The New Dare to Discipline (26 page)
Read The New Dare to Discipline Online
Authors: James Dobson
T
here is no more certain destroyer of self-discipline and self-control than the abusive use of drugs. Teens who have begun taking drugs, in whatever form, often show a sudden disinterest in everything that formerly challenged them. Their school work is ignored and hobbies are forgotten. Their personal appearance often becomes sloppy. They refuse to carry responsibility and avoid activities that require effort. Their relationship with parents deteriorates rapidly, and they suddenly terminate many of their lifelong friendships. Young drug users are clearly marching to a new set of drums—and disaster often awaits them at the end of the trail.
To help parents recognize and understand a possible drug problem in their sons and daughters, we have provided the following overview of the basics. I pray that neither you, nor they, will ever need it. Though some of the facts are technical, I recommend that you carefully study and even memorize the important details from this summary, and review the glossary of drug-world slang later in this chapter. I am indebted to several law enforcement agencies and other sources for their help in compiling this information.
1
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF
DRUG ABUSE?
At the beginning of this appendix I mentioned several of the attitudinal and behavioral characteristics of individuals who use harmful drugs. Listed below are eight related physical and emotional symptoms that may indicate drug abuse by your child.
1. Inflammation of the eyelids and nose is common. The pupils of the eyes are either very wide or very small, depending on the kind of drugs used.
2. Extremes of energy may be represented. The individual may be sluggish, gloomy, and withdrawn . . . or loud, hysterical, and jumpy.
3. The appetite is extreme—either very great or very poor. Weight loss may occur.
4. The personality suddenly changes. The individual may become irritable, inattentive, and confused . . . or aggressive, suspicious, and explosive.
5. Body and breath odor is often bad. Cleanliness may be ignored.
6. The digestive system may be upset—diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may occur. Headaches and double vision are also common. Other signs of physical deterioration may include change in skin tone and body stance.
7. With intravenous drug users, needle marks on the body, usually appearing on the arms, are an important symptom. These punctures sometimes get infected and appear as sores and boils.
8. Moral values often crumble and are replaced by new, outlandish ideas and values. Each drug produces its own unique symptoms. Thus, the above list is not specific to a particular substance. Parents who suspect their child is using dangerous drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) should contact their family physician immediately.
WHERE ARE THE
DRUGS OBTAINED?
Illicit drugs are surprisingly easy to obtain by adolescents. The family medicine cabinet usually offers a handy stockpile of prescription drugs, cough medicines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, reducing aids, and pain killers. Paint thinner, glue, and other toxic materials in the garage are also liable to be used as a means of getting high. Furthermore, a physician can be tricked into prescribing the desired drugs. A reasonably intelligent person can learn from a medical text the symptoms of diseases which are usually treated with the drug he wants.
Prescriptions can also be forged and passed at local pharmacies. Some drugs reach the street market after having been stolen from pharmacies, doctor’s offices or manufacturer’s warehouses. However, the vast majority of drugs are smuggled into this country. Surprisingly, many of them are first manufactured here and sold abroad before finding their way back as contraband.
HOW MUCH DO DRUGS COST?
Though the prices of various illicit drugs vary a great deal from area to area and dealer to dealer, depending on quantity and quality, the following figures represent the approximate black market values for the substances indicated at the present time:
1. Amphetamines: $1 and up per pill.
2. Methamphetamine: $10 per injection or snort. It is widely available in both powder and “ice” formulations, and typically sold in small plastic bags containing about a quarter-gram of the drug. Many people call it the “poor man’s cocaine.”
3. Barbiturates: $1 and up per pill.
4. Marijuana cigarettes: $2.50 and up for each. Marijuana is commonly sold in small plastic bags for $10 (enough for three to four cigarettes). Due to advanced growing techniques, today’s marijuana is about three times as strong as what was available to the Woodstock generation during the ’60s and ’70s. By the pound, cheap homegrown marijuana sells for approximately $250. The same amount of a more potent, better grade marijuana can sell for anywhere between $1,300 and $3,000.
5. Heroin: $10 to $25 per injection. It is often packaged for sale in small kiddy balloons for $30 and up (enough for three “hits”). A pound, with an average street purity of 10%, costs $20,000 to $25,000. Heroin is still as popular today as it ever has been, though cocaine and marijuana currently seem to attract more attention in the media.
6. Cocaine: $5 to $20 per usage, whether in powder (for snorting) or hardened “rock”/“crack” format (for smoking). Commonly sold on the street in plastic bags for about $25 and up per quarter-gram (enough for two to four “hits”). A kilo of cocaine (about 2.2 pounds) typically sells for between $17,500 to $28,000, but can soar as high as $40,000 depending on supply. A pound, with a typical street purity of 55%-65%, costs between $12,000 to $16,000. The sale of this drug is truly big business.
7. Hallucinogens: $1 to $10 per usage, though prices vary considerably depending on the quality and type. These days, LSD (acid) typically sells on blotter paper imprinted with colorful decals of cartoon characters, cars, etc., and is frequently referred to by the decal. Thus, if the picture on the blotter paper were of Mickey Mouse, it would be called “Mickey Mouse Acid.” LSD also comes as a liquid and as a gelatin substance. Fig ure $100 to $300 for a hundred hits. Another common hallucinogen, Phencyclidine (PCP), is widely available in liquid form at about $150 to $250 per ounce, but costs about $1,000 per ounce in powder or crystal formulations. PCP is often used to lace other drugs, especially marijuana and cocaine.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON
ILLICIT DRUGS?
Dangerous drugs can be categorized into the five major divisions appearing below. Fundamental details are also presented to allow parents to learn what their teen probably knows already.
1.
Stimulants:
(Uppers) These drugs excite the
user, inducing talkativeness,
restlessness, and over-stimulation.
They are commonly called pep pills.
a. Specific drugs
(1) Benzedrine (Bennies, whites, etc.)
(2) Dexedrine (dexies, hearts, etc.)
(3) Methamphetamine (speed, meth run, crysta
meth, etc.)
b. Psychological and physiological effects of
abusive use
(1) Insomnia
(2) Loss of appetite
(3) Dry mouth
(4) Vomiting
(5) Diarrhea
(6) Nausea
(7) Inhibitions released
(8) Blurred vision
(9) Aggressiveness
(10) Hallucinations and confusion
2.
Depressants:
(Barbiturates, Downers: These drugs
are used in medicine to relax and
induce sleep in the patient. They
are commonly called sleeping pills.
a. Specific drugs
(1) Seconal (red, red devils, pinkies, pink ladies,
etc.)
(2) Nembutal (yellows, yellow jackets, etc.)
(3) Tuinal (rainbows, double trouble, etc.)
(4) Amytal (blues, blue heavens, etc.)
b. Psychological and physiological effects of
abusive use
(1) Drowsy confusion and an inability to think
clearly
(2) Lack of coordination
(3) Lethargic speech
(4) Defective judgment
(5) Tremors
(6) Involuntary movement of the eyes
(7) Hostility
(8) More deaths are caused by overdoses of
barbiturates than any other drug—often
occurring accidentally.
3.
Hallucinogens:
These drugs are capable of
provoking changes in sensation,
thinking, self-awareness,
and emotion.
a. Specific drug
(1) Lysergic acid diethylamide tartrate (LSD-25,
LSD, acid, Vitamin A, etc.)
(2) Psilocybin/Psilocyn (Magic mushrooms,
shrooms, etc.)
(3) Peyote (Mescaline)
(4) Phencyclidine (PCP, Sherms, Lovely,
Dusters, etc.)
b. Psychological and physiological effects
(1) Bizarre psychic experiences with heightened
sensitivity to color and other stimuli.
(2) Psychotic illness occasionally occurs.
(3) Chromosomal breakage may develop.
(4) The psychic phenomena occasionally recur
weeks after the last dosage is taken.
(5) Alterations in time and space
perception occur.
(6) Illusions and hallucinations are experienced.
4.
Marijuana
: (Grass, pot, joint, weed, etc.)
Marijuana is usually rolled into
cigarettes. When smoked, the initial
effect is that of a stimulant.
However, continued usage will
produce drowsiness and
unconsciousness. Thus, marijuana is
technically classified as a sedative.
a. Psychological and physiological effects
(1) Pupils of the eye become dilated; the white
part becomes bloodshot.
(2) A loss of time and space orientation
(3) Muscle tremors
(4) Accelerated pulse and heartbeat
(5) Apparent dizziness
(6) Odd behavior
(7) Loss of inhibitions
(8) Delusions
(9) User becomes “psychologically dependent”
on marijuana.
5.
Narcotics
: These drugs relieve pain and induce sleep.
a. Specific drug
(1) Heroin (horse, H, Harry, smack, brown, etc.)
Heroin is an opiate. It is processed from
morphine but it is much stronger. The
tolerance for this drug builds up faster than
any other opiate and it is therefore more
dangerous. Heroin is the most devastating
and enslaving drug in existence. It is not even
used medically in America.
b. Psychological and physiological effects
(1) Heroin is a cerebral, spinal, and respiratory depressant.
(2) The initial reaction is one of euphoria and comfort. This feeling disappears quickly, requiring a larger dose on the next occasion.
(3) Immediately after injecting heroin, the user becomes drowsy. This is called “going on the nod” or “nodding.”
(4) Pupils of the eyes contract tightly.
GLOSSARY OF DRUG-WORLD SLANG
The following list will help you identify today’s common drug-world slang, but keep in mind that the terminology varies in different parts of the country and changes extremely rapidly. Also, with the prevalence of wire taps and electronic surveillance techniques used in drug enforcement, users often call drugs by anything but what you see on the list. For example, an individual who wants to buy, say a couple of pounds of marijuana, from his usual source might use the word taco, banana, radio, shirt, telephone or some other nonsense word instead of the more usual grass, pot, weed, etc. Thus, if you were to hear their conversation, it might go something like this:
“I’m looking to cop a couple bananas.”
“I’ve got one banana now, and can clean another banana and a half by Saturday.”
As it is said, a rose by any other name smells just as sweet. Likewise, drugs by any other name are just as dangerous. Don’t be fooled.
Having said that, let’s open the dictionary to the drug world:
