Children and teens learn many things in life through trial and error. As babies, they might put just about everything in their mouths and seem to have zero fear. As they grow into teenagers, they may hear rumors or news about drugs, alcohol, and other substances and want to try them for themselves without having all the information or the common sense not to. Many teens have easy access to alcohol, inhalants, and drugs. Some reasons young people try substances include:
- Peer pressure or to fit in with others who abuse drugs.
- Boredom.
- They heard it was fun.
- They want to take a risk or are seeking a thrill.
- They are mimicking the adults in their lives.
- They are curious about what will happen.
These are some steps people can take to help keep children and teens away from drugs and alcohol, including:
- Modeling Behavior: This involves taking a hard look at the household “norms.” Do you have a drink to unwind or pop a pill to relax or calm down when stressed? This may be sending the wrong message to your children. Maybe there’s easy access to alcohol and this sends the message they can drink because it’s right there.
- Encouraging Drug-Resistant Attitudes: By promoting health and wellness, you can build a positive and open relationship within the family and show your child what the consequences of behaviors will look like.
- Talk About Drugs Early: Keep the conversation open as they come to you with questions or stories about their friends or classmates. Please keep an open mind, use constructive listening, and trust in your child, especially when they open up to you. Stay aware of current trends so you know what to talk to your teens about.
- Don’t Be Judgmental: Make sure your teen knows that you will pick them up from an unsafe environment — no matter what, no questions asked.
The easiest way to avoid a catastrophic accident with substances around the house or your teen beginning to abuse drugs or alcohol is to make these substances unavailable to your children. Addiction-proofing your home means ensuring addictive substances are not readily available in medicine cabinets or under the sink.
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Five Household Goods to Consider When Addiction-Proofing Your Home
When making your home addiction-proof, the five most common household items you should consider putting away or getting rid of are alcohol, prescription medications, over-the-counter medicine, inhalants, and household items that contain ethanol.
Alcohol
Because alcohol is a legal substance in the United States that is socially acceptable, it is the typical household substance that young people will be most likely to abuse. Having easy access to alcohol can lead to alcohol abuse, which can prompt reckless and dangerous behavior, including driving while intoxicated, getting into fights, and trying other substances. It can also lead to alcohol dependence and alcoholism. Don’t miss or dismiss alcoholism; it is a serious condition.
Prescription Drugs
Prescription drug abuse in America is a major problem, leading to addiction or impaired impulse control, among many other physical issues, illnesses, and even death. According to the Mayo Clinic, many prescription medications that young people could abuse can be found in the average American’s medicine cabinet. These medications can be dangerous when abused and lead to severe illness or even death by overdose.
Always pay attention to the status of prescription drugs in your cupboards by writing them down or otherwise keeping count of them. If it looks like more are missing than there should be, it may be time to talk to the other people living in your house. Keeping your medicines in a secure location, rather than an open cabinet, it also a good idea.
Over-the -Counter Medications
It is essential to teach your children and teens that even medications you can buy over the counter at a pharmacy can be dangerous or deadly if misused. They may be just as dangerous as street drugs in some cases and can be just as addictive and destructive to a person’s life.
- Some teens will abuse cough medicines like NyQuil, Robitussin, and Vicks Formula 44 for the active ingredient dextromethorphan (DXM). This is sometimes called “robotripping” or “triple C.”
- Stimulants can be found in diet pills, energy drinks, herbal supplements, and decongestants and are often abused in extreme attempts to lose or control weight or to feel more energetic.
- Some teens will abuse medications that contain Dramamine or diphenhydramine, found in Benadryl, a very dangerous medication that can lead to severe symptoms like addiction.
Ingesting over-the-counter medications in an attempt to get high can lead to serious health issues like:
- Liver damage.
- Kidney damage.
- Psychological issues.
- Cardiovascular damage.
- Heart attack.
- Motor coordination issues.
- Impaired impulse control.
- Gastrointestinal issues.
- Errors in judgment.
- Restlessness or increased anxiety.
- Brain damage.
- Seizures.
- Depression.
- Coma.
- Addiction with significant withdrawal symptoms.
Inhalants
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, inhalants are a category of chemicals found around the house or at a workplace that people purposely inhale to feel high. These chemicals damage and slow down brain activity and nerve fibers as they are inhaled, and they’re dangerous because when they enter the bloodstream through the lungs, they immediately limit oxygen intake and replace oxygen with volatile substances.
Common inhalants include:
- Volatile Solvents: Nail polish remover, paint thinner, gasoline, contact cement, dry-cleaning fluid, glue, and felt-tip marker fluid.
- Gases: Butane or propane, refrigerant gases, whipped cream cans, ether, nitrous oxide, chloroform, and halothane.
- Aerosols: Hair spray, vegetable oil spray, fabric protector spray, and spray paint.
- Nitrites: Leather cleaner, liquid aroma, room deodorizer, amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, and cyclohexyl nitrite.
The use of inhalants can cause long-term brain damage, making it challenging to learn new things or carry on simple conversations. People may begin to move slowly or become clumsy due to damage to the cerebellum. Muscle spasms, tremors, and other difficulties similar to multiple sclerosis can develop.
Unfortunately, inhalants are often the first type of drugs that children and young teens try because they are readily available around the house. Talk to your kids about this type of drug abuse and its dangers early, so they can avoid brain and nerve damage, preventing future problems by informing them about the true risks of these hazardous substances.
Ethanol-Containing Products
Ethanol is a common ingredient in many standard household products. Children and teens seeking thrills or a way to get high might be curious about ingesting these products, or they might do it on a dare from friends.
Everyday household items that contain ethanol include:
- Mouthwash.
- Vanilla extract, almond extract, and lemon extract.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Perfume or cologne.
- Cough syrup.
- Rubbing alcohol.
Ingesting these items can cause alcohol poisoning. Some may contain 20% to 35% ethanol by volume, equal to the amount of alcohol by volume found in liquors like rum or brandy, and are highly potent.
Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include vomiting, irregular or slow breathing, low body temperature, confusion, delirium, and cold or blue-tinted skin. If you suspect alcohol poisoning, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately, as it may result in coma or death.
Teens and children may only hear half the story from their peers, learning that drinking something like a mouthwash will “get them drunk.” Parents can help their kids avoid drug or alcohol poisoning by letting them know what will happen if they drink ethanol-based household products.
Drug abuse in America is a common issue. It can be frustrating and scary to think about your teen abusing household products in dangerous ways, especially if you don’t know where to turn when things get serious. But there are professionals who can help.
Learn the Risks of Easy Access to Alcohol at Muse Treatment
At Muse Treatment, we offer inpatient and outpatient programs to help people over drug and alcohol abuse, as well as post-acute withdrawal syndrome and medical detox. We believe in combining evidence-based therapies with medical care, education, counseling, helpful resources, and holistic treatments like massage therapy and meditation. Patients’ families may also want to participate in family therapy sessions.
We provide a realistic approach to substance abuse treatment and addiction to prescription medications, inhalants, and more. Our Los Angeles drug rehab identifies and treats the underlying causes of addiction by providing dual diagnosis treatment for those with mental illness and substance use disorders, and we provide patients with the skills and coping mechanisms they need for long-term recovery. Do not miss or dismiss your child’s substance abuse or overlook the dangers of easy access to alcohol. We can provide helpful resources, guide you through the first steps for getting help, and assist you as you support your loved ones. Call us at 800-426-1818 today to learn more.
External Sources
- Mayo Clinic — Prescription Drug Abuse
- National Institute on Drug Abuse — What Are Inhalants?
The post How Easy Access to Alcohol and Other Household Objects Can Lead to Addiction appeared first on Muse Treatment.
source https://musetreatment.com/blog/addiction-proof-your-home-5-household-items-people-can-use-to-get-high/
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