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Diagnosing Drug Use
“Diagnosing Drug Use” refers to the process of detecting impairment, and identifying its source. So we’re talking about finding a kid who is under the influence of a drug, and determining what it is that she’s on. If you’d like to know how to discover and interpret the physical evidence of drug use, please visit the Detecting Drug Use page. Unfortunately, most drug use takes place in private, away from parental supervision. Most drug paraphernalia will be hidden or discarded. But your children do have to come home eventually, and if you know what to look for, it’s almost impossible for them to conceal active drug use. So you need to be able to tell if they are impaired. Sometimes, its the only way of knowing that there is a problem brewing.
But first, a question: What sentiment does this picture (right) convey to you as a parent? Love, trust, closeness, support etc.. What concepts does it depict? Fun, playfulness, bonding etc.. You’ll be relieved to know that these are the same constituents of your most powerful drug diagnosis techniques. So there is no need to approach this subject with apprehension. With a little effort on your part, these methods will reward your family with an increasing sense of trust, friendship and mutual appreciation.
After becoming acquainted with The Hug Technique below, be sure to check out the Drug Evaluation Page where we’ll teach you how to capably diagnose the signs of impairment. We’ve also made you a list of quick and easy At Home Sobriety Tests that you can use when needed. And just click these words to get your own Drug Symptom Chart.
The signs of drug use are often found right in front of our eyes. We just have to know what things to look for, and what inferences to draw from them. Take the face, for example. Many drugs openly advertise their presence for the world to see. Alcohol is a vasodilator. It opens up blood vessels. This is why we sometimes see reddened eyes, flushed cheeks and swollen noses. Marijuana will produce alarmingly red eyes. People who have used depressants can be seen to have droopy eyelids or unusually slack jaw muscles. People who have used stimulants will oftentimes grind their teeth. Narcotic use will produce abnormally constricted pupils. Huffing gasoline can dry out the area around the mouth and nose, sometimes producing a visibly chapped ring of skin. Huffing paint or glue from a bag will sometimes leave residue behind. People who have snorted cocaine or heroine oftentimes have white powder clinging to their nasal passages. All of these things can be observed by a simple and casual observation of the face. You just have to know what you are looking for, and you have to get close enough to see it. The Hug technique (described below) can get you there.
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Start By Being Prepared:
If you do pick up on something suspicious, you have a very limited window of opportunity to test for it. So to begin with, every home with a teenager should be equipped with three indispensable tools. The first is a 12 panel home drug test. It should be left on the kitchen counter or displayed prominently in the bathroom. It costs about $35 and can be bought at your local pharmacy. The second is a hand held alcohol breath test or saliva test kit. Both of these are cheap and readily available too. The third item is a backup 12 panel drug test that you will keep in a secure location. Recent advances in drug testing technology have given parents a powerful advantage in this arena. You can now test your child in a moments notice and in the privacy of your home. Its quick, easy, cheap and reliable. You can sample their breath, saliva, urine or hair. You can even swab their belongings with drug ID wipes. No longer do you have to rely upon lay person suspicions or costly doctor visits to diagnose drug use. Used correctly, these drug tests will not only eliminate much of your doubt, but they will stand as a powerful deterrent. Best of all, they will increase the trust between you and your child. When parents feel capable of readily proving that their son or daughter is not using drugs, they become less suspicious. This often translates into less restrictions, less conflict and less strain on the relationship. Visit our Drug Testing Page for more information on this subject.
As you’ll see on the Drug Testing Page, these methods should be openly discussed and actually used on a routine basis. They should not be allowed to become taboo, or to develop a punitive aspect. Regular random drug testing should be a part of every teen’s routine. It is not a condemnation of your child’s integrity, it is an acknowledgment of the environmental risk factors. If you need statistical proof of these risks, just visit our Preventing Drug Use Page, or page through any of the drug tutorials on this website.
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Your Number One Tool: The Hug
Even if you can afford it, you obviously can’t drug screen your teen every time they walk through the door. Or can you? In fact, the number one technique for diagnosing drug use is something that you should be used to doing already. It’s called “The Hug.” The hug is exactly what it sounds like. Every parent should get in the practice of physically greeting their child every time they come home. When you do, don’t just go through the motions. You have to stop multitasking for just a moment and give them your full attention. Go up to them and greet them with a handshake, hug, kiss or hi-5. This minimal effort at least provides you with the opportunity to detect problems. You just can’t do that by yelling “Hi Honey!” from the kitchen.
When someone comes home, give them 30 seconds of your time, and expect the same in return. Ask them about their day or wherever they’ve been. As you’re doing so, inhale through your nose to detect foreign odors in their hair or on their breath. Let your eyes scan their clothes for stains or burns. Are their fingertips yellow? Are their eyes red? Is there white powder in their nostrils? Is their speech slurred? Are they acting spacey? Can they stand without swaying? This can all be done in a few seconds, and after once or twice, it will become a matter of routine. It’s a routine that will reward you in more ways than one.
Click here to download a Free PDF file describing the Hug Technique in detail. We’ve even made a handy checklist for you!
As you’ll soon see, your ‘presence’ is a present for both you and your child. This little exercise will keep you up to date on your child’s baseline mannerisms. Not only will this help you detect things like substance abuse or deception, but it will reveal things like sickness, depression, love and elation. If you don’t greet your child when they come home, its very easy for them to shuffle right down the hall and into their bedroom. What if they had a bad day? What if they’re sick? What if they were bullied at school? You may never know. What if they aced the test, made the team, or got the girlfriend? If you physically greet them, you’ll be able to tell. You can pick up on their mood and share in their experience. That makes you a friend. It builds rapport and strengthens the parent / child bond. You can’t get that from a drug test.
To do it right, you’ve got to make sure that your entryway is properly staged. It should be well lit, preferably with light projecting from both above and below shoulder level. You need to be able to clearly see inside nostrils, and remove the shadows that are typically cast over eye sockets. Remove any air fresheners or fragrant flowers that could mask the odors of alcohol, tobacco or marijuana. Finally, install a speedbump that will slow 
people down a bit and give you time to greet them. No need for cement here, just institute a “no shoes” policy or set the home alarm with an entry delay. These small tasks cause people to linger for just a moment prior to moving past the entryway. This ‘preparation’ will make your job easy, effective and inconspicuous.
Of course you know, that you’ll have to get up at midnight and physically meet your older ones when they come in. It stinks, but it’s necessary. Make it a rule in your home, that returning teens need to see mom or dad prior to hitting the sack. If they try to sneak past you one night, you know something’s up. You’ll also need to be alert for signs of deception. People spritz up before going out, not before coming in. If you greet your child, and find them sucking on a breath mint you should be suspicious. If they’re coated in body spray or if their eyes are wet with eye drops, you should probe further. On the next page, we show you how to actually conduct a physical evaluation that will reveal most signs of active drug use.