Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free

A Guide for Hispanic Families

Office of National Drug Control Policy | National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
M a n t e n i e n d o a s u s A d o l e s c e n t e s L i b r e s d e D r o g a s
U n a G u a P a r a l a s F a m i l i a s H i s p a n a s
O f i c i n a d e l a P o l t i c a N a c i o n a l S o b r e e l C o n t r o l d e l a s D r o g a s | C a m p a a N a c i o n a l A n t i - D r o g a s
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S u s A c c i o n e s y P a l a b r a s I m p o r t a n
S i u s t e d e s p a d r e , a b u e l o o s i m p l e m e n t e u n a p e r s o n a i n t e r e s a d a e n e l f u t u r o d e u n a d o l e s c e n t e , e s i m p o r t a n t e e s t a r c o n c i e n t e s o b r e e l
p r o b l e m a d e l a s d r o g a s . P r o b a b l e m e n t e , s u a d o l e s c e n t e e n a l g n m o m e n t o s e p r e g u n t a r D e b o o n o d e b o ? E s t e f o l l e t o l e a y u d a r a
e n s e a r l e a s u s h i j o s q u e l a r e s p u e s t a d e f i n i t i v a e s N o d e b o y n o l o h a r . S i u s t e d n o h a b l a c o n s u a d o l e s c e n t e a c e r c a d e l a s d r o g a s
i l c i t a s y e l a l c o h o l , a l g u i e n m s l o h a r . A s e g r e s e q u e e n t i e n d a n l o s r i e s g o s d e u s a r m a r i h u a n a y o t r a s d r o g a s . D o s t e r c i o s d e l o s
j v e n e s h i s p a n o s e n l o s E s t a d o s U n i d o s c o n s i d e r a n q u e c o r r e n u n g r a n r i e s g o d e d i s g u s t a r a s u s p a d r e s o p e r d e r e l r e s p e t o d e s u s a m i -
g o s y f a m i l i a r e s s i f u m a n m a r i h u a n a .
T a l v e z u s t e d n o e s p e r a q u e s u a d o l e s c e n t e e x p e r i m e n t e c o n m a r i h u a n a y o t r a s d r o g a s . P e r o e n l o s
E s t a d o s U n i d o s , l o s j v e n e s h i s p a n o s i n s c r i t o s e n e l o c t a v o g r a d o e s c o l a r t i e n e n e l p o r c e n t a j e
m s a l t o d e c o n s u m o d e l a m a y o r a d e d r o g a s i l c i t a s , i n c l u y e n d o m a r i h u a n a , c o c a n a y h e r o n a .
L o s A d o l e s c e n t e s , L a M a r i h u a n a y O t r a s D r o g a s
H o y e n d a , l o s a d o l e s c e n t e s e s t n c o n s u m i e n d o d r o g a s a e d a d e s m s y m s t e m p r a n a s , c u a n d o
s u s c e r e b r o s y c u e r p o s a n s e e s t n d e s a r r o l l a n d o . D e t o d a s l a s d r o g a s i l c i t a s , l a m a r i h u a n a e s l a
m s p o p u l a r . S i a l g u i e n e x p o n e a s u s h i j o s a l a s d r o g a s , l o m s p r o b a b l e e s q u e l e
o f r e z c a n m a r i h u a n a .
M a r i h u a n a
A l g u n a s d e l a s p e r s o n a s q u e u s a n m a r i h u a n a c o n f r e c u e n c i a m u e s t r a n s e a s d e
f a l t a d e m o t i v a c i n . S u s p r o b l e m a s i n c l u y e n f a l t a d e i n t e r s p o r l o q u e o c u r r e
e n s u s v i d a s y p o r s u a p a r i e n c i a . C o m o r e s u l t a d o d e e s t o s s n t o m a s , a l g u n o s
u s u a r i o s s u e l e n t e n e r u n d e s e m p e o m u y p o b r e e n l a e s c u e l a o e n e l t r a b a j o .
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You Matter
Whether you are a parent, grandparent or any other person who cares about a teens future, its important to address the issue of
drugs. Chances are, your teens will be faced with, Should I or shouldnt I? This booklet will help you teach your child to know that
the answer is, I shouldnt and I wont. If your teens dont hear about illegal drugs and alcohol from you, theyll hear about them
from someone else. Make certain that they understand the risks of using marijuana and other drugs. Two-thirds of Hispanic teens in
the U.S. see great risk of upsetting their parents or losing the respect of family and friends if they smoke marijuana.
You might not expect your teens to experiment with marijuana and other drugs. But in the U.S., Hispanic eighth graders have the
highest rates of use of most illegal drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and heroin.
Teens, Marijuana and Other Drugs
Teens today are using drugs at younger and younger ages, when their brains and bodies are still
developing. Of all of the illicit drugs, marijuana is the most widely used. If your child is exposed
to drugs, he or she will most likely be offered marijuana.
Marijuana Causes Problems
Some frequent, long-term marijuana users show signs of a lack of motivation
(amotivational syndrome). Their problems include not caring about what
happens in their lives and a lack of concern about how they look. As a result of
these symptoms, some users tend to perform poorly in school or at work.
Heavy or daily use of marijuana affects the parts of the brain that control
memory, attention and learning and can make it more difficult to learn and
perform tasks that call for more than one or two steps.
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E l u s o d i a r i o o e n g r a n c a n t i d a d d e l a m a r i h u a n a a f e c t a l a s p a r t e s d e l c e r e b r o q u e c o n t r o l a n l a m e m o r i a , a p r e n d i z a j e y a t e n c i n , y
p u e d e d i f i c u l t a r e l a p r e n d i z a j e y e j e c u c i n d e t a r e a s q u e r e q u i e r a n m s d e u n o o d o s p a s o s .
F u m a r m a r i h u a n a c a u s a a l g u n o s c a m b i o s e n e l c e r e b r o q u e s o n s i m i l a r e s a l o s c a m b i o s c a u s a -
d o s p o r l a c o c a n a , h e r o n a y e l a l c o h o l . L o s c i e n t f i c o s a u n e s t n a p r e n d i e n d o s o b r e l a s
d i v e r s a s m a n e r a s e n q u e l a m a r i h u a n a p u e d e a f e c t a r e l c e r e b r o .
U n c i g a r r i l l o d e m a r i h u a n a p u e d e c o n t e n e r h a s t a c u a t r o v e c e s m s d e a l q u i t r n , u n q u m i c o
q u e c a u s a c n c e r , q u e u n c i g a r i l l o r e g u l a r d e t a b a c o .
E n u n e s t u d i o d i r i g i d o p o r l a A d m i n i s t r a c i n N a c i o n a l d e S e g u r i d a d e n e l T r f i c o d e
C a r r e t e r a s ( N a t i o n a l H i g h w a y T r a f f i c S a f e t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ) , u n a d o s i s m o d e r a d a d e
m a r i h u a n a d e m o s t r r e d u c i r l a c a p a c i d a d p a r a c o n d u c i r . A d e m s , l o s e f e c t o s d e u n a d o s i s
b a j a d e m a r i h u a n a e n c o m b i n a c i n c o n a l c o h o l d e m o s t r a r o n s e r m u c h o m s p r o n u n c i a d o s
q u e l o s d e a m b a s s u b s t a n c i a s p o r s e p a r a d o .
A u n q u e n o t o d o s l o s c o n s u m i d o r e s d e m a r i h u a n a s e c o n v i e r t e n e n a d i c t o s , c u a n d o u n u s u a r i o c o m i e n z a a b u s c a r y u s a r l a d r o g a
c o m p u l s i v a m e n t e , s e d i c e q u e e s a p e r s o n a e s d e p e n d i e n t e o a d i c t o a l a d r o g a . E n e l 2 0 0 2 , m s d e 2 8 0 , 0 0 0 p e r s o n a s q u e i n i c i a r o n
p r o g r a m a s d e r e h a b i l i t a c i n d e d r o g a s r e p o r t a r o n q u e l a m a r i h u a n a e r a s u d r o g a p r i n c i p a l d e a b u s o , d e m o s t r a n d o q u e n e c e s i t a -
b a n a y u d a p a r a d e j a r l a . A l g u n o s u s u a r i o s d e g r a n d e s c a n t i d a d e s d e m a r i h u a n a s u f r e n d e s n t o m a s d e a b s t i n e n c i a c u a n d o d e j a n d e
u s a r l a d r o g a . E s t o s i n c l u y e n : i n q u i e t u d , p r d i d a d e a p e t i t o , p r o b l e m a s p a r a d o r m i r , p r d i d a d e p e s o y m a n o s t e m b l o r o s a s .
L a m a r i h u a n a q u e l o s j v e n e s c o n s u m e n h o y e n d a c o n t i e n e m s d e l d o b l e d e l a c o n c e n t r a c i n d e T H C , u n q u m i c o q u e a f e c t a
e l c e r e b r o , q u e l a m a r i h u a n a d e h a c e 2 0 a o s .
L o s j v e n e s q u e c o n s u m e n m a r i h u a n a s e m a n a l m e n t e c o r r e n u n r i e s g o d o b l e d e d e s a r r o l l a r d e p r e s i n e n e l f u t u r o . T a m b i n ,
l o s a d o l e s c e n t e s q u e f u m a n m a r i h u a n a s e m a n a l m e n t e , s o n t r e s v e c e s m s p r o p e n s o s a c o n s i d e r a r e l s u i c i d i o q u e l o s q u e n o
s o n u s u a r i o s . E l u s o d e l a m a r i h u a n a e n a l g u n o s a d o l e s c e n t e s h a s i d o v i n c u l a d o a l r i e s g o i n c r e m e n t a d o d e s u f r i r e s q u i z o f r e n i a
a o s d e s p u s .
2
Smoking marijuana causes some changes in the brain that are like those caused by cocaine,
heroin and alcohol. Scientists are still learning about the many ways that marijuana can
affect the brain.
One joint can deliver four times as much cancer-causing tar as one tobacco cigarette.
In a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a moderate
dose of marijuana alone was shown to impair driving performance; the effects of a low
dose of marijuana combined with alcohol were markedly greater than for either
substance alone.
While not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, when a user begins to seek out and take the drug
compulsively, that person is said to be dependent on the drug or addicted to it. In 2002, more than 280,000 people entering
drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse, showing they needed help to stop using it. Some
heavy users of marijuana show signs of withdrawal when they stop using the drug. They develop symptoms such as restlessness,
loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, weight loss and shaky hands.
The marijuana that teens use today has more than twice the concentration of THC, the chemical that affects the brain, than the
marijuana of 20 years ago.
Young people who use marijuana weekly have double the risk of depression later in life, and teens who smoke marijuana weekly
are three times more likely than non-users to have suicidal thoughts. Marijuana use in some teens has been linked to increased
risk for schizophrenia in later years.
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O t r a s S u s t a n c i a s
T o m a r a l c o h o l s i e n d o a n m e n o r d e e d a d p u e d e c a u s a r m u c h o s p r o b l e m a s a l c u e r p o y c e r e b r o d e l o s j v e n e s . E l u s o d e l a l c o h o l
d u r a n t e l a a d o l e s c e n c i a p u e d e i n t e r f e r i r c o n p r o c e s o s i m p o r t a n t e s d e l d e s a r r o l l o y p u e d e c a u s a r p r o b l e m a s c o n e l a p r e n d i z a j e y
p r o c e s o s d e l p e n s a m i e n t o .
M D M A , M e t i l e n d i o x i m e t a n f e t a m i n a , ( x t a s i s , X T C , X , A d a m , e l a b r a z o , b e a n s , d r o g a d e l a m o r ) e s u n a d r o g a q u e c r e a
s e n s a c i o n e s d e a f e c t o e m o c i o n a l , e s t m u l o m e n t a l , p e r c e p c i n s e n s o r i a l i n t e n s i f i c a d a y e n e r g a f s i c a i n c r e m e n t a d a . L a M D M A
p u e d e s e r p e l i g r o s a p a r a l a s a l u d , e i n c l u s o y e n o c a s i o n e s p o c o c o m u n e s , l e t a l . L a s p e r s o n a s q u e a b u s a n d e l a M D M A p u e d e n
e x p e r i m e n t a r a u m e n t o s e n e l p a l p i t a r d e l c o r a z n y p r e s i n d e l a s a n g r e y o t r o s s n t o m a s t a l e s c o m o t e n s i n e n l o s m s c u l o s ,
a p r e t o n e s i n v o l u n t a r i o s d e l o s d i e n t e s , n u s e a , v i s t a b o r r o s a , d e s f a l l e c i m i e n t o s , y e s c a l o f r o s o s u d o r . E n c a n t i d a d e s f u e r t e s , l a
M D M A p u e d e i n t e r f e r i r c o n l a r e g u l a c i n l a t e m p e r a t u r a d e l c u e r p o . E s t o p u e d e l l e v a r a u n a u m e n t o s o s t e n i d o d e l a
t e m p e r a t u r a c o r p o r a l ( h i p e r t e r m i a ) , r e s u l t a n d o e n u n f r a c a s o d e l a s f u n c i o n e s d e l h g a d o , r i n , y e l s i s t e m a c a r d i o v a s c u l a r .
L a M e t a n f e t a m i n a ( m e t a , a n f e t a s , s p e e d , t i z a , h i e l o , c r i s t a l , v i d r i o ) e s u n e s t i m u l a n t e e x t r e m a d a m e n t e t x i c o a s o c i a d o c o n s e r e l
c a u s a n t e d e e n f e r m e d a d e s s e r i a s , i n c l u y e n d o p o s i b l e d a o a l c o r a z n y s i s t e m a n e u r o l g i c o , c o m p o r t a m i e n t o s i c t i c o , p r d i d a d e
m e m o r i a y a g r e s i n . T a m b i n c o n t r i b u y e a l a u m e n t o d e l a t r a n s m i s i n d e e n f e r m e d a d e s i n f e c c i o s a s , p a r t i c u l a r m e n t e l a h e p a t i t i s y
e l V I H / S I D A .
U n a d e l a s s u b s t a n c i a s m s p e l i g r o s a s a b u s a d a p o r l o s n i o s y a d o l e s c e n t e s p u e d e s e r e n c o n t r a d a e n e l h o g a r . E s t a s s u b s t a n c i a s
t x i c a s s o n c o l e c t i v a m e n t e r e f e r i d a s c o m o i n h a l a n t e s v a p o r e s q u m i c o s q u e a l s e r i n h a l a d o s o r e s p i r a d o s p r o d u c e n e f e c t o s
p s i c o t r p i c o s . U n a v a r i e d a d d e p r o d u c t o s c o m u n e s c o n t i e n e n s u b s t a n c i a s q u e p u e d e n s e r i n h a l a d a s . M u c h a s p e r s o n a s n o s a b e n o
e n t i e n d e n q u e p r o d u c t o s t a l e s c o m o l a s p i n t u r a s d e a e r o s o l , q u i t a e s m a l t e s , p e g a m e n t o s y p r o d u c t o s d e l i m p i e z a p r e s e n t a n r i e s g o
d e a b u s o p o r q u e s u s e f e c t o s c o m o d r o g a s e s t n t o t a l m e n t e d e s c o n e c t a d o s d e s u u s o r e g u l a r s e a l a d o . S i n e m b a r g o , l o s n i o s
m e n o r e s y l o s a d o l e s c e n t e s s o n l o s m s p r o b a b l e s d e a b u s a r l o s y d e u t i l i z a r l o s c o n e l f i n d e d r o g a r s e . E l u s o c r n i c o p u e d e c a u s a r
d a o s c e r e b r a l e s o d e l s i s t e m a n e r v i o s o , d a o a l c o r a z n , p u l m o n e s , h g a d o y r i o n e s . L o s i n h a l a n t e s p u e d e n c a u s a r l a m u e r t e ,
i n c l u s o l a p r i m e r a v e z q u e s o n u s a d o s .
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Other Substances
Underage drinking can cause many problems for young bodies and brains. Alcohol use during the teen years can interfere with
important developmental processes and can cause problems with thinking and learning.
MDMA (ecstasy, XTC, X, Adam, hug, beans, love drug) is a drug that creates feelings of emotional warmth, mental stimulation,
enhanced sensory perception and increased physical energy. MDMA can be dangerous to health, however, and, on rare occasions,
lethal. People who abuse MDMA can experience increases in heart rate and blood pressure and other symptoms such as muscle
tension, involuntary teeth-clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness and chills or sweating. In high doses, MDMA can interfere
with the bodys ability to regulate temperature. This can lead to a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), resulting in
liver, kidney and cardiovascular system failure.
Methamphetamine (meth, speed, chalk, ice, crystal, glass) is a very toxic stimulant associated with serious health conditions,
including potential heart and neurological damage, psychotic behavior, memory loss and aggression. It also contributes to
increased transmission of infectious diseases, especially hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.
Dangerous substances abused by children and teens may be found in the home. These toxic substances are collectively referred to
as inhalants breathable chemical vapors that produce mind-altering effects. A variety of common products contain substances
that can be inhaled. Many people do not know or understand that products such as spray paints, nail polish remover, hair spray,
glues and cleaning fluids present any risk of abuse, because their intoxicating effects are so totally unconnected to their intended
uses. Yet, young children and adolescents are among those most likely to abuse them, and do seek them out for this purpose.
Chronic use can lead to brain or nerve damage, damage to the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Inhalants can cause death, even the
very first time they are used.
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs misused by teens today include pain killers and cold medicines with dextromethorphan
(DXM). Misusing these medications can cause respiratory distress, cardiac stress, seizures, dependence and serious withdrawal
symptoms. Misuse of DXM can cause nausea, vomiting, seizures, hallucinations and even death.
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A l g u n a s m e d i c i n a s r e c e t a d a s y m e d i c a m e n t o s q u e s e c o m p r a n s i n r e c e t a q u e s o n a b u s a d o s p o r a d o l e s c e n t e s h o y e n d a i n c l u y e n
l o s a n a l g s i c o s y m e d i c i n a p a r a r e s f r i a d o s q u e c o n t i e n e n d e x t r o m e t o r f a n ( D X M ) . E l u s o i n c o r r e c t o d e e s t o s m e d i c a m e n t o s p u e d e
c a u s a r d i f i c u l t a d r e s p i r a t o r i a , e s t r s c a r d i a c o , c o n v u l s i o n e s , d e p e n d e n c i a y c a s o s s e r i o s d e s n t o m a s d e a b s t i n e n c i a . E l u s o
i n c o r r e c t o d e D X M p u e d e c a u s a r n a u s e a , v m i t o , c o n v u l s i o n e s , a l u c i n a c i o n e s y h a s t a l a m u e r t e .
E l a b u s o d e e s t e r o i d e s a n a b l i c o s e s t a s o c i a d o c o n e l r i e s g o i n c r e m e n t a d o d e a t a q u e s a l c o r a z n , p a r o s c a r d i a c o s y p r o b l e m a s
s e v e r o s d e l h g a d o . L a s p e r s o n a s q u e s e i n y e c t a n e s t e r o i d e s s e p o n e n e n r i e s g o d e c o n t r a e r i n f e c c i o n e s p e l i g r o s a s , t a l e s c o m o
V I H / S I D A , h e p a t i t i s B y C y e n d o c a r d i t i s b a c t e r i a l . L o s e s t e r o i d e s a n a b l i c o s t a m b i n p u e d e n c a u s a r c a m b i o s f s i c o s n o
d e s e a d o s . L o s h o m b r e s p u e d e n d e s a r r o l l a r p e c h o s a u m e n t a d o s , y e l c u e r p o d e l a m u j e r p u e d e c o n v e r t i r s e m a s c u l i n i z a d o . L o s d o s
s e x o s p u e d e n d e s a r r o l l a r a c n y p r d i d a d e c a b e l l o .
D g a l e a s u A d o l e s c e n t e s u s E x p e c t a t i v a s
E s i m p o r t a n t e q u e s u a d o l e s c e n t e c o n o z c a s u s e x p e c t a t i v a s . D g a l e a s u a d o l e s c e n t e q u e n o q u i e r e q u e l o e l l a
c o n s u m a m a r i h u a n a , o t r a s d r o g a s i l c i t a s o a l c o h o l . D g a l e q u e h a b r c o n s e c u e n c i a s s i c o n s u m e d r o g a s .
C o n f o r m e s u a d o l e s c e n t e e n t r e a l a s e c u n d a r i a y l u e g o a l a p r e p a r a t o r i a , c o r r e r m a y o r r i e s g o d e s e r e x p u e s t o a
l a s p r e s i o n e s d e c o n s u m i r m a r i h u a n a y a l c o h o l s i u s t e d n o h a d i s c u t i d o s u s e x p e c t a t i v a s c l a r a m e n t e . A c o n t i -
n u a c i n , l i s t a m o s a l g u n o s e j e m p l o s d e c m o d e c i r l e a s u a d o l e s c e n t e c u a l e s s o n s u s e x p e c t a t i v a s :
H e e s t a d o p e n s a n d o l t i m a m e n t e q u e n u n c a t e h e d i c h o e s t o : N o q u i e r o q u e
c o n s u m a s m a r i h u a n a , a l c o h o l , t a b a c o o c u a l q u i e r o t r a d r o g a .
L a r e g l a d e n u e s t r a c a s a e s q u e n a d i e c o n s u m e d r o g a s .
E s t a b l e z c a R e g l a s C l a r a s
A u n q u e s u s a d o l e s c e n t e s e s t n c r e c i e n d o y p a s a n d o m s t i e m p o s i n u s t e d , e n e s t a e t a p a d e l a v i d a e s m s
i m p o r t a n t e q u e n u n c a q u e u s t e d e s t a b l e z c a r e g l a s y e x p e c t a t i v a s . D l e s u n m e n s a j e c l a r o : D i n o a l a s d r o g a s , i n c l u y e n d o m a r i h u a n a
l a p r i m e r a d r o g a c o n l a c u a l p r o b a b l e m e n t e t e n d r n e l p r i m e r c o n t a c t o . E s t a b l e c i e n d o u n a r e g l a f i r m e d e n o u s a r d r o g a s a y u d a r
a s u h i j o ( a ) a r e s i s t i r l a p r e s i n q u e r e c i b e d e s u s c o m p a e r o s y o t r a s p r e s i o n e s q u e l o s i n c i t a n a u s a r d r o g a s . 4
Anabolic steroid abuse is associated with increased risk for heart attacks, strokes and severe liver problems. People who inject
anabolic steroids put themselves at risk for contracting dangerous infections, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C and bacterial
endocarditis. Anabolic steroids can also cause undesirable body changes. Men may develop enlarged breasts, and women's bodies
may become masculinized. Both sexes can develop acne and hair loss.
Tell Your Teen What You Expect
Its important that your teen knows what you expect. Tell your teen that you do not want him or her using marijuana, other illicit
drugs, or alcohol. As your teen enters middle school and then high school, your child will be at greater risk of using marijuana
and alcohol if you have not made your expectations clear. Here are some clear ways you
can tell your teens what you expect:
Ive been thinking lately that Ive never actually told you this:
I dont want you using marijuana, alcohol,
tobacco or any drug.
The rule in our house is that nobody uses drugs.
Set Clear Rules
Even though your teens are getting older and spending more time without
you, its more important than ever to set rules and expectations. Give them a
clear message: Say no to drugs, including marijuana the first drug they are
likely to become involved with. Setting a firm rule of no drug use will help
your child resist peer and other pressures to use drugs.
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S i s u A d o l e s c e n t e D e s o b e d e c e l a s R e g l a s
L o s p a d r e s n e c e s i t a n a p l i c a r l a s r e g l a s c o n s t a n t e y j u s t a m e n t e . S i s u a d o l e s c e n t e c o n s u m e d r o g a s , a p e s a r d e s a b e r q u e u s t e d n o
a p r u e b a e l c o n s u m o d e d r o g a s , e s t a b l e z c a c a s t i g o s p o r q u e b r a n t a r l a s r e g l a s . E s t a s s o n a l g u n a s i d e a s : r e s t r i n g a e l u s o d e t e l e v i s i n o
I n t e r n e t ; s u s p e n d a a c t i v i d a d e s e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r e s t a l e s c o m o i r d e c o m p r a s , o a l c i n e ; n o p e r m i t a l l a m a d a s
t e l e f n i c a s o c o n t a c t o c o n a m i g o s d u r a n t e u n a s e m a n a .
E s t A l e r t a a l o s M e n s a j e s q u e P r o m u e v e n e l C o n s u m o d e D r o g a s
M u c h o s p a d r e s s e p r e o c u p a n p o r l o s m e n s a j e s d e l a t e l e v i s i n , e n l a s p e l c u l a s y m s i c a q u e a n i m a n o
t r i v i a l i z a n e l c o n s u m o d e d r o g a s y q u e n o m u e s t r a n l o s d a o s d e c o n s u m i r d r o g a s . U s t e d p u e d e e s t a b l e c e r
r e g l a s s o b r e l o q u e s u a d o l e s c e n t e m i r a e n l a t e l e v i s i n , e n l a s p e l c u l a s , o l a s c a n c i o n e s q u e e s c u c h a n . S i
t i e n e u n a c o m p u t a d o r a c o n e c t a d a a l I n t e r n e t e n c a s a , d e b e d e c i r l e a s u s h i j o s q u e u s t e d e s t e n c o n t r o l
d e l t i e m p o q u e p a s a n e n l n e a . L o s a d o l e s c e n t e s n o s o l o p u e d e n e n c o n t r a r s i t i o s d e I n t e r n e t q u e p r o -
m u e v e n e l u s o d e d r o g a s , s i n o q u e i n c l u s o h a s t a p u e d e n c o m p r a r d r o g a s p o r I n t e r n e t .
A p o y a n d o y E n s e a n d o a s u H i j o : E l q u e S i e m b r a , C o s e c h a
H a y v a r i a s o p o r t u n i d a d e s d u r a n t e e l d a p a r a c r e a r " m o m e n t o s d e e n s e a n z a " , u s a n d o s i t u a c i o n e s d i a r i a s c o m o
o p o r t u n i d a d e s p a r a h a b l a r c o n s u a d o l e s c e n t e s o b r e t e m a s i m p o r t a n t e s , t a l e s c o m o l a s d r o g a s . A l g u n o s e j e m p l o s d e m o m e n t o s d e
e n s e a n z a p u e d e s e r c u a n d o e s t p l a t i c a n d o s o b r e u n a t e l e n o v e l a o p e l c u l a c o n s u s h i j o s , o c u a n d o e s t n c e n a n d o o c o c i n a n d o j u n t o s .
P o r e j e m p l o , s i u n p e r s o n a j e d e t e l e n o v e l a o p e l c u l a e s t a c o n s u m i e n d o d r o g a s , u s t e d p u e d e i n i c i a r u n a c o n v e r s a c i n c o n a l g u n a s d e
e s t a s f r a s e s : M e p r e g u n t o q u e p e n s a r s u f a m i l i a s o b r e c o m o e l s e d r o g a ? " O , C m o c r e e s q u e a c a b e e l l a e n l a v i d a ? "
A c t i v i d a d e s S a l u d a b l e s : C u e r p o S a n o , M e n t e S a n a
P a r a a y u d a r a m a n t e n e r a s u s h i j o s l i b r e s d e d r o g a s , a n m e l o s a p a r t i c i p a r e n a c t i v i d a d e s s a l u d a b l e s , t a l e s c o m o l o s d e p o r t e s , c l u b e s d e
a c t u a c i n o g r u p o s m u s i c a l e s , o p a r t i c i p a r e n a c t i v i d a d e s v o l u n t a r i a s o r e l i g i o s a s . T a m b i n p o d r a n p a s a r t i e m p o c o n s u s f a m i l i a r e s
h a c i e n d o a c t i v i d a d e s a l a i r e l i b r e , y e n d o a l c i n e , o a y u d a n d o a s u s a a b u e l i t o s h a c e r a u n e n c a r g o , t a l c o m o i r d e c o m p r a s p o r e l l o s .
5
If Your Teen Breaks the Rules
Parents need to enforce rules consistently and fairly. If your teen uses drugs, despite knowing that you do not approve of drug use,
establish punishment for breaking the rules. Here are some ideas: Restrict television and Internet use; suspend outside activities, such
as going to the mall or to the movies; do not allow telephone calls or any contact with friends for a week.
Beware of Messages That Encourage Drug Use
Many parents are concerned about messages on television, in movies and music that encourage or trivialize
drug use and that fail to show the harm of using drugs. You can set rules about what your teens watch on
television, in the movies they see, or the songs they listen to. If you have a computer at home connected
to the Internet, you should let your children know that you are in charge of their time online. Teens can
not only find Web sites that promote drugs, but they can actually buy drugs over the Internet.
Supporting and Teaching Your Child. Who Plants the Seeds Is Who Gets the Harvest.
There are several opportunities in a day to create teachable moments, using everyday situations as an
opportunity to talk to your teens about important topics, such as drugs. Some examples of teachable
moments might be when youre discussing telenovelas or movies with your children, cooking together
or eating dinner. For instance, if a character on a telenovela or movie is using drugs, you could begin a conversation with
some of these phrases: I wonder what his family thinks about him taking drugs and getting high. Or, How do you think she will
end up in life?
Healthy Activities: Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
To help keep your teens drug-free, encourage them to participate in healthy activities, such as sports, drama clubs or music groups, or
to participate in faith or volunteer activities. They could also spend time with their families doing outside activities, going to the
movies, or helping their grandparents with errands, such as grocery shopping.
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T c n i c a s P a t e r n a l e s p a r a M a n t e n e r a s u s H i j o s S e g u r o s y S a l u d a b l e s
N o e s f c i l s e r p a d r e , e s p e c i a l m e n t e c u a n d o s e t r a t a d e h a b l a r d e t e m a s d e l i c a d o s t a l c o m o e l d e l a s d r o g a s . L o s e x p e r t o s d i c e n q u e
p a r a c r e a r u n a m b i e n t e q u e c o m b i n e p a l a b r a s c o n a c c i n u s t e d p u e d e c o n s i d e r a r e s t a s r e c o m e n d a c i o n e s :
I n v o l c r e s e e n l a v i d a d e s u s h i j o s . S e p a l o q u e h a c e n s u s h i j o s : s u s a c t i v i d a d e s y c m o p a s a n s u t i e m p o .
S i e m p r e m a n t n g a s e a l t a n t o d e d o n d e s e e n c u e n t r a n s u s h i j o s c u a n d o e s t n f u e r a n d e l h o g a r .
P d a l e a s u s h i j o s q u e l o m a n t e n g a n i n f o r m a d o r e g u l a r m e n t e c u a n d o s a l e n .
C o n o z c a q u i e n e s s o n s u s a m i g o s .
E s t a b l e z c a l m i t e s c o n r e g l a s c l a r a s y c o n s e c u e n c i a s s i s o n q u e b r a n t a d a s .
H a l a g u e y r e c o m p e n s e e l b u e n c o m p o r t a m i e n t o .
S i E s t n C o n s u m i e n d o D r o g a s : A G r a n d e s M a l e s , G r a n d e s R e m e d i o s
N o s i e m p r e e s f c i l d e s c i f r a r s i s u h i j o ( a ) e s t c o n s u m i e n d o d r o g a s , p o r q u e m u c h a s d e l a s s e a l e s y l o s s n t o m a s s o n c o m u n e s d e l o s
j v e n e s d e e s a e d a d . A u n q u e n o h a y u n a s o l a s e a l d e a v i s o q u e l e i n d i q u e q u e s u h i j o ( a ) e s t u s a n d o d r o g a s o c o n s u m i e n d o a l c o h o l ,
a l g u n o s i n d i c a t i v o s p u e d e n s e r :
F a l t a r a c l a s e o u n a b a j a e n e l d e s e m p e o e s c o l a r
O l o r e s p o c o u s u a l e s e n s u r o p a o c u a r t o
H o s t i l i d a d o f a l t a d e c o o p e r a c i n
C a m b i o s f s i c o s ( o j o s r o j o s , n a r i z c o n g e s t i o n a d a )
P e d i r d i n e r o c o n s t a n t e m e n t e o r e p e n t i n a m e n t e v e r l o ( a ) c o n
d i n e r o e n e f e c t i v o e x t r a
F a l t a d e i n t e r s e n s u s a c t i v i d a d e s r e g u l a r e s
C a m b i o s d e h u m o r d r s t i c o s
F a l t a d e i n t e r s p o r s u a p a r i e n c i a p e r s o n a l
C a m b i o d e a m i g o s
A c t u a r m s r e s e r v a d o s , m i s t e r i o s o s , o t r a t a r d e o c u l t a r s u s
a c c i o n e s o p o s e s i o n e s
6
Parenting Skills to Keep Your Children Healthy and Safe
Its not easy being a parent, especially when youre talking about touchy subjects such as drugs. Experts say that to create an
environment that combines words with action you should:
Get involved in your teens lives. Know what your children are doing their activities and how they spend their time.
Always know where your child is when he or she is away from home.
Ask your teen to check in with you regularly.
Know who your teens friends are.
Get to know the parents of your teen's friends.
Set limits with clear rules and consequences for breaking them.
Praise and reward good behavior.
If They Are Using Drugs. To Fight Big Problems, You Need Big Remedies.
Its not always easy to tell when teens are using drugs, because many signs or symptoms are common for youth this age. While there
is no single warning sign for drug or alcohol use, some signs to look for include:
Skipping classes or not doing well in school Unusual odors on their clothes or in their room
Hostility or lack of cooperation Physical changes (red eyes, runny nose)
Borrowing money often, or suddenly having extra cash Lack of interest in activities
Significant mood changes Loss of interest in personal appearance
Change in friends Heightened secrecy about actions or possessions
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P A D R E S .
L A A N T I - D R O G A .
C m o y C u a n d o B u s c a r A y u d a E x t e r n a
C u a n d o u s t e d s e p a o s i s o s p e c h a q u e s u h i j o e s t c o n s u m i e n d o d r o g a s , a c t e i n m e d i a t a m e n t e . N o n e c e s i t a e s p e r a r a e n c o n t r a r m s
e v i d e n c i a . U s t e d d e b e j u z g a r s i s u h i j o n e c e s i t a a y u d a . H a y b s i c a m e n t e d o s s i t u a c i o n e s : s i s u h i j o c o n s u m e d r o g a s s l o u n a o d o s
v e c e s y u s t e d c r e e q u e l o e l l a n o v o l v e r a u s a r d r o g a s , e x p l q u e l e q u e l o q u e h i z o l e p r e o c u p a . E s t a b l e z c a u n c a s t i g o c o m o n o p o d e r
v e r n i c o m u n i c a r s e c o n s u s a m i g o s p o r u n a s e m a n a . D j e l e s a b e r c l a r a m e n t e q u e l a p r x i m a v e z h a b r u n c a s t i g o m s f u e r t e .
S i s u h i j o e s t c o n s u m i e n d o d r o g a s f r e c u e n t e m e n t e y / o u s t e d n o t a q u e l o e l l a e s u n a d i c t o ( o s i n o e s t s e g u r o s i s u h i j o e s u n
a d i c t o ) , h a y a y u d a d i s p o n i b l e p a r a u s t e d y s u a d o l e s c e n t e . E n l a m a y o r a d e l a s c o m u n i d a d e s , u s t e d p u e d e r e c i b i r a y u d a d e u n
c o n s e j e r o d e l a e s c u e l a d e s u h i j o , d e s u p e d i a t r a , e n f e r m e r a o a l g n o t r o p r o v e e d o r d e a s i s t e n c i a m d i c a , o d e l g r u p o r e l i g i o s o
a l q u e p e r t e n e z c a .
S i t i o s P a r a E n c o n t r a r T r a t a m i e n t o :
w w w . f i n d t r e a t m e n t . s a m h s a . g o v
1 - 8 0 0 - 7 8 8 - 2 8 0 0
P a r a M s I n f o r m a c i n :
w w w . L a A n t i D r o g a . c o m
O t r a s P u b l i c a c i o n e s d e E s t a S e r i e :
M a n t e n i e n d o a s u s A d o l e s c e n t e s L i b r e s d e D r o g a s : U n a G u a P a r a P a d r e s A f r o a m e r i c a n o s
M a n t e n i e n d o a s u s A d o l e s c e n t e s L i b r e s d e D r o g a s : U n a G u a p a r a F a m i l i a s
7
When and How to Seek Outside Help
When you know or suspect your child is using drugs, act now. You dont need to wait for more evidence. You must judge when your
child needs help. There are basically two instances: If your child uses drugs just once or twice and you believe he or she will not use
drugs again, explain to your teen what he or she did that worried you. Set a punishment such as no contact with friends for a week or
so. Make it clear that if there is a next time, the punishment will be even tougher.
If your child is repeatedly using drugs and/or you see that he or she is addicted (or if you are not sure if your child is addicted), there
is help available for you and your child. In most communities, you can get help from a counselor at your childs school, your
pediatrician, nurse or other health care provider or your faith community.
Places to Find Treatment:
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
1-800-788-2800
For More Information:
www.TheAntiDrug.com
Other Publications in This Series:
Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free: A Guide for African American Parents and Caregivers
Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free: A Family Guide
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