Hi there,

Drug abuse might lead to addiction; therefore it’s vital for you to bring all this to end before it’s late.  Moreover, your son is a teenager, and study reveals that teenage is the most vulnerable period of falling into the trap of addiction. That said, I think you need to be very considerate and patient to him. Talk to him and make him aware about the ill-effects of drug abuse, and addiction. And, if possible take some expert advice on this. Refer this useful resource where you can seek help: http://www.drugabuse.com/addiction-recovery.html?utm_source=minti&utm_medium=pv&utm_campaign=addictionrecovery . Hope it helps.

I would just like to thank everyone for correcting the miss information I gave. My apologies to all that read it. I had stated that i didn't knw much about what I said, and i guess i still over estimated how much i did know. So, thanks again Minti People for correcting me. I may be a social worker, but I'm not afraid to admit it when i don't know much, and this social worker at least, isn't afraid of being wrong, or being corrected. So thank you very much to all who corrected me, and provided the right information.

oxycontin is a form of morphine. its not new as someone had reported, and just because it is a morphine drug doesnt make it any less harmful, morphine can cause respiratory depression, dulled alterness and other dulled responses.  Talk with your child as to the reasons behind taking it. I think you also need to make the school aware as they may have some indication of the child who is giving this to others, to assist with stamping it out. further you should discuss this with your childs mother. If you get no where with your child which is more than likely, I would advise taking him to get proffessional help. For the issues behind the drug use and to help ceasation of it.

Hi, To be perfectly honest, you probably won't be able to stop him using it if he likes it. My ex introduced me to drugs, which were speed, cocaine and oxycontin (which is morphine in tablet form) when I was 20 years old... It was very easy to get oxycontin, mainly from people who had bought them off other people, who had cancer, who sell tablets from 30 dollars up to 100 dollars each depending on the strength of the tablet (30mg, 50mg or 100mg)... I loved it... It made you feel super relaxed... The speed and cocaine made you have super energy and be super happy - for a while anyway.... The problem with drugs is that they make you feel great for a while, and then they start to make you feel like shit (sorry for swearing)... Morphine, to start with, makes you really relaxed and happy, and you  have no cares in the world... If you have too much, you vomit sometimes... It is a synthetic heroin... Not to worry you more, but if he injects it, there is a chance of getting a blocked vein, as the tablets have wax on them, which needs to be taken off before the tablet can be "cooked" and injected... If the wax is left on, it can block your veins and kill you... If he is swallowing them, then it is safer, but still not good, as it is very addictive.... I have almost no memory of the 2 years I was on drugs, and it was mainly due to the morphine I think... My parents found out I was on drugs, and tried their hardest to get me to see the light, and come off them, but unfortunately, I thought they were full of it, and I was fine... Even when I started having hallucinations and paranoia from the speed and cocaine, it was still hard to admit it was from the drugs... I was very lucky that I never had to sell my body for drugs, and also that I was strong enough to realise what they were doing to me,after a while... I saw quite a few people end up in the mental hospital from the drugs, and I was so scared that would be me... I haven't touched drugs for 8 years now, but I still remember what it was like, the good and the bad... I would never touch them again, but I do understand why, once people use them, they want to do it again... My ex was 17 years older than me, and he had been involved in drugs since he was 25.. He is 47 now, and still uses them apparently... My 12 year old son knows about the dangers of drugs, I have had a few chats with him about drugs, because I worry that because they are so easy to get and also that so many young people use them, that he will want to try them, and I knew a lot of people who started using drugs in their early teens, from friends saying "try this"... I have told my son that drugs might be nice for a while, but then they start to make you crazy, and they eat away at your brain, and it is not something you should do... Even if your best mate offers you some, tell him no way, I don't want to lose my brain! I have always encouraged my son to be honest with me, and to ask any sort of questions he wants of me, and I will always answer honestly... So I am hoping I don't go through what my parents went through when they thought I was going to die from drugs... All I can suggest for your son is to be honest with him, and tell him the dangers of drugs, without lecturing him, and tell him that you love him, and that you hope he can be strong enough to say no to drugs... There is not a lot else you can do to stop him if he really wants to do it, I am sorry to say...

Uh oh!!  Well good side is by admitting it he is looking for help. Prolonged use of this stuff is so bad as I am sure you know.  Who sold it is of no consequence, getting your son help is of the utmost importance.  Why were you testing? Is his behaviour that out of control?  Get him to a concellor because he is crying out for help.  15 is such a hard time,not an adult,not a child and he needs to talk to someone he can trust to guide him. He is not firm in his believe in himself and that needs to be addressed as well as why he would turn to this powerful drug.  I wish you luck.

Defintely discuss with his mother. Take him to a  counselor because it is already out of control. It is usually anonymous if he tells you who sold it to him and then you could tell the principil.The most important thing is your son because he will probably always be offered drugs throughout his highschool years he just needs to say No. Also look at his friends and see if they are a good influence on him probably not.

I don't know much about this drug, other than that it is one of the newer drugs, and it is one of the worst. I know it causes a complete emotional numbing. They don't care about anything at all any more. And it is an addiction that holds on very tightly.

So, here are my suggestions:

1) go on line and research the drug as much as you can (if you haven't already). Knowledge is power, and for warned is for armed!

2) contact your local addictions services. Find out how they can help your son, and find support groups for yourself.

This is not an addiction your son can break on his own. And you will need help to help him to break it. This addiction can destroy families.

3)  Don't protect him from the consequences of his actions. If he commits a crime, contact the police.

Don't focus on pumping him for information. That will destroy any trust he may still have. This addiction destroys his ability to trust, or to care if people trust him. Really, most of the information will be obvious and in plain sight anyways. And if it isn't you don't want to risk yourself to find out.

4) If you have any safety concerns about his mother's place, you need to address it in some way. Either talk to her about it, or call children's services.

5) Contact the school. Schools have all kinds of policies for tracking down drugs in the school. here at least, they can search your child's locker, desk, etc at any time they feel is needed in order to protect the other students. And if they're trying to push it under the rug, well, schools usually respond pretty quickly to threats to make something well known and public, especially If it is big enough the media would listen.

6)Remember that this is the addiction, not your child, that you are dealing with. That will protect your relationship with him for when he gets well. Remind yourself regularly that these new drugs are so addictive that once or twice is all it takes. The addiction does get more serious with time, but from how you've described his behaviour, if this kind of attitude isn't normal for him, then he has used enough to be addicted, as it is influencing his behaviour. Especially if, once you read up on it, you decide that these incidents are long enough after his last use that he would be down from it.

7) Be as wise as a serpant and as gentle as a dove. I pray that this is early stages, but do what you can to cut off his access to cash. That never hurts. Do everything in love, but set clear limits, consequences and boundaries- ie: until you've gone Xmonths clean, you will no longer be able to ____ (be alone in the house). If you have a postive test then I will ________. If you have a negative test then ________. If you have X number of positive tests (showing that he is on the drug) then I will have no choice but to _____. Also, I would put information pamplets on his bed. One on the dangers of i.v drugs, one on HIV, one on safe needle exchanges, etc. I know you don't want him using, but you want him safe until he can get off it. This is an injected drug, so all those things apply. Make sure he knows you love him, because the drug may make it really hard for him to know that.

i hope this is helpful. Do check the web on the drug. that will help you understand. And get yourself some support/ counselling in how to deal with it. And I'm sure there are many here on Minti who'll be able to help you. all the best.

I Am's Child.