By Maria Elisa Cuadra-Fernandez, LCSW-R, ACSW, CASAC, CPP, CPS, CEO, COPAY, Inc.
Introduction
What is Heroin?
Other Related Health Concerns
Addiction to Heroin
Symptoms of Withdrawal
What Parents Can Do
Treatment Is Available
Getting Help
On Long Island, COPY Is a Bilingual Professional Resource
Introduction
The recent and unexpected deaths of several Long Island teenagers as a result of heroin overdose have been met with deep grief as well as shock and disbelief by many. Heroin, always thought of as an "inner city" problem affecting low income communities is now being seen in affluent suburban communities, on Long Island. This frightening reality poses new challenges and needs for parents who now are just beginning to learn how to protect their adolescent children from this danger.
This new influx is believed to be connected to the availability of higher "purity" heroin (which is more suitable to inhale) and to decreases in prices, making it more obtainable by youth. The thing that many teenagers don't understand is that all routes of administration (inhaling, smoking, and sniffing/snorting) are all highly addictive. Also, purchasing substances on the streets is highly dangerous as there is no assurance of its' purity nor its' potency. Overdoses and/or poisoning can occur because young people have no idea of what and how much they are administering to themselves.
What is Heroin?
Heroin is extracted from the seed pod of certain poppy plants. It is a processed form of morphine and is sold as a white powder, a brown powder, or a black sticky substance often called "black tar". One of the many dangers of "street heroin" (heroin sold on the street) is that it is often "cut" (mixed) with other substances. Heroin confiscated by authorities has been found to contain starch, sugar, powdered milk, and quinine. Sometimes, confiscated heroin has also contained strychnine and other poisons. Educating teenagers to the seriousness of these dangers is enormously important and necessary.
Other Related Health Concerns
Heroin abuse, like other substance abuse, is a progressive disease process. In teenagers it often begins as "recreational" use, increases slowly, and eventually leads to daily use and loss of control. Loss of control signals that both a psychological as well as a physical disease process is active. Loss of control also signals that the disease has moved from one of substance abuse to addiction.
Addiction to heroin puts teenagers at much higher risk for infection to HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV), and Hepatitis B. It also interferes with judgment, particularly when they are under the influence of the drug. This can lead to unprotected sex and the greater likelihood that the substance abusing partner is HIV positive or HCV positive. It can also result in unplanned pregnancy and/or an increased risk of sexual assault.
Other possible consequences from pro-longed use include bacterial infections of the blood vessels and heart valves, abscesses, infections of soft tissue, liver or kidney disease, scarred/collapsed veins, and pneumonia and/or tuberculosis. Once again, educating teenagers to these consequences and dangers is most important.
Addiction to Heroin
Adolescence is a time of exploration and experimentation. This makes many adolescents particularly susceptible to experimentation with heroin if available in their social circles. Unlike adults who begin their addictions by ingesting substances to avoid and/or cope with problems, adolescents frequently begin theirs with innocent experimentation thereby making education all the more important. Because heroin is so highly addictive its' use can easily "derail" teenagers from a healthy life course and interrupt their emotional and psychological growth and progress and their academic success. One of the most detrimental consequences is the addiction itself.
Addiction to heroin leads to drug seeking which is compulsive, molecular as well as neurochemical changes in the brain, physical dependence as evidenced by increased tolerance to the drug. Behavior changes become obvious to parents but also confusing. Often, parents never suspect that the changes might be a result of a growing dependence on this lethal drug. As the teenagers' body steadily adjusts to the presence of the drug, withdrawal symptoms begin to occur if use is reduced.
Symptoms of withdrawal that parents can notice are restlessness, complaints of muscle and joint pain, insomnia, bouts of stomach upset that include vomiting and diarrhea, goose bumps on the skin and complaining of feeling cold, and involuntary leg movements.
What Parents Can Do
- Read and share this article with your teenager.
- Be alert to the above mentioned symptoms of withdrawal.
- If your child appears impaired do not assume s/he has consumed alcohol alone.
- Notice changes in your child's patterns of behavior.
- Notice if s/he is associating with a different crowd.
- Secretiveness is often present.
- Refusing to bring new friends home to meet you is common.
- Notice unexplained periods away from home without legitimate explanation regarding their where-abouts.
- Drop is school performance.
- Cutting school.
- School or other officials reporting to you that your child has publicly misbehaved.
- Arrest or official reprimand for unruly behavior and/or public intoxication.
Treatment Is Available
If your child is experimenting with heroin or other substances, it is vital that you know as soon and as early as possible and that you actively seek professional help for your child and for your entire family. Family education and family involvement are pivotal for successful treatment.
Remember, all addictions exist in a context. A professional can quickly guide parents in re-evaluating and changing family dynamics thus making the presence of substance abuse harder for the teenager to maintain. Treatment can be provided both out-patient and/or inpatient depending on the needs of your teenager and family and on the level of care that is necessary. Therapy, detoxification, and psycho-tropic medications are available to effectively assist in a full recovery from heroin or other substance abuse.
Getting Help
The New York State, Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) is a wonderful resource to obtain licensed professional treatment facilities in your community and surrounding areas.
On Long Island, COPAY is a Bilingual Professional Resource
COPAY has successfully provided substance abuse treatment and education to adolescents, adults, and families for more than 30 years. If you suspect drug abuse in your teenager, call COPAY today at 516-466-2509. Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced professionals and discuss your concerns. COPAY also offers a Parent/Child Screening Service whereby you can contract for two sessions with a professional to explore your concerns with your child. In addition to the two sessions a urine toxicology evaluation will be completed that will provide clear answers and reassurance regarding substance use. It will clearly inform you if treatment/intervention is needed.
COPAY also provides a 12 week Educational Series for Families and Teenagers. Here, you and your child will learn about substance abuse and why it's best to avoid it. You will also learn about addiction in the context of the family and who families can change their structures thus making it difficult for the addiction to contine.
In addition to these services, COPAY offers intensive, medically managed, out-patient treatment for addiction to drugs and alcohol as well as treatment for co-existing mental health problems. All calls to COPAY are strictly confidential.
Call COPAY today at 516-466-2509. We are here to assist you.
COPAY is proud to be supported by the Great Neck UCF, Greentree Foundation, United Way of LI, Hispanic Federation, LI Fund for Women and Girls, March of Dimes, GNMCCCP, Levitt Foundation, The Horace and Amy Hagedorn Fund at LICF, Act for Youth, Manhasset Community Fund, and the National Tennis Association.
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