Skyline_GTR
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2002
- Messages
- 4,327
The danger of not knowing what skunk and charlie are
Western Mail
26 April 2006
Darren Devine
PARENTS are unable to spot the crucial telltale signs when their children are involved in drugs, new research claims.
Around half of all parents have no idea that finding items like clear food wraps or stickers with pictures on them may be evidence their child is using drugs like cannabis or acid.
The survey by information line Frank found parents feel they don't know enough about drugs or how to talk to a child they suspect is taking them.
But their children are often far better informed about the "street" names of drugs and their availability, due in part to the activities of celebrity figures such as Pete Doherty and Kate Moss.
Parents in this position say they would prefer someone else to approach their children on their behalf.
Jean Harrington, manager of Rhondda Cynon Taf substance misuse charity Teds (Treatment, Education and Drugs Services), said parents often experience problems talking to their children about drugs because they feel ignorant about the issue.
Mrs Harrington said, "They may not know that the young person is using and that is when they come to us - because they've found out and obviously there's a lot of concern.
"Those who don't know enough about it always confuse misuse with overdose even though that affects only a very small percentage of young people."
Mrs Harrington said her organisation tries to educate parents about the varying effects of the whole range of drugs with which youngsters may experiment.
She said the most effective way of helping is to keep talking to your child as resorting to blame and accusation does more harm than good.
One in five parents who took part in the online survey said they would "lose their rag" if they discovered their child had been taking drugs.
While some parents knew the "street" names for drugs, others were not as well informed, with one in four (24%) parents not knowing what "skunk" (cannabis) referred to, and one in five parents not recognising the term "charlie" (cocaine).
Around 43% of the 500 parents who took part thought 10 to 11 years old was the most appropriate age to start talking to their children about drugs.
This is in line with recent government research which shows that 18% of 11-year-olds are offered drugs, with this figure rising to 63% in their last year of school.
According to the Frank survey, around 90% of mums felt they knew the warning signs of drug-taking, compared with 82% of dads.
Up to 93% of parents knew that aerosols such as hairspray could be dangerous if deliberately inhaled, but only 27% would associate this activity with a strong smell.
Erika Woods, who runs the North Wales youth charity Mase (Music and Sound Experience), said parents often struggle to deal with the problem in a constructive and detached way.
She said, "It's difficult for parents to recognise the symptoms and then deal with the problem constructively without accusations.
"I can understand why parents prefer a third party to talk to their children because they would deal with it in a different way.
"A parent's first reaction is shock and anger and then a kind of horror.
"Then the parents worry about what they're going to do.
"That's the hardest thing - because how do you stop it?"
Jackie Coates, an accounting technician and mother of 14-year-old twins, said she was aware of the growing drugs problem in Wales.
She said parents remain ignorant about the dangers of drugs at their peril.
Mrs Coates, from Colwyn Bay, Clwyd, said, "It's a problem that concerns me for the future because my children are still quite young.
"I don't worry about it now, but I will be concerned in the future - you can only remain ignorant at your peril.
"But I'm surprised that parents are so ignorant because we hear an awful lot about drugs and most parents believe the availability of drugs is widespread."
Mrs Coates said she believed that though children are quite well informed about drugs more could be done to bring parents up to date.
Link
Western Mail
26 April 2006
Darren Devine
PARENTS are unable to spot the crucial telltale signs when their children are involved in drugs, new research claims.
Around half of all parents have no idea that finding items like clear food wraps or stickers with pictures on them may be evidence their child is using drugs like cannabis or acid.
The survey by information line Frank found parents feel they don't know enough about drugs or how to talk to a child they suspect is taking them.
But their children are often far better informed about the "street" names of drugs and their availability, due in part to the activities of celebrity figures such as Pete Doherty and Kate Moss.
Parents in this position say they would prefer someone else to approach their children on their behalf.
Jean Harrington, manager of Rhondda Cynon Taf substance misuse charity Teds (Treatment, Education and Drugs Services), said parents often experience problems talking to their children about drugs because they feel ignorant about the issue.
Mrs Harrington said, "They may not know that the young person is using and that is when they come to us - because they've found out and obviously there's a lot of concern.
"Those who don't know enough about it always confuse misuse with overdose even though that affects only a very small percentage of young people."
Mrs Harrington said her organisation tries to educate parents about the varying effects of the whole range of drugs with which youngsters may experiment.
She said the most effective way of helping is to keep talking to your child as resorting to blame and accusation does more harm than good.
One in five parents who took part in the online survey said they would "lose their rag" if they discovered their child had been taking drugs.
While some parents knew the "street" names for drugs, others were not as well informed, with one in four (24%) parents not knowing what "skunk" (cannabis) referred to, and one in five parents not recognising the term "charlie" (cocaine).
Around 43% of the 500 parents who took part thought 10 to 11 years old was the most appropriate age to start talking to their children about drugs.
This is in line with recent government research which shows that 18% of 11-year-olds are offered drugs, with this figure rising to 63% in their last year of school.
According to the Frank survey, around 90% of mums felt they knew the warning signs of drug-taking, compared with 82% of dads.
Up to 93% of parents knew that aerosols such as hairspray could be dangerous if deliberately inhaled, but only 27% would associate this activity with a strong smell.
Erika Woods, who runs the North Wales youth charity Mase (Music and Sound Experience), said parents often struggle to deal with the problem in a constructive and detached way.
She said, "It's difficult for parents to recognise the symptoms and then deal with the problem constructively without accusations.
"I can understand why parents prefer a third party to talk to their children because they would deal with it in a different way.
"A parent's first reaction is shock and anger and then a kind of horror.
"Then the parents worry about what they're going to do.
"That's the hardest thing - because how do you stop it?"
Jackie Coates, an accounting technician and mother of 14-year-old twins, said she was aware of the growing drugs problem in Wales.
She said parents remain ignorant about the dangers of drugs at their peril.
Mrs Coates, from Colwyn Bay, Clwyd, said, "It's a problem that concerns me for the future because my children are still quite young.
"I don't worry about it now, but I will be concerned in the future - you can only remain ignorant at your peril.
"But I'm surprised that parents are so ignorant because we hear an awful lot about drugs and most parents believe the availability of drugs is widespread."
Mrs Coates said she believed that though children are quite well informed about drugs more could be done to bring parents up to date.
Link
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
