HOW TO TALK TO A CHILD ABOUT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
Drugs and alcohol is a broad subject and one that can be daunting to approach, particularly when discussing it with young people. Whether they’re hearing about drugs from their friends, social media or television, there’s a lot of misinformation around so it’s important to be honest and thorough when talking to a child.
WHERE TO START
Approach the subject in a relaxed, open manner. Making a big deal out of the conversation or being overly formal about it may make the child feel uncomfortable or nervous, and less inclined to open up. You could also look for a starting point; something on TV, in a film, or on the news can be a helpful way of easing into the conversation.
STAY CALM
Whatever the conversation brings up, it’s important to keep your cool. Even if you hear that your child has taken or is taking drugs, losing your temper can damage the chances of having open and honest conversations in future. Of course, it can be very upsetting and worrying to hear, but these conversations must remain relaxed if they’re going to be productive.
ENCOURAGE THEM
Staying calm in these situations is vital if you want to get the right information. Gently encourage them to tell you the details of their drug use;
- What are they taking?
- How often are they taking it?
- How are they paying for it?
Getting honest answers to these questions will give you a better understanding and good place to start from in terms of dealing with drug use.
Perhaps most importantly of all, you need to find out why they’re taking drugs; they might be unhappy, stressed, under pressure from their friends, for example. Knowing and understanding their reasoning, whatever it might be, will put you in the best position to help them.
DISCUSSING THE RISKS
Knowing the risks of the drugs they’re taking may sway your child’s decision to take them. Be honest and open about the risks to help them understand what they’re doing. You may feel unsure about the risks yourself; in that case, you can research them on websites like FRANK beforehand.
Risks of drug taking include:
- Damage to their physical and mental wellbeing
- Exposure to exploitation
- Vulnerability to harm
Remember, you don’t need to know the answers to every question; if you’re unsure, suggest looking through the FRANK website together.
UNDERAGE DRINKING
It’s not uncommon for children and teenagers to try alcohol, and in some circumstances it’s legal for them to do so.
It’s illegal for:
- Anyone to buy alcohol if they’re under 18
- A person under 18 to ask an adult to buy alcohol for them
- Anyone to give alcohol to a child under 5 years old
In the following circumstances, it is legal:
- For over-18s to buy beer, wine or cider for 16-17 year olds if they’re having a meal together in a licensed premises, such as a pub
- For 5-17 year olds to drink alcohol at home or other private premises
Regardless of where they’re drinking, it’s a parent’s responsibility to educate their children of the risks. While many teenagers do try alcohol before they’re 18, there are some signs to look out for that may suggest improper alcohol use:
- If they get drunk regularly
- If they drink excessively when they’re alone
- If they seem to be dependent on alcohol
WORRIED ABOUT YOUR CHILDS DRINKING
If you’re concerned, you can speak to your GP who can provide a few options. They can refer your child for support and treatment services, refer them for counselling, and talk to you and your family about how they’re coping with the situation.
You can also get help through Drinkline, a confidential helpline offering free, accurate, confidential information for anyone concerned about drinking, whether it’s their own or someone else’s. You can call them on: 0300 123 1110.
CHILD CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION
It’s important to know that your child taking drugs does not automatically mean they’ll become involved in drug dealing. However, a small minority of young people who take drugs can become involved in CCE – this is where older drug dealers can take advantage of vulnerable young people, manipulating them into illegal activity using drugs as payment. You can find out more about CCE here.
EMERGING NEW TREND
LEAN
Lean is a cocktail of legal and illegal drugs, topped up with a fizzy drink such as lemonade.
Other names
Lean is also known as ‘sizzurp’, ‘purple drank’, ‘Texas tea’ and ‘barre’.
What does lean look and taste like?
It looks like a purple fizzy drink, and it tastes very sweet.
WHAT'S IN IT?
- Codeine: Codeine | Effects of Codeine | FRANK | FRANK (talktofrank.com)
- Diazepam: Benzodiazepines | FRANK (talktofrank.com)
- Xanax: Benzodiazepines | FRANK (talktofrank.com)
- Mirtazapine: Mirtazapine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Pregabalin: Pregabalin: medicine to treat epilepsy and anxiety – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Zopiclone: About zopiclone – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Alcohol: Alcohol | Effects of Alcohol | FRANK (talktofrank.com)
- Fizzy drink / Soda
HOW IT WORKS
The effects of lean vary from person to person, but these are the general effects.
| How a user might feel | Bodily effects |
| It makes you feel euphoric and relaxed, almost like you’re floating away from your body. It slows down your brain activity to make you feel this way. | It gives a quick high that slows down your central nervous system. It can also cause a loss of balance and coordination. |
| How long does it take to work? | How long do the effects last? |
| 30-45 minutes. | 4-6 hours. |
RISKS OF LEAN
The main risk of lean is that it can be extremely addictive, and there are several potentially dangerous side effects.
They include:
| Hallucinations | High Temperature |
| Itchy Skin | Vomiting |
| Severe Constipation | Changes in heart rhythm |
| Dizziness | Seizures |
| Loss of consciousness | |
There are legal drugs involved in a ‘lean’ cocktail, like cough medicine, but the illegal ones can be very strong, particularly when mixed together.
MIXING LEAN AND ALCOHOL
Some people mix alcohol into lean. This makes the effects stronger, which makes the drink even more dangerous. The addition of alcohol increases the chance of respiratory depression – a lack of oxygen to the brain – which can lead to organ damage, a coma, or death. The short term effects of adding alcohol to lean include trouble breathing, increased brain fog, drowsiness and poor judgement.
ADDICTION
The ingredients in lean generate extra dopamine in the brain – dopamine is a hormone that gives us a sense of pleasure, and it’s known as part of the ‘reward system’ in our brain. Generating more dopamine can lead to addiction as the brain wants more of those dopamine hits. Signs of potential addiction include:
- You need more of it to get high
- You can’t stop drinking it even though it’s negatively affecting your life, such as relationships, friendships, school or work
- Constant cravings and thoughts of having it
- Using it as a coping mechanism for stress or other negative feelings
- You have withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink it. These include nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, enlarged pupils, shakiness, fever, body pain and chills
THE LAW
Even though there’s a mix of legal and illegal products in lean, all products in the drink are only available with a prescription. Buying or distributing these medications without a licence or medical requirement (such as a proper prescription from your GP) is illegal.
