In October, I had an opportunity to attend the Sedgwick County Drug Summit hosted by the Wichita Crime Commission. What I received that day was a very harsh slap of reality of what teens in our community are facing everyday. Sheriff Jeff Easter shared that drug violations increase 21% in the last year in my zip code alone! Methamphetamine and opioids dominate our landscape and the dangers of addiction for our teens whose brains are still developing is significant.
Having homeschooled our son for 8 years now, I was completely naive to the dangers at his own fingertips. Access to information is constant in this very technological world, and the information our children can find is haunting. Drug calculators, DIY videos, hashtags and alternative language for teen texting slang is constantly morphing. Here are a few ways our family has decided to tackle this ever present danger:
Understand the Lingo
For the first session of the summit, I literally thought that JULLS were something kids were be-dazzling sparkly “jeweled” candy with. In actuality, it is vaping. Wanna hear something more ridiculous? “Dexing” is a thing that kids do to get high while still being able to pass a drug test. Vaping is the gateway, and kids are replacing the e-juice with vaping marijuana. The smell is not like the “skunky” odor from back in our day, but almost not identifiable making it convenient.
Monitor Online Activity
At our house, we run a pretty tight ship on social media—pretty much permanent lockdown, but even with our frequent browser history usage checks of our son’s account, we aren’t always on our A-game in running interference. But now that kids have access to drug calculators and urban dictionaries, DIY videos on drug making and concealing, and how to pass drug tests, you can bet that we are checking this daily (while still grossly limiting screen time).
Properly Store, Utilize & Dispose of Medications
According to Pharmacy Today, the official publication of the American Pharmacists Association, a study in 2017 showed that only 11.7% of parents with older children reported safe storage of their own prescribed opioids. Click here to find out the safe and proper way to dispose of controlled substances in your area.
Educate Yourself and Your Children on the Use of Drugs
Do not depend on school programs to educate your child on this issue (many schools no longer allot time for D.A.R.E.). The dangers of addiction and experimentation are real! “Swiss cheese brain,” was a term used over and over by various professionals at the summit. Methamphetamines cause issues with short term memory and motor coordination, even when users quit, the impairments can remain.
Advocate!
I listened to a courageous couple share their 18-year-old son’s heartbreaking story and tragic death after battling substance abuse that began during junior high. Between the family, the school, the judicial system, and the community, there was little anyone could do to help. The family turned their lives inside out to get their son help, even going as far as Omaha, yet, the addiction won out. Be willing to listen, learn, educate, and support others.
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