Drug Use Help for My Daughter?

Question by Helpinglife: Drug use help for my daughter?
My oldest daughter (17) has been trying to experiment with drugs for the past few months. I’ve noticed when she is home alone certain inhalant objects seem to disappear into her room (hair spray- nail polish- white out- sharpies) what should I do?

Best answer:

Answer by Jim
i am in recovery and i can tell u that stuff burns out brain cells quick do something fast.star with taking away everthing

Answer by jannsody
You’re right to be concerned. Not to cause a panic, but my friend actually has a severe Brain Injury from inhalant use at the age of 12, now in her 30s.

Your daughter may not realize just how dangerous and destructive inhalant use really is. The chemicals in products used for huffing are actual POISONS that were never meant to go through the bloodstream.

It’s also important to point out that with “huffing” (fumes or chemical vapors), a person can actually die or get permanent neurological (brain, spinal cord, nerves) damage even after the very FIRST time of use.

You may be familiar with the concept of a family intervention. An intervention is to try to break through the denial of the addict that he/she needs outside professional help. The goal of an intervention is to try to persuade the addict to agree that he/she needs treatment. If the addict refuses to enter treatment, those participating in the intervention usually tell the addict of consequences that will be put into place such as not giving the addict money, not calling in sick to his/her boss, removing his/her pet animals (though legally via law enforcement/”humane society”/shelter), or not having any contact with the addict until he/she gets sober. (I realize that some of those consequences may not pertain to your daughter who is a minor, but they are examples.)

Just an fyi that the addict usually does NOT know of the intervention beforehand, or he/she may not actually show up. It’s also best done with a certified intervention specialist or at least a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) to help facilitate the planned meeting. There are no guarantees as to the outcome of an intervention, but perhaps it can help to “plant the seed” for future sobriety (being sober).

Since your daughter is under the age of 18, you may be able to have her mandated to drug treatment. How about calling your local municipal (township) building on the next business day (most likely Monday) to inquire about the process.

Here is a page by ehow.com that provides some info and tips on “how to (possibly) commit a minor to drug treatment” (though the site is *not* for school or professional research and it’s recommended that one try to first get the minor to agree to enter treatment on his/her own volition/willingness): http://www.ehow.com/how_6880472_do-commit-minor-drug-treatment_.html

To search for counseling and treatment programs for those with a substance abuse problem(s), and some may have state and/or county funding for those without health insurance: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and can click the first link.

Please get yourself to an Al-Anon meeting. It is a 12-step (self-help) program for those whose friends or family have a drinking problem, but one may attend an “open” Al-Anon meeting if the loved one doesn’t have a drinking problem. (It’s based on the twelve steps and principles of Alcoholics Anonymous but is separate.) Dr. Drew Pinsky (addictions specialist/doctor) has said that loved ones should attend Al-Anon to be a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. To put it more bluntly, you’re not going to “love your daughter to death”.

For Al-Anon meetings: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org

This site has more info re: “getting your child to (possibly) accept treatment for an alcohol or drug addiction”: http://intervene.drugfree.org/2010/01/getting-your-child-to-accept-treatment-for-an-alcohol-or-drug-addiction/

The tv show on A & E (arts and entertainment) “Intervention” has a site with more info re: the intervention process: http://www.aetv.com/intervention/learn-more/

Please do get your daughter professional help ASAP (as soon as possible). No one knows when his/her last time of huffing will be of having a quality of life or life at all.

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