Help - what do street drugs smell like?

[Tim Morton]

I can't believe that someone would make such a blatantly untrue statement....... I know lots of kids that have not and would never consider taking drugs.

sorry to offend..a better less offensive choice would have been "as some kids do"...

[Phil Thien]

I wouldn't waste any time on smells. There are too many ways that people will try to hide or mask a smell, resulting in a different smell altogether.

And anyone that has watched Cops knows that people caught red handed won't admit to drug possession or use. You won't get honest answers from the kids. I've known parents that were told "it is just a little pot" only to later discover the kids were doing heroin.

I'd waste no time in getting them to the doctor to run an illicit drug panel.

[Tim Morton]

I wouldn't waste any time on smells. There are too many ways that people will try to hide or mask a smell, resulting in a different smell altogether.

And anyone that has watched Cops knows that people caught red handed won't admit to drug possession or use. You won't get honest answers from the kids. I've known parents that were told "it is just a little pot" only to later discover the kids were doing heroin.

I'd waste no time in getting them to the doctor to run an illicit drug panel.

You don't think that might be a tad heavy handed?

[Phil Thien]

You don't think that might be a tad heavy handed?

It is all in how you approach it.

But first, let me say that, where there is smoke, there is fire. I cannot help unless I have all the facts. I cannot count on the drug user to provide me with all the necessary details. Therefor the drug test is pretty much required.

If I had to order drug tests, I'd simply explain it thusly: "I don't like it any more than you do. But drugs are a powerful motivator and users will lie, cheat, and steal. I don't want to put you in the position where you feel you have to do any of those things, so we're going to do the smart thing and get some testing going."

Thankfully, I have never been put in this situation, but I know quite a few others that have.

Without getting too political I feel all drugs are gateway drugs.

I watched as my very first best friend (friends from the time we were two or three years old) became an alcoholic, then started using marijuana, then started using all sorts of prescription pills, then started using all sorts of other drugs.

You see, his parents thought it was cute to have him mix their martinis starting at about ten. By twelve he was a secret alcoholic. By fourteen he was smoking pot, and it just got progressively worse.

He died from an overdose three years ago. He had been clean for several years, but pain killers after a motorcycle accident got him going again.

His parents were unable to cope. He manipulated them like a virtuoso playing a violin.

I've noticed that most of the kids I've known that have become heavily involved in drugs had/have parents that were completely ineffectual. Probably the single biggest failure I've seen is that the parents attempt to reason with the children. IMHO, there is really very little reasoning with someone addicted to drugs.

[Robert McGowen]

You can check my credentials to answer this question in this thread, second post down.......
Here

In reality, a police department is not going to help you with identifying the smell.

Even if he knew EXACTLY what the smell was, that does not tell him at all who is using.

Someone mentioned that you do not have to be accusatorial, and that is true. In my opinion though, you DO have to hand them a drug test that tests at a minimum heroin, cocaine, meth, and marihuana. Explain to them why you are handing it to them, and make them take it right then. Anything short of that is doing a disservice to your children. A parent's job is not to be their child's friend, it is to be their parent.

Off rant!

[Brian Kent]

That addresses the fact that he doesn't even know if a family member is using. Thank you.

[David Larsen]

There is a whole new crop of synthetic marijuana type products on the market that are pretty popular with the younger generation. Many are legal, but states are doing what they can to try to get on top of it and add them to controlled substance lists. Many of these products could have an odd smell to them that doesn't necessarily smell like marijuana or tobacco. There is also another group of substances that are in the "bath salt" group. They label them "not for human consumption" but they are being used for just that.

Educate yourself by doing a search for either bath salts or synthetic marijuana. This might point you in a better direction.

Also, the guy that came to see you needs to be alert to behavior and physical changes in the suspected users. That might clue him in more.

[robert raess]

you could have the ash tested or if a pipe was found or aluminum foil..possible they could have a trace amt. revealed in a test.Local labs test for mold,asbestos,radium,water purity etc;they should be able to test residues and if not where to point you.

[Moses Yoder]

If you force them to take a drug test, which is your right as a parent if they are under 18, and they haven't been using, they soon will be. By forcing them to take a drug test you say loud and clear "I don't trust you to make your own decisions." In my opinion it would be better to sit down with them and talk to them about it, but the fact that the parent has already spoken to someone else about it before talking to their own children about it makes it look like there is some sort of communication problem.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Moses,

I would suggest that a parent asking their kid to take a drug test is rather stating they care enough about their child to take a chance on upsetting them. A parents responsibility is to be a parent first and a friend second, if possible.

Beyond that I would suggest that being a parent is the job for which all of us had the least amount of training and as a result have to play it by ear. I am the oldest of 6 kids and it amazed me how differently my sibblings got treated. I am sure my mother and father felt they learned some lessons with me and as a result modified their approach with my sisters and brother. I don't see this father asking for advice as demonstrating a family communication problem but rather a concerned parent seeking other parents' advice, recommendations and opinions before making a decision, taking action and possibly making a mistake. Communication problem? I don't think so.

[Brian Kent]

I have passed on your advice to the dad and won't comment any further about his specifics.

I welcome the continued discussion because parents and kids and protection from drugs is very important, and my responses will now be general ones, no longer related to this specific case.

Thanks, friends.