.org provides 

additional information and includes a 

list of recovery high schools. 

Don’t be surprised if—somewhere 

during the process of getting 

treatment for your child—a 

suggestion is made that the entire 

family get counseling, too. Treating 

addiction isn’t simply about healing 

the abuser. Some parents become so 

obsessed with their child’s problem 

that they neglect the other important 

aspects of their own lives: their jobs, 

physical health, and other kids. It is 

as important to seek help for your 

own emotional well-being as it is for 

the child using drugs. Every member 

of the family needs to be committed 

to helping the recovering addict stay 

clean and sober. 

70	 Drug Enforcement Administration. Get Smart About Drugs. A DEA Resource for Parents. Signs of 

Drug Use: Behavior. Accessed September 21, 2012, 

www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com/identify/behavior.html. 

71	 U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. Recovery/Relapse Prevention 

in Educational Settings for Youth with Substance Use and Co-occurring Mental Health Disorders. 2010 

Consultative Sessions. Working Draft May 2011. Accessed September 21, 2012, 

www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/recoveryrpt.pdf. 

41 
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42 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE? WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE? RESOURCES RESOURCES 

SECTION 6: RESOURCES 

Section 6: Resources 

NOTE: We don’t endorse any private or commercial products or services that are not 

affiliated with the federal government, and the sources of information on these pages 

are intended only as a partial listing. Readers of this booklet are encouraged to research 

and inform themselves of the many additional products and services relating to tobacco, 

drug, and alcohol abuse. 

PARENTS: Some websites kids go to for information about drugs or alcohol are 

sponsored by organizations with a hidden agenda, such as trying to get drugs 

legalized or decriminalized. Encourage your children to visit the following 

websites instead for credible information about tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. 

FOR YOUTHS 

AboveTheinfluence.com 

www.abovetheinfluence.com 

This campaign is inspired by what teens say about their lives and how 

they deal with the influences that shape their decisions about not using 

drugs or alcohol. The goal is to help teens stand up to negative pressures 

or influences. 

Al-Anon Family Groups – Alateens 

www.al-anon.alateen.org/for-alateen 

Alateen is part of the Al-Anon Family Groups. Al-Anon is for anyone 

affected by someone else’s drinking. This link is to the section of the Al-Anon 

website specifically for teens. 

American Council for Drug Education (ACDE) 

www.acde.org/youth 

ACDE is an agency that develops substance abuse prevention and 

education programs and materials. This link is to the section of their 

website specifically for youths who are involved (or want to be involved) 

in a community coalition or who are passionate about keeping their 

communities safe and drug free. 

D.A.R.E – Drug Abuse Resistance Education 

www.dare.com/kids 

D.A.R.E.’s primary mission is to provide children with the information 

and skills they need to live drug- and violence-free lives. This link is to the 

section of their website specifically for youths. 

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION 43 
U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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44 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

JustThinkTwice.com 

www.justthinktwice.com 

Created by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) specifically for young people, this site 

provides information about drugs and their consequences. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org 

This crisis hotline can help with a lot of issues, not just suicide. For example, anyone who feels 

sad, hopeless, or suicidal; family and friends who are concerned about a loved one; victims of 

bullying; or anyone who is interested in mental health treatment referrals can call 1-800-273­

TALK (8255). Callers are connected with a professional who will talk with them about what 

they’re feeling or about concerns for other family and friends. The hotline is funded by the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

NiDA for Teens 

http://teens.drugabuse.gov 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) developed this website. Teens can get facts about 

drugs and drug effects, read advice from fellow teens, watch educational videos, download 

cool anti-drug material, and try their hand at brain games. 

TheCoolSpot.gov 

www.thecoolspot.gov 

The Cool Spot was created by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for kids 

11–13 years old. Content is based on a curriculum for grades 6–8 developed by the University 

of Michigan to give young teens a clearer picture about alcohol use among their peers. The 

Cool Spot also features quizzes, tips for handling peer pressure, and links to educational and 

support sites. 

FOR PARENTS 

Depending on the age and maturity level of your children, you may wish to share some of the links in this 

section with them. 

African American Family Services (AAFS) 

www.aafs.net 

AAFS works with individuals, families, and communities impacted by addiction and mental 

illness. They provide culturally specific chemical and mental health services that affect 

family preservation and promote community-based change and wellness in the AfricanAmerican community. 

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 

www.aa.org 

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, 

strength, and hope with each other so they may solve their common problems and help 

others recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop 

drinking. There are no dues or fees, and AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, 

organization, or institution. 

Al-Anon Family Groups 

www.al-anon.org 

Al-Anon is a free, nonprofit organization that supports and provides literature to family 

members and friends of alcoholics. 
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

RESOURCES

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

American Cancer Society 

www.cancer.org 

The American Cancer Society offers literature on smoking and referrals to local chapters. 

American Council for Drug Education (ACDE) 

www.acde.org 

ACDE has educational programs and services designed to engage teens, address the needs of 

parents, and provide employers, educators, health professionals, policymakers, and the media 

with authoritative information on tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. 

Association of Recovery Schools (ARS) 

www.recoveryschools.org 

The Association of Recovery Schools advocates for the promotion, strengthening, and 

expansion of secondary and postsecondary programs designed for students and families 

committed to achieving success in both education and recovery. ARS exists to support such 

schools which, as components of the recovery continuum of care, enroll students committed to 

being abstinent from alcohol and other drugs and working a program of recovery. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) 

www.bgca.org 

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of America is to enable all young people to reach their full 

potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. 

College Drinking Prevention – Changing the Culture 

www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov 

This National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism site contains a wealth of information 

for parents, students, and educators about alcohol use on U.S. college campuses. 

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) 

www.cadca.org 

CADCA is an organization whose purpose is to strengthen the capacity of community antidrug coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy, and drug-free communities. 

D.A.R.E. – Drug Abuse Resistance Education 

www.dare.com 

D.A.R.E.’s primary mission is to provide children with the information and skills they need to 

live drug- and violence-free lives. 

United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 

www.justice.gov/dea 

The mission of the DEA is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the 

United States and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing 

the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets. The 

DEA has created a drug education website for teens at www.justthinktwice.com and a drug 

education resource for parents at www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com. 

DrugStrategies.org 

www.drugstrategies.org 

This is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment website dedicated to providing resources for 

fighting substance abuse, including helping you find drug treatment centers and addiction 

rehabilitation programs in your town or city. The toll-free 24-hour hotline number is 

1-800-559-9503. 

45 
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SECTION 6

Easy-to-Read Drug Facts 

www.easyread.drugabuse.gov 

Created by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this easy-to-read website talks about drug 

abuse, addiction, and treatment. It has pictures and videos to help readers understand the text 

and can also read each page out loud. The pages are easy to print out to share with people who 

do not have computers. 

Elks Drug Awareness Program 

www.elks.org 

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has a resource center for the Elks National Drug 

Awareness Program, the largest volunteer drug awareness program in the United States. It 

provides information for parents and a guide for teachers, as well as educational comics for 

fourth- through eighth-graders, tips for teens, and contests. 

Families Anonymous, inc. 

www.familiesanonymous.org 

This organization is a 12-step fellowship for families and friends who have known a feeling of 

desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused 

by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. 

GetSmartAboutDrugs 

www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com 

Created by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for parents, this website provides 

valuable drug education and prevention resources for parents. Information includes how to 

identify drugs and tips to help prevent drug abuse. 

Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and violence Prevention 

http://higheredcenter.ed.gov 

Created by the U.S. Department of Education, this site supports institutions of higher education 

in their efforts to prevent illegal alcohol and other drug use and its consequences, including 

violence, at U.S. colleges and universities. 

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) 

www.madd.org 

Originally founded to combat drunk driving, this organization’s current mission is also to 

support victims of this violent crime and to prevent underage drinking. 

Narcotics Anonymous 

www.na.org 

Narcotics Anonymous is a 12-step fellowship of recovering addicts. Membership is open to all 

drug addicts, regardless of the particular drug or combination of drugs used. Meetings are free. 

Nar-Anon 

www.nar-anon.org 

Nar-Anon is a 12-step program designed to help relatives and friends of addicts recover from 

the effects of living with an addicted relative or friend. 

National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) 

www.nacoa.org 

NACOA’s mission is to eliminate the adverse impact of alcohol and drug use on children 

and families. 

46 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
WHAT SUBSTANCES DO KIDS USE?

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

RESOURCES

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

National Association of School Nurses 

www.nasn.org 

The National Association of School Nurses improves the health and academic success of 

students by developing and providing leadership to advance the school nursing practice by 

specialized registered nurses. The organization’s core purpose is to promote student success 

through the advancement of school health services by professional registered school nurses. 

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, inc. 

www.ncadd.org 

An organization that provides information on how to overcome alcohol and drug addiction, 

including how to find help in your area. 

National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) 

www.ncpc.org 

A private nonprofit organization whose mission is to help families and their communities keep 

safe from crime, including on the Internet. 

National Guard Counterdrug Program 

http://ngbcounterdrug.ng.mil 

The National Guard Counterdrug Program uses National Guard resources to help create the 

best opportunity for America’s youths to make the decision to be drug free. They work with 

local law enforcement, education and community-based organizations to reduce the chances of 

exposure of illegal drugs to our nation’s children. 

National inhalant Prevention Coalition (NiPC) 

www.inhalants.org 

NIPC serves as an inhalant referral and information clearinghouse, stimulates media coverage 

about inhalant issues, develops materials, and provides training and technical assistance. 

National institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NiAAA) 

www.niaaa.nih.gov 

The NIAAA website offers pamphlets, fact sheets, and brochures about alcohol-related problems 

such as underage drinking, alcohol’s impact on health, parenting to prevent childhood alcohol use, 

and much more. For information on alcohol policy, go to www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov. For 

statistics and the latest news on stopping underage drinking, go to https://stopalcoholabuse.gov. 

National institute on Drug Abuse (NiDA) 

www.nida.nih.gov 

NIDA’s mission is to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and 

addiction through (1) support and conduct of research, and (2) quick dissemination of research 

results. The website features a section for parents and teachers, as well as a section for students 

and young adults. NIDA provides educational materials can be downloaded or ordered at 

http://drugpubs.drugabuse.gov. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org 

This crisis hotline can help with a lot of issues, not just suicide. For example, anyone who feels 

sad, hopeless, or suicidal; family and friends who are concerned about a loved one; victims of 

bullying; or anyone who is interested in mental health treatment referrals can call 1-800-273­

TALK (8255). Callers are connected with a professional who will talk with them about what 

they’re feeling or about concerns for other family and friends. The hotline is funded by the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

47 
SECTION 6 

Office of National Drug Control (ONDCP) 

www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp 

ONDCP advises the president on U.S. drug-control issues, coordinates drug-control activities 

and related funding across the federal government, and produces the annual National Drug 

Control Strategy, which outlines administration efforts to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing 

and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences. 

PartnershipAtDrugFree.org (PDFA) 

www.drugfree.org 

PDFA is a nonprofit organization that helps parents and caregivers prevent, intervene in, and 

find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children. PDFA also maintains the Parents TollFree Helpline (in English or Spanish) at 1-855-DRUGFREE (1-855-378-4373). 

PreventTeenDrugUse.org 

www.preventteendruguse.org 

This organization provides parents with relevant research on marijuana and other drug use. It 

outlines the serious long-term negative effects drug use can have on youths, including lower 

academic achievement, school dropout rates, mental health problems, and addiction. Personal 

stories from a teen, a father, and a physician demonstrate how drug use can adversely affect 

youths, families, and communities. The website features videos reviewing current information 

and identifies prevention and treatment resources. 

StopAlcoholAbuse.Gov 

www.stopsalcoholabuse.gov 

A parent’s gateway to comprehensive research and resources on the prevention of underage 

drinking. Materials available through this portal are provided by the 15 Federal agencies of the 

Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking. 

Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD) 

www.sadd.org 

SADD is dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, specifically underage drinking, other 

drug use, impaired and risky driving, and teen violence and suicide. It has thousands of 

chapters in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

www.SAMHSA.gov 

SAMHSA is responsible for overseeing and administering programs on mental health, drug 

abuse prevention, and drug treatment around the nation. For SAMHSA publications dealing 

with alcohol and other drug abuse, go to www.store.samhsa.gov. 

The National PTA 

www.pta.org 

PTA works in cooperation with many national education, health, safety, and child advocacy 

groups and federal agencies to benefit children. The PTA website can help you locate a chapter, 

or offer information about organizing or running a PTA in your area. 

White Bison Wellbriety Training institute 

www.whitebison.org 

White Bison, Inc., Wellbriety Training Institute, is an American Indian nonprofit charitable 

organization that offers sobriety, recovery, addiction prevention, and wellness (“Wellbriety”) 

learning resources to the Native American community nationwide. 

48 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
DRUG IDENTIFICATION CHART

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

SECTION 7: 

DRUG IDENTIFICATION CHART 

Section 7: Drug identification Chart 

49 
SECTION 7

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

DRUG iDENTiFiCATiON CHART
 

DRUG NAME(S) OTHER NAME(S) 

Prescription Medications – 

Narcotics (Opiods)

Hydrocodone 

Hydrocodone is the most frequently 

prescribed opioid in the United States. 

Usually prescribed for pain or as a cough 

suppressant, it is the most abused opiod. 

The most prescribed brands are Vicodin, 

Lorcet, Lortab, Vicoprofen, and Hycomine. 

Hydro, Norco, Vikes 

Oxycodone 

Oxycodone products are very 

powerful painkillers. Examples include 

pharmaceutical drugs like OxyContin, 

Percodan, and Percocet. 

Oxycotton, Percs, OC, OX, 

Oxy, Hillbilly Heroin, Kicker 

Prescription 

Medications – 

Depressants – 

BarbituratesAmytal 

Seconal 

Amytal and Seconal are two barbiturates, 

which are depressants that slow down the 

central nervous system and cause sleepiness. 

Others include Fiorina, phenobarbital, 

Pentothal, and Nembutal. 

Barbs, Block Busters, 

Christmas Trees, Goof Balls, 

Pinks, Red Devils, Reds & 

Blues, Yellow Jackets 

Prescription 

Medications – 

Depressants – 

Benzodiazepines

Valium 

Valium, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, and 

Klonopin are the most common prescription 

benzodiazepines, which were developed 

to replace barbituates. Other brand names 

include ProSom, Dalmane, Restoril, Versed, 

Librium, Tranxene, Paxipam, Serax, Centrax, 

and Doral. 

Benzos, Downers 

Xanax 

Prescription 

Medications – 

Stimulants

Ritalin 

Adderall, Dexedrine, Concerta, Ritalin, Didrex, 

Bontril, Preludin, Fastin Adipex P, Ionomin, 

and Meridia are stimulants used to treat 

obesity, attention deficit and hyperactivity 

disorders (ADHD/ADD), and narcolepsy. 

Stimulants speed up the body’s systems. 

Ice, Crank, Speed, Bennies, 

Black Beauties, Uppers, 

Pellets, R-Ball, Skippy, 

Vitamin R, Illys 

Anabolic Steroids 

Android (Steroid) 

Anabolic steroids are synthetically 

produced variants of the male hormone 

testosterone. When users stop taking 

steroids, they may experience severe 

depression and attempt suicide. 

Arnolds, Juice, 

Pumpers, Roids, 

Stackers, Weight 

Gainers 

Testosterone 

For more information about these and other drugs, visit www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com. 

50 
DRUG IDENTIFICATION CHART

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION 51 

DESCRiPTiON HOW CONSUMED MiND AND BODY EFFECTS SEE PAGE(S) 

Pill forms (including 

tablets and capsules), 

syrups. 

Usually taken orally. Euphoria, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, constipation, 

urinary retention, and depressed respiration. 

Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, muscle 

and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, and vomiting. 11

Pill forms (including 

tablets and capsules). 

Percocet 

Usually taken orally. Inability to concentrate, apathy, slowed physical 

activity, constricted pupils, flushing of the face and 

neck, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and slowed 

breathing. Withdrawal symptoms may include watery 

eyes, runny nose, yawning, sweating, restlessness, 

irritability, loss of appetite, nausea, tremors, severe 

depression, vomiting, increased heart rate and blood 

pressure, and alternating chills and sweating. 

11 

Pill forms (including 

tablets and capsules), 

syrups, and injectable 

liquids. 

Swallowed (pill form) 

or injected (liquid 

form). Overdoses can 

occur easily and lead 

to death. 

Mild euphoria, lack of inhibition, relief of anxiety and 

sleepiness, amnesia, reduced reaction time, impaired 

mental functioning and judgment, confusion, slurred 

speech, weakness, headache, lightheadedness, blurred 

vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, 

and slowed breathing. 

12

Pill forms (including 

tablets and capsules); 

Versed is available as 

an injectable liquid 

and as a syrup. 

Usually taken orally 

(pill form) or crushed 

and snorted. 

Sleepiness, amnesia, hostility, irritability, vivid or 

disturbing dreams, reduced reaction time, impaired 

mental functioning and judgment, confusion. May also 

cause slurred speech, loss of coordination, weakness, 

headache, lightheadedness, blurred vision, dizziness, 

nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and slowed 

breathing. Rarely fatal unless combined with other 

drugs or alcohol; withdrawal can be life threatening. 

12

Pill forms (including 

tablets and capsules). 

Usually taken orally 

but sometimes 

crushed and snorted 

or injected. 

Increased activity, reduced appetite, wakefulness. 

Chronic use may cause agitation, hostility, panic, 

aggression, suicidal or homicidal tendencies, paranoia, 

and hallucinations. Large or extended doses may cause 

dizziness, tremors, headache, flushed skin, chest pain, 

excessive sweating, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. 

12

Pill forms (including 

tablets and capsules), 

liquid drops, gels, 

creams, patches, 

injectable solutions. 

Ingested 

orally, injected 

intramuscularly, or 

applied to the skin. 

Dramatic mood swings, hostility, impaired judgment, 

and increased aggression (often called “roid rage”), 

high cholesterol levels and liver damage, viral 

infections (e.g., HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or C), and 

bacterial infections. Males: early sexual development, 

acne, stunted growth, shrinking testicles, reduced 

sperm count, enlarged breast tissue, sterility, and 

increased risk of prostate cancer. Females: deep voice, 

increased facial and body hair, menstrual irregularities, 

male pattern baldness, and lengthening of the clitoris. 

12-13 
SECTION 7

U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

DRUG NAME(S) OTHER NAME(S) 

52 

Street Drugs 

Marijuana 

Marijuana is a mind-altering (psychoactive) 

drug produced by the Cannabis sativa plant. 

It contains over 400 chemicals; THC is 

believed to be the main chemical ingredient. 

Marijuana cigarette, or “joint” 

Aunt Mary, BC Bud, Blunts, 

Boom, Chronic, Dope, 

Gangster, Ganja, Grass, 

Hash, Herb, Hydro, Indo, 

Joint, Kif, Mary Jane, Mota, 

Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, 

Skunk, Smoke, Weed, Yerba 

Cocaine 

Cocaine is an intense, euphoriaproducing stimulant drug with strong 

addictive potential. Very pure cocaine 

can cause cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic 

heart conditions, sudden cardiac arrest, 

convulsions, strokes, and death. 

Coca, Coke, Crack, Flake, 

Snow, Soda Cot 

Crack Cocaine 

Ecstasy 

Ecstasy tablets contain MDMA and other 

drugs that can be harmful; it is both a 

stimulant and psychedelic. In high doses, 

MDMA can interfere with the body’s ability 

to regulate temperature, which can result 

in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system 

failure—or death. 

Adam, Beans, Clarity, Disco 

Biscuit, E, Ecstasy, Eve, Go, 

Hug Drug, Lover’s Speed, 

MDMA, Peace, STP, X, XTC 

Methamphetamine 

Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly 

addictive drug with potent central nervous 

system stimulant properties; the FDAapproved brand-name medication is 

Desoxyn. High doses may cause death 

from stroke, heart attack, or multiple organ 

problems caused by overheating. 

Batu, Bikers Coffee, Black 

Beauties, Chalk, Chicken 

Feed, Crank, Crystal, Glass, 

Go-Fast, Hiropon, Ice, Meth, 

Methlies Quick, Poor Man’s 

Cocaine, Shabu, Shards, 

Speed, Stove Top, Tina, 

Trash, Tweak, Uppers, 

Ventana, Vidrio, Yaba, 

Yellow Bam 

Heroin 

Heroin is a highly addictive drug and the 

most rapidly acting of the opiates. Because 

heroin abusers do not know the actual 

strength of the drug or its true contents, 

they are at a high risk of overdose or death. 

Big H, Black Tar, 

Chiva, Hell Dust, 

Horse, Negra, 

Smack, Thunder 

Black Tar Heroin 

For more information about these and other drugs, visit www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com. 
DRUG IDENTIFICATION CHART

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

DESCRiPTiON HOW CONSUMED MiND AND BODY EFFECTS SEE PAGE(S) 

53 

Dry, shredded mix of 

flowers, stems, seeds, 

and leaves; typically 

green, brown. 

Usually smoked as 

a cigarette (called a 

joint) or in a pipe or 

bong. Also smoked 

in blunts (cigars that 

have been emptied 

of tobacco and filled 

with marijuana), mixed 

with foods, or brewed 

as tea. 

Bloodshot eyes, increased heart rate, coughing, 

increased appetite, decreased blood pressure, 

problems with memory and learning, distorted 

perception, difficulty thinking and solving problems, 

and loss of coordination. Long-term effects may 

include bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma; 

suppressed immune system; apathy; increased cancer 

risk; impaired judgment, memory, and concentration; 

loss of motivation, ambition, and interest. Withdrawal 

may cause headache, shakiness, sweating, stomach 

pains, nausea, restlessness, irritability, sleep difficulties, 

and decreased appetite. 

13-14 

Usually a white, 

crystalline powder. 

Cocaine base (crack) 

consists of small, 

irregularly shaped 

chunks (or “rocks”) 

of a whitish solid. 

Snorted or injected 

into the veins after 

dissolving in water 

(powder); smoked 

alone or with 

marijuana or tobacco 

(crack); used in 

combination with an 

opiate, like heroin, in 

a practice known as 

speedballing. 

Euphoria, increased alertness and excitation, 

estlessness, irritability, increased blood pressure and 

heart rate, dilated pupils, insomnia, loss of appetite, 

r

and anxiety followed by mental and physical 

exhaustion, sleep, and depression. High doses or 

prolonged use can cause paranoia. Long-term 

inhaled use has led to a unique respiratory syndrome; 

chronic snorting of cocaine has led to the erosion of 

the upper nasal cavity. 

16 

Pill forms (including 

tablets and capsules) 

but also distributed 

in powder and 

liquid forms. 

Usually by swallowing 

tablets, sometimes 

crushed and snorted, 

occasionally smoked 

(rarely injected). 

Also available as a 

powder. Commonly 

taken with other 

substances, such as 

alcohol and marijuana. 

Increased motor activity, alertness, heart rate, and 

blood pressure; euphoria; increased sensitivity to 

touch, increased energy, and sensual and sexual 

arousal; unwanted effects include confusion, anxiety, 

depression, paranoia, sleep problems, muscle tension, 

tremors, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramps, 

nausea, faintness, chills, sweating, and blurred vision. 

May increase risk of long-term (perhaps permanent) 

problems with memory and learning. 

14

Regular meth is a pill 

or powder; crystal 

meth resembles glass 

fragments or shiny 

blue-white “rocks” of 

various sizes. 

Swallowed, snorted, 

injected, or smoked. 

Increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, 

decreased appetite, rapid breathing and heart rate, 

irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, extreme 

anorexia, memory loss, severe dental problems. 

Chronic abusers exhibit violent behavior, anxiety, 

confusion, insomnia, aggression, hallucinations, mood 

disturbances, delusions, and paranoia that can cause 

homicidal or suicidal thoughts. 

14 

Typically a white or 

brownish powder or a 

black sticky substance 

known on the streets 

as “black tar heroin.” 

Injected, smoked, or 

sniffed/snorted. 

Euphoric surge (or “rush”), followed by wakefulness 

and drowsiness, respiratory depression, 

constricted pupils, nausea, warm flushing of 

the skin, dry mouth, and heavy extremities. 14 
SECTION 7

DRUG NAME(S) OTHER NAME(S) 

Synthetic Drugs Other 

54 U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

K2/Spice 

K2/Spice is a mixture of herbs and spices, 

typically sprayed with a compound similar 

to THC, the psychoactive ingredients in 

marijuana. Often sold in drug paraphernalia 

stores (“head shops”), tobacco or retail 

stores, and online, it is often sold as incense 

or “fake weed.” 

Bliss, Black Mamba, 

Bombay Blue, Fake Weed, 

Genie, Spice, Zohai 

Bath Salts 

“Bath salts” contain chemicals (synthetic 

stimulants) that are synthetic derivatives 

of cathinone, a central nervous system 

stimulant. Many of these products are sold 

over the Internet, in convenience stores, and 

in head shops. 

Bliss, Blue Silk, Cloud 

Nine, Drone, Energy-1, 

Ivory Wave, Lunar Wave, 

Meow Meow, Ocean Burst, 

Pure Ivory, Purple Wave, 

Red Dove, Snow Leopard, 

Stardust, Vanilla Sky, 

White Dove, White Knight, 

White Lightening 

Inhalants 

Inhalants are invisible, volatile substances in 

common household products. They produce 

chemical vapors that are inhaled to induce 

psychoactive or mind altering effects. 

Inhalants are often among the first drugs 

young children use. Signs of use include 

paint or stains on body or clothing, spots or 

sores around the mouth, red or runny eyes 

or nose, chemical breath odor. 

Gluey, Huff, Rush, Whippets 

Cold Medications 

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough 

suppressor found in more than 120 over-thecounter (OTC) cold medications. Abuse by 

teenagers and young adults is of particular 

concern. High doses combined with alcohol 

or other drugs may cause death. 

CCC, Dex, DXM, Poor Man’s 

PCP, Robo, Rojo, Skittles, 

Triple C, Velvet 

Tobacco (photo by Sjschen) 

Tobacco contains nicotine, one of the most 

highly addictive drugs used today. Teens 

who smoke cigarettes are much more likely 

to use marijuana than those who have never 

smoked. 

Smoke, bone, 

butt, coffin nail, 

cancer stick 

Alcohol 

Alcohol is a drug that can interfere with 

brain development in adolescents and 

teens. Alcohol poisoning, which can 

happen the very first time someone drinks 

alcohol, can cause serious brain damage or 

death. Drinking at a young age also makes 

alcoholism more likely later in life. 

Beer, wine, wine cooler, 

malt liquor, booze 

For more information about these and other drugs, visit www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com. 
DRUG IDENTIFICATION CHART

GROWING UP DRUG FREE: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PREVENTION

DESCRiPTiON HOW CONSUMED MiND AND BODY EFFECTS SEE PAGE(S) 

55 

Typically small, silvery 

plastic bags of dried 

leaves and marketed 

as incense that can 

be smoked. May 

resemble potpourri. 

Usually smoked in 

joints or pipes; also 

made into tea. 

Short term affects include 

paranoia, panic attacks, and 

giddiness; increased heart rate 

and blood pressure. Long-term 

effects on humans are not 

fully known. 

15 

Fine white, off-white, 

or slightly yellowcolored powder; also 

tablets and capsules. 

Usually ingested by 

sniffing or snorting 

but also taken orally, 

smoked, or put into a 

solution and injected 

into veins. 

Agitation, insomnia, irritability, dizziness, depression, 

paranoia, delusions, suicidal thoughts, seizures, panic 

attacks, impaired perception of reality, reduced 

motor control, rapid heart rate (which may lead to 

heart attacks and strokes), chest pains, nosebleeds, 

sweating, nausea, vomiting, and decreased ability to 

think clearly. 

15 

Common household 

products such as 

glue, lighter fluid, 

cleaning fluids, and 

paint. 

Breathed in through 

the nose or the mouth 

by sniffing, snorting, 

or bagging (inhaling 

fumes from substances 

sprayed or deposited 

inside a plastic or 

paper bag); huffing 

from an inhalantsoaked rag stuffed in 

the mouth; or inhaling 

from balloons filled 

with nitrous oxide. 

Slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and 

dizziness, drowsiness, lingering headache, weight 

loss, muscle weakness, disorientation, inattentiveness, 

irritability, depression, unconsciousness, damage to 

the nervous system and other organs, sudden death. 

9-11 

Cough syrup, pill 

forms (including 

tablets and capsules), 

or powder. 

Drinking liquid cough 

preparations or 

powder formulas (now 

sold over the Internet), 

or taking pills that are 

swallowed or crushed 

and put into drinks. 

Mild stimulation, euphoria, hallucinations, confusion, 

inappropriate laughter, agitation, paranoia, 

hallucinations, sensory changes (e.g., feeling of 

floating), loss of coordination, over-excitability, 

lethargy, slurred speech, sweating, hypertension. 

DXM products often contain other ingredients that 

can cause liver damage, rapid heart rate, vomiting, 

seizures, and coma. 

11 

Dried, fermented 

leaves from the 

tobacco plant, 

usually brown. 

Cigarettes, cigars, 

pipes, smokeless 

tobacco (chew, dip, 

snuff). 

Addiction, heart and cardiovascular disease, cancer of 

the lung, larynx, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, kidney, 

and mouth; emphysema and chronic bronchitis; can 

cause spontaneous abortion, pre-term delivery, and low 

birth weight. 

7-8 

Liquids in 

various colors. 

Orally. Addiction (alcoholism), dizziness, slurred speech, 

disturbed sleep, nausea, vomiting, hangovers, impaired 

motor skills, violent behavior, impaired learning, fetal 

alcohol syndrome, respiratory depression, and, at high 

doses, death. 

8-9 
Acknowledgments 

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department 

of Education want to thank the following persons for their 

review and helpful comments on the publication: 

vivian Faden and Patricia Powell, 

National Institute of Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse 

Jessica Cotto and Gayathri Dowling, 

National Institute of Drug Abuse 

Rich Lucey and Steve Wing, 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration