Wooton:Examining local trends of substance abuse
By Will Wooton
I see the trends of substance abuse up close and personal. As a group, Pacific Treatment Services has assessed thousands of teens. Our tracking system for monitoring substance abuse is a formal system consisting of client honesty-based questioning and an Adolescent Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-A2). (More information can be found at www.sassi.com.) We have used this data in our practice to monitor trends which help us to better serve the families we work with. By being aware of what is going on in specific areas and schools, we know what to look for and can make parents more aware.
Will Wooton
Looking up national statistics on substance abuse can be done with relative ease ( www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/monitoring-future) but I prefer knowing what is going on in a specific San Diego school or neighborhood. Because I work in substance abuse, I don’t track prevention or how many teens first started using in a given area. I work with kids who already use and we track what drugs are “hot” or trends of abuse in a given area.
I believe that substance-abuse trends follow patterns. Each decade brings in a drug of choice. In the 1960s it was “peace, love and acid,” the 1970s brought us “disco and heroin,” and the 1980s was Nancy Reagan telling us to “just say no” as cocaine abuse ran rampant. The 1990s were a transition from cocaine to methamphetamine and now we are fighting prescription pill and heroin abuse.
My personal belief is there are social, financial and political factors that cause these trends but, most of all, it is the destructive effects of these drugs. All through the 1990s meth was everywhere, and kids and adults were abusing it heavily. In the later part of the decade, promotional campaigns showing people who lost their teeth and with horrible skin conditions were shown on TV and in print. The term “tweeker” became an insult teens would use against each other. It was looked down upon and thought of as a “dirty drug.” The new “cool” thing was to use Ecstasy and pills. We now can see the direct link between the pills and heroin abuse that’s hitting today. Meth was given such a bad reputation that teens didn’t want to use it. It fell out of favor as they saw their peers and people they knew becoming psychotic while using it.
Heroin is now the top drug in addition to marijuana and alcohol. A frightening 74 percent of the kids who we work with have used it and 92 percent say that they could get it at school within a day. Here is a breakdown of a few more.
• Cocaine: 9 percent abuse it; 16 percent can get it
• Ecstasy: 22 percent abuse it; 30 percent can get it
• Prescription pills: 60 percent abuse it; 88 percent can get it
• Methamphetamine: 15 percent abuse it; 26 percent can get it.
The favorite route of administration for heroin now is smoking but I.V. abuse, or shooting up, is growing at huge numbers. This will kill kids. No doubt or discussion needed about this; sadly, in a few years many teens will have died from heroin. The younger generation will watch their friends die and be scared away from it just like in the 1970s.
While meth is at a much lower level of use then in the 1990s, it is starting to come back strong. I have seen more teens using meth in the last 12 months then in the last three years combined. I think because of the low cost and the forgotten devastation of this drug, many kids will fall into it and, as we saw 10 to 20 years ago, it will be a challenge to save them.
Wooton is director of Pacific Treatment Services and co-author of “Bring Your Teen Back From The Brink”. PTS is a substance abuse company working with teens and young adults. Website: www.PacificTreatmentServices.com.
Related posts:
- Wooton: Education the key to parents understanding drug use
- Wooton: Is there value to drug testing?
- Will Wooton: What if someone doesn’t want to be helped?
- Will Wooton: How do you tell if your teen is on drugs?
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on Oct 11 2012. Filed under Columnists.
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Wills articles are by far the best part of this paper. It amazes me how he grasps the real issues. I spoke with him directly on a issue I was having with my son and not only did he give great advise and calmed my wife down when she was a basket case but he never charged me despite my offers. The schools were no help to my family only shuffling my son from one school to the next. Dare I say this man is not only a brilliant writter but a gift from God to this area's families.
I find the article very well written and extremely informative. Addresses the problem without scare tactics; just fact (which is frightening enough!). Thanks for what you do in our communities!
I like to share Will's articles with my friends who work in the school districts near me. They love reading his work, and feel that it better helps them to handle issues if and when they arise. Education and awareness is key, and there is a wealth of information packed into Will's writing. PTS is an amazing resource and a strong partner for the battle against substance abuse.
This article was quite scary. These are facts that we know for the most part. All of these drugs are equally devastating. I've seen the affects of Meth on my family, and there is permanent pshycological damage. Your teeth rotting is the least of your worries. My father died for this drug. It took control of his life, as most drugs do. And it killed him. Now I watch as my own son struggles with addiction. Prescription pills were his drug of choice. Of course starting with pot and alcohol. I know some may disagree that marijauna is a gateway drug. But it is for those that are predisposed to becoming addicts .And we dont know who that is till it is out of control. As a mom of one of these kids I fight with myself on a daily basis. The head knows what should be done, but the heart begs to differ. I Thank you Mr. Will Wooton, for the support you give and the information. I really don't know how I would have gotten though what I've had to go through without you. Also, I am so happy that the Pomerado News is continuing this column. It is very important, and helps us who are in the middle of this war.
Many of us have seen the trends change and drugs of choice progress. I also like to share these well written fact based articles with folks that are searching for options adn struggling with current teen behaviors. Such articles and information are an 'eye opener' for many. It is a starting point for many parents to become aware and ultimately take action. Thank you PTS. Keep it up.
Its down right shameful to see our kids using drugs. Sheriff, city hall,schools and some parents all doing very little but pretending like they are working hard. What are some tested scientific or therapeutic methods that actually work? Can one "official" from ANY department tell us what they are doing that works? My kids show me their Facebook pages and its clear that many teens are abusing drugs daily. At schools there are support groups and my oldest son says its a joke. Most kids show up to miss class and are high in the group. Sheriff tries to "talk" to the kid and take is pot away from him and tell him not to do it again. What good are these practices doing? Can anyone answer my questions or will this all just happen again and again until another tragedy happens in our school.
Great questions..It's very frustrating as a parent.I don't know if anyone has the right answers All I know as a parent of three recovering addicts is …you just never give up trying.Some things don't work other things do .You don't know what will work until you try…then you just keep trying,Probibly not the answer you are looking for but…there isn't always one answer.
As someone who has been involved in school groups for years, I can tell you any group that does not involve parents, will be a joke and make almost no progress. Push the schools and district to involve parents and not be afraid to report suspected substance abuse. On campus groups are important, but without outside motivation (parents and an aware school) they dont have much impact.
Great point, Grant. Totally agree!!!
As a parent of teens I am grateful for this information and feel more informed as to what to watch for with my kids.
That is incredible and frightening. It is sad to see the route young people will take. Thank you for a eye opening article.
As usual Will, your insight is amazing. Love these articles. It is so important as a parent of a teenage son to be informed and watchful! Thank you so much.
It's so important for parents to become educated and engaged on this issue. Perhaps it's time for parents in our communities to take a look at their own substance use attitudes and habits. The apple sometimes doesn't fall far from the tree. Thanks for keeping it real, Will!
As a parent of a teen that sadly became addicted to drugs, I must say that with all we did to try and avoid this devastating problem…….it happened. Drug sbuse is rampant in this county, and I believe the most important step in getting it under control is EDUCATION. The kids must be educated as well as the parents. And I mean the UGLY, SCARY, TRUTHFUL details that most of us parents really don't want to hear. I thank God for Will Wooten and the commitment he has made to FULLY AND EFFECTIVELY educate anyone willing to listen!! He has dedicated his life to saving the lives of our children. He holds family support groups, he speaks publicly, AND he has written a book that EVERY parent should have before their children enter middle school, his efforts are tireless and endless. Every parent must take a very proactive role, and as frightening as the thought of your child becoming an addict is……..go out and seek the information and get educated BEFORE you need it!
It is alarming how many kids have access to these kinds of drugs and frustrating how little the schools have in place to help parents deal with kids that are using. I agree with the comments that advocate parents getting involved. More groups like the one at Mount Carmel, that invites parents and students, should be available at all schools in the area.
It's refreshing to see that Will's education is so far reaching. I have to admit I wanted to say that "my kid would never do that", but I couldn't. When the focus goes from what went wrong to lets focus and change gears to a direction headed away from abuse it often takes more than parenting to treat, fix and or heal the problem. Denial can be just as powerful as drug abuse and cause rampant destruction to kids and families. So I applaud the efforts of PTS and Will in this battle. Our children are worth this war!!!