A parent can remind the addict that marijuana
can be habit-forming, cause listlessness with prolonged use, and temporarily
alter vision enough to make driving extremely dangerous. And, of course, too,
it may lead to possible arrest and conviction of a felony, barring the
individual from the practice of many professions and from obtaining a passport.
Barbiturates, it can be explained, can be as addictive as heroin. Strong doses
of amphetamines are dangerous, too, and even hippies have been known to post
signs warning that "Speed Kills.
“A child tempted
by drugs or already experimenting with them is not a hopeless case by any
means. And with wise rather than hysterical action on the part of parents,
there is a good chance he may "turn off" rather than "turn
on." Where, if needed, can a parent turn for help? A good place to start
is with the family physician. In most communities help is also available
through psychiatric clinics and outpatient services. Virtually every major city
has a center that will refer a parent to the best agency for a particular
problem.
Hospitals, child-guidance centers, voluntary health and social
organizations, and many law enforcement agencies which are anxious to protect
rather than prosecute, unless prosecution is absolutely essential, can tell
parents what to do.
HELP FOR
ADDICTS Addiction is a disease. It is not an easy one to overcome-but it is
curable in many instances. In fact, as authorities point out, many addicts,
when they reach the age of 30 or 35, often suddenly lose the need for heroin,
for example. They withdraw on their own and never go back to the habit. Why
this maturing-out process, as it is known, occurs is a mystery; addicts
themselves are unable to explain it. "Our problem," says one authority
"is to keep them from dying of heroin addiction before they get to be 30
or 35 and to replace their 10-year to 15-year period of drug abuse with years
of useful activity.
There are three major approaches to treatment in the
United States. One is civil commitment, used in some states, with emphasis on
education, job rehabilitation, and careful follow-up. Another is a methadone
maintenance program which substitutes the milder drug methadone for heroin and
includes schooling, job training, and other rehabilitative activities. There
are also group therapy programs, typified by organizations such as Synanon and
Day Top, which are regarded by many authorities as promising.
