Signs Of Drug Use and What To Do If You Find Something | Awkward Conversations S2E6

Today’s awkward conversation is about knowing the signs of possible drug use and what to do. Our host, Jodie Sweetin is joined by Timothy P. McMahon who has been employed by the DEA since 1998 and Amy McCarthy, Clinical Social Worker at Boston Children's Hospital. Special Agent McMahon shares common ways that kids hide drugs in plain sight and what signs to look for with changes to personality, involvement, or money use. They also share tips on how to talk to your child about drugs and how to respond with love rather than anger if you discover your child is using drugs. This topic can be scary and overwhelming to parents but they need to remember the sooner you address it, the better.

Key Takeaways:
Teenagers often hide drugs in plain sight. Some places could be behind picture frames on the wall, in a book on their bookshelf, or even in a pop can or tennis ball.
If you discover that your kids are using drugs, be sure to not respond in anger. Take a step back and collect your thoughts before approaching your child. Rather than lecture them, ask open ended questions and come at if from a place of wanting to understand what’s going on.
When you find these drugs you need to address the situation as quickly as possible because the situation will only get worse. And with each time that they use or engage in drug use, it can only lead to that much more danger.

Resources:

About Elks
As a 150-year-old organization, they are 100% inclusive with a membership of close to 1 million diverse men and women in over 2,000 Lodges nationally, and while they consider themselves faith based, they are nondenominational and open to all creeds. The Elks have always prided themselves on civic duty, and the Elks Drug and Alcohol Prevention (DAP) program is the nation's largest all volunteer Kids Drug & Alcohol Use Prevention program. The Elks are also strong supporters of our brave men and women in the military, having built and donated the nation's first VA Hospital to the U.S. government. The Elks have donated more than $3.6 billion in cash, goods, and services to enrich the lives of millions of people!
About DEA The United States Drug Enforcement Administration was created in 1973 by President Nixon after the government noticed an alarming rise in recreational drug use and drug-related crime. A division of the Department of Justice, DEA is tasked with enforcing the controlled substances laws by apprehending offenders to be prosecuted for criminal and civil crimes. DEA is the largest and most effective anti drug organization in the world, with 239 domestic locations and 91 foreign offices in 68 countries.

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[williambryan]

This might be the most important and informative podcast of this series. Thank you to Jodie, Amy and especially Agent McMahon.

[jessprisco]

I am a middle school health teacher and use bits and pieces of these videos to show my students. They are really interested in what Jodie has to say. Very powerful for teenagers, thank you!