My Child is a Crystal Meth Addict - How do I Help?

Crystal meth or otherwise known as, “Ice, Biker's Coffee, Blade, Cristy, Crank” and a large variety of other terms is a highly addictive drug used as a stimulant.  It is one of the most damaging illegal drugs on the streets today.  It is so because it is very easy to make, is cheap to make, and there is a great deal of profit to those who manufacture it and sell it.  There are many kids who want to experiment with this drug just to see what it does; some will never use it again, while others will become easily addicted to it. 
 

How can I know for sure my kid is using meth?

First of all, you know your child better than anybody else; you will notice a change in behavior and personality.  They will often become aggressive, defensive, and those kids who are addicted will begin to find money any way they can to buy the drug; if you have noticed money missing from your wallet or purse, be aware that your child could be taking it to buy the drug.

There are home kits available that you can buy and make your child take.  It’s important, however, that you not tell him or her before hand, as there are also products available that will disguise the chemical elements in meth and will cause a drug test to come up negative.  There are also products available that strip the hair follicles of any signs of drug use.  If you are going to drug test your child, don’t give them any warning before hand; just spring it on him or her and watch them urinate; if you take your eyes off of them, they will dilute the specimen with water and make the test useless.  Other obvious signs are moodiness, a swift change in personality, and restlessness. 
 

How can I help my kid get off meth?

Unfortunately there is little you can do, as a parent, to break your child’s addiction to meth.  Because it is so highly addictive and so easy and affordable to get, it is very hard to prevent his or her use on your own. However, not all kids who use meth are addicted to it; they may just be experimenting with it or use it occasionally at parties and such.  It is up to you to find out the degree in which your child is using meth.  Those answers take time to figure out; you will have to watch your child closely and monitor the friends he or she is hanging out with.  If you discover that your child has a real problem; an addiction to meth, you should consider seeking help on a larger scale.  It takes professional intervention and possibly long term rehabilitation to get them back to who they used to be.  And even after they have gone through months of rehab and are clean, they will still desire the effects that they get from the use of meth.  It is, possibly, one of the most addictive and damaging drugs a person can get hooked on; that is why it is so very difficult to totally rehabilitate somebody from this drug.  But there is hope and you should never give up trying; it may be a long, difficult road but your kid is worth it.  You might have to resort to tough love giving them an ultimatum to either get help or get out.  Meth users will seldom stop on their own and will go to any means possible to get the drug; even stealing from the people who love him most.


Where to go for help

Once you are sure your child is using meth, the next step is to find him or her help.  There are many outstanding rehabilitation clinics around the world; you just have to do your homework and make a lot of calls and see which clinic is best suited for your child.  The next step is to get them to go to the clinic; this is probably the hardest part because they don’t want to stop and because they are using they are not thinking logically.  You have to be firm, tough, and lay down the law.  If you want to save your child’s life, it’s up to you to get them from where they are to who they can be by any means possible.  Tough love is difficult, but the alternative is much worse.  Many people who use meth can’t help themselves and often feel regretful for the behaviors that they display while using meth or finding ways to buy it.  A great majority of people addicted to the drug hate the addiction and would like to not need it; the problem is that this drug is so addictive and powerful, it is very difficult to stop once it gets beyond the point of just casual use; once a person is addicted it takes professional help to get them off of the drug.  Even with that, once they are back home and begin hanging out with their old friends, chances are they might relapse and begin using again.  Making sure who your kid is hanging out with and limiting him or her to those peer influences is a major key in keeping your child safe from relapsing into the addiction again.  It has been said that the craving for the drug never goes away; so if you can keep your child away from the supply, this will increase the odds that he or she won’t slip back into the addiction.


What ingredients are found in meth?

Crystal meth is derived from the common drug methamphetamine which is used as a weight loss treatment and is also found in common, over the counter cold medications.  Meth labs are dangerous and no city or town is immune to having a meth lab or even many meth labs in ordinary neighborhoods.  Some of the things used in a meth lab are:

•    Acetone
•    Methanol
•    Ammonia
•    Ether
•    Hydraulic Acid
•    Freon
•    Muriatic Acid
•    Sodium Hydroxide
•    Sulfuric Acid
•    Paint thinners

Most if not all of these products are highly flammable and are easily attainable.  Those who work in the labs are at great risk of causing a massive explosion from the combinations of these chemicals.
 

What effects does meth have on a person?

People get hooked on meth because of the immediate effects it has on their brains.  Those effects include the feeling of extreme euphoria, and a huge boost of energy.  Many meth users while using will not sleep for long periods of time. 

Some of the bad effects from the use of meth are, nausea and diarrhea, tremors, clenching of the jaw, loss of appetite, paranoia, agitation, violence, confusion, hypertension and increased heart rate, and constriction of the arteries.  Women who are using and are breast feeding will pass the drug through their breast milk into their babies.  Meth babies will have acute physical and mental disabilities and will suffer from lack of cognitive growth. 


Other facts about meth

There are many reasons why meth is so popular; not only with youth, but grown adults with good jobs and families.  The reasons vary as to why a person begins using; some use it because the effects can last up to 12 hours.  Some use it to get that extra energy boost to complete tasks from demanding jobs.  Some use it as a way to lose weight.  No matter the reason for using the drug, the over-all negative effects of it are still the same; it can cause permanent brain damage, extreme loss of weight, tooth decay, and numerous other negative side effects.
 

Red flags to watch out for

There are many signs one can watch for if you suspect somebody is using crystal meth.  Anxiety, jaw clenching, weight loss are just a few of the red flags.  You can also notice by the condition of the person’s teeth; they will show signs of decay and rotting and many meth users lose their teeth due to the effects of using meth.  Below you will see images of what meth can do to a person’s teeth.  It’s not pretty, but it is cold hard facts about the use and abuse of meth. 
 
Other signs you can watch for are disposable lighters (if the person doesn’t smoke cigarettes), glass tubes, aluminum foil, and any type of item that seems odd that your child would have.  If you think your kid is using meth and he or she is under the age of 18, you have every right to search their room; if they highly object, there is good reason; they are trying to hide something from you.  Be strong and stand firm, and go through with your search.  They will hide it anywhere, so be sure to make a complete and thorough search of his or her room.