Heroin use in the suburbs

[Anonymous]

The misinformation on this short thread is somewhat astounding. Grateful for the few PPs who are sharing accurate info. To the others, keep reading threads like this and educate yourself - you want to be able to recognize the signs of drug use in your teen and not assume that they aren't using heroin b/c it's a lower income drug (what? not even the right stereotype!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am hearing from friends who work with kids (counselors, etc) that heroin absolutely is on the rise and much of it is after an issue with oxycontin or the like. Heroin is similar and cheaper. These are affluent kids in Bethesda, McLean, Potomac, Arlington. Parents need to open their eyes and be very aware of where their kids are, changes in behavior, money they have access to, physical signs, etc. It's a really hard drug to get off of and relapse with OD is very common.

The burbs don't look like the central cities:

http://thatguysonheroin.com

[Anonymous]

I was just talking with a friend about this the other day. She was so astounded to hear about heroin use in our community. I was actually angry with her, but tried not to show it. I think the schools or someone needs to be educating parents and quickly about this.

I never thought I would be the search the room and backpack
kind of parent, but having lived through addiction with a close family member, you bet I will (kids too young now to worry). But by 12, yes. I will be searching, following up on where you are, checking for physical signs of drug and/or alcohol use.

Read Beautiful Boy. It is an eye-opener.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am hearing from friends who work with kids (counselors, etc) that heroin absolutely is on the rise and much of it is after an issue with oxycontin or the like. Heroin is similar and cheaper. These are affluent kids in Bethesda, McLean, Potomac, Arlington. Parents need to open their eyes and be very aware of where their kids are, changes in behavior, money they have access to, physical signs, etc. It's a really hard drug to get off of and relapse with OD is very common.

The burbs don't look like the central cities:

http://thatguysonheroin.com

I am not sure I get it. There are people on heroin in the cities and there are kids experimenting and getting hooked in the suburbs. I don't think there are a lot of parents going around using heroin if that is your point. Trust me, when it happens, the kids often leave home and are living on the street or in crappy areas in the city (any city), doing what you do to get money to score. It's heartbreaking for the families that are going through this, and I know a few. Let's just say this is not true and I am lying and others on this site are lying. What would be the harm in opening your eyes to what your kids may do or be exposed to and looking for warning signs, paying close attention to them?

[Anonymous]

My cousin got caught up in the heroin epidemic in Plano, Tx back in the mid 90s. Upper middle class, white high school kid in an affluent area. He got very lucky and his folks found out early enough on and helped get him clean. I am not shocked at all if use is on the rise here among middle class/ upper middle class suburban kids.

[Anonymous]

Anyplace has drug addicts. The idea that drug addicts=black innercity kids is false. I'm not trying to cause anyone to panic, but nowadays drugs are everywhere, and your kid WILL have access to them.

This is why we need to sit down with our kids and have a frank discussion on drugs. Experimenting with weed is really normal in high schools, as is some harder drugs (Molly, etc). We, as parents, need to teach our kids that there is a line between experimentation and addiction. You don't experiment with meth, or heroin, or prescription drugs. Draw that line in the sand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My cousin got caught up in the heroin epidemic in Plano, Tx back in the mid 90s. Upper middle class, white high school kid in an affluent area. He got very lucky and his folks found out early enough on and helped get him clean. I am not shocked at all if use is on the rise here among middle class/ upper middle class suburban kids.

Thank God he had parents who noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please tell me this is not happening here. This article says heroin use is way up, including among middle- and upper-class suburban teens.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/07/us/long-island-heroin-youths/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

I know 2 families in the McLean area. They are well off but have invested more time into the career than their kids. And like one of the other posts asking about her husbands 2 year assignment. One of the fathers assignment turned from 2 years to 4.5 years. Messed the whole family up... Eldest son had no family guidance and got into bad influences and drugs.

B - I - N - G - O

[Anonymous]

Not as uncommon as you'd like to think:

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/jan/20/horrors-heroin-use/

[Anonymous]

Can someone (knowledgeable) tell us what the signs of heroin use are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone (knowledgeable) tell us what the signs of heroin use are?

People often snort it first because they are scared of needles. So a lot of sniffing like they've got a cold all the time.
They nod off a lot. Sleep more. If they start injecting, there may be visible needle marks. Mostly arms, but I have known people to inject between toes to hide the tracks.

And like other drugs, signs include missing money, loss of interest in other things, suddenly running with a different crowd, etc.

[Anonymous]

If you think for a second that any of these drugs are not in yoru area you are a fool. You need to get in front of your kids and talk to them about it and often.

you need to educate yourself of them and be prepared to answer all their questions about it.

the best advice anyone ever gave me was to go to a meeting at AA and NA -no not a drug user but opened my eyes that peopel who use and get addicted to drugs al started the same way

some peopel can handle it and not use harder drugs others can't you need to talk to your kids talk to them about the dark places that are out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, heroin is becoming trendy in wealthier areas because kids get addicted to their parents' prescription drugs, and then the drugs run out. Heroin is cheap and intense.

This is spot on

it isn't becoming trendy it has always been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am hearing from friends who work with kids (counselors, etc) that heroin absolutely is on the rise and much of it is after an issue with oxycontin or the like. Heroin is similar and cheaper. These are affluent kids in Bethesda, McLean, Potomac, Arlington. Parents need to open their eyes and be very aware of where their kids are, changes in behavior, money they have access to, physical signs, etc. It's a really hard drug to get off of and relapse with OD is very common.

The burbs don't look like the central cities:

http://thatguysonheroin.com

A lot of those pictures are not from Baltimore, but from Towson, Catonsville, Dundalk, Riviera Beach and other suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Dope wipes out whole nations. Like the opium in Gina and what happened to other great nations in history. History is repeating itself!