Drugs in The Kitchen

Drug abuse is prevalent these days, and prevention is better, and easier than helping a child or family member after addiction. There are many normal everyday things in the house we wouldn’t even think about abuse. Alcohol is easy, you can see the level going down in the bottle, and as a
 parent of a teen, you have probably checked this more than once. These other household items we wouldn’t think to do this. Some we don’t think of as drugs, or something addicting, but they are, so beware. The definition of a drug according to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug is: “A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function.” The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act defines drug as: “articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals.” The U.S. separately defines narcotic drugs and controlled substances, which may include non-drugs, and explicitly excludes tobacco, caffeine and alcoholic beverages.”

Caffeine

We don’t think of caffeine as a drug, but it is according to legal definition. Caffeine is not only a drug of habit, but it is also physically addicting. Yet we buy it at the grocery store and give it to our children all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I know I can’t get up in the morning without my cup of coffee, just stating the facts.

To give you an idea of just how much caffeine is in normal everyday drinks:
Let’s start with the obvious.

- 1 Cup of instant coffee 65mg

- 1 Cup of filter coffee 95mg

- 1 Starbucks “grande” coffee 330mg

- 1 Cup of tea 47mg

- 1 Can of cola 35mg

- 1 Diet Coke 47mg

- 1 Can of Red Bull 80mg

Caffeine is also in ice cream, decaffeinated water, chocolate, tea, and medications, and countless other sources.

1) Bone Mass Loss

2) Stomach Ulcers

3) Dehydration

4) Sleeping Disorders

Withdrawal Symptoms
Onset of withdrawal symptoms typically begin as early as twelve to twenty four hours after ending use of caffeine. The worst onset of symptoms typically being between the twenty and fifty
 hours after stopping consumption. These withdrawal symptoms can last as long as nine days. It is recommended that this Drug is stepped down, rather than ending abruptly, to lesson the withdrawal symptoms.

1) Depressed moods

2) Headaches

3) Irritability

4) Lack of concentration

Alcohol

Typically alcohol is kept in the kitchen area, and is readily accessible to all in the family. Unfortunately the average age of the first drink is now twelve, so beware. I know this isn’t something you want to even dream your young children doing, but ignorance in this case is not bliss. Obviously there are more than four effects, and four with drawl symptoms, but that would be a whole other article in itself.

Effects From longterm Use In Children

1) Brain Damage

2) Low Blood Sugar

3) Psychiatric Disorders

4) Children who drink are at an eight percent risk of abusing other drugs.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawl symptoms from alcohol can occur as early as five to ten hours after last drink, yet last up to ten days after.

1) Agitation

2) Convulsions

3) Blood Clotting Disorders

4) Heart Disorders

Now for the things we don’t really think about.

Nutmeg

Yes, you heard me right, nutmeg. A spice most people keep in their kitchen. This is one most people would not check. They smoke it, eat it, or drink it.

Effects From Use

Had a hard time finding long term effects, but short term effects are as follows:

Short Term Effects

1) Dehydration

2) Fever

3) Stomach Cramps

4) Nausea

Household Cleaners

Household cleaners typically kept under the sink are mainly used in “huffing”. One real short consequence to huffing is “sudden death” as your lungs scream for air.

Effects From longterm Use In Children

1) Hearing and Vision problems

2) Sudden Cardiac Arrest

3) Brain and Nervous System Damage

4) Delirium

Street Terms Regarding Huffing

1) Boppers

2) Amys

3) Locker Room

4) Snappers

Over The Counter Medications

These have been abused for years. The children don’t really realize, they are not getting high, merely overdosing. This may be the cough syrup, cold pills, pretty much anything. Same goes for prescribed medication, so please keep these under lock and key, no matter how innocent your little angel is. The average age here? Thirteen to sixteen years old. Remember all OTC’s and prescribed medicine applies here. These children will typically pop anything.
Effects From longterm Use In Children

1) Loss of Consciousness

2) Anxiety

3) Functional Impairment

4) Irregular Heartbeat

Withdrawal Symptoms

1) Bone Pain

2) Vomiting

3) Irregular Heartbeat

4) High Blood Pressure

The rest of the items are very hard to find any long term info, or bad side effects since mostly it was horrible sites touting the “wonderful, cheap, and legal way to get high” but I have listed some examples of what I
 found.

Odd Things Most wouldn’t Think About as Drugs

1) Mothballs

2) Catnip

3) Large quantities of Mulberries

4) A whip cream can

5) Stilton Cheese

The sad list goes on.

The really scary thing about all this, is when I started researching the “odd” items used, there were little to no sites saying how bad it was. Rather I found sites with thorough instructions. Not only were these sites laying out exactly how to go about getting high from household items they were encouraging it. The main feeling was they weren’t illicit street drugs so it didn’t matter. For these I refuse to cite, because although it was easy enough to find, I won’t make it any easier by listing these horrific sites.

Please watch your children for any behavioral changes and address immediately, best way to go. Some of these signs include but are not limited to (here’s where it gets hard, a lot of teens act some of these ways anyway):

1) Changes in Hygiene

2) Using Code when talking to friends

3) Disrupted Sleep Pattern

4) Declining Grades

If you or someone you know needs help with a child or teen in any of these abuses, there are many programs to help. First talk to your family physician about the matter, then there are NA meetings,AA meetings, wilderness programs, counseling, group therapy, and many more.