Cocaine usage

[netibiza]

What are the signs of cocaine usage (not sure about addiction) in a stroppy teen?  Is a permanently runny nose one of them??

[londondave]

sniffing and wiping nose, excessive talking, restless, sleeping odd times. aggressive attitude.

A very good friend of mine with a extremely highly paid job got into Coke and within 2 years he was an addict, had is house repossessd and owed �60k. He has now recovered and been off almost 3 years and doesn't even have alcohol.

[netibiza]

....but what would be the signs (if any) one month after last usage???

[Gevs1966]

Probably nothing

[CiderMonkey]

yes, it does give some people a runny nose... but so does hayfever at this time of year, so i wouldn't take that as a sign unless there are other causes for concern.

[jno]

CiderMonkey's right - there are a lot of runny noses about now, so if there are no other symptoms or circumstances, no need to fear the worst. (Also, stroppiness is more or less part of a teenager's job description.)

[beamer]

Cocaine is not really a Teen drug, unless the teen in question has a particularly large disposable income, or chips in with friends to have a small quantity.

There would be no signs one month after last useage.

Unless londondave's symptoms are present, i would not think a runny nose would be a sign of cocaine useage. I have a runny nose every morning, though that's because i cycle to work.

[misslideaway]

I agree with Beamer, Coke is not a teen drug.  It is an expensive drug and tends to be used in social circles ages 20+. 

It tends to make people more confident and loose some inhibitions, however I do not believe that Coke is an aggresive drug unless the person taking it is that way inclined.

I would look out for beeing constantly skint and having nothing to show for it. 

At teen years you should be more worried about Speed and Ecstasy, it which case look out for dilated pupils lots of energy, loss of appetite, odd sleeping patterns and generally strange behaviour.

[Bob A Job]

Hiya 'Net'

Isnt the tourist season just starting up over there? if so it used to be known as flu season, all the locals being exposed to a concentration of winter bugs in the space of a few weeks.

If your really worried, just sit him down and talk to him. Not to discipline him, just to ask him how things are going. tell him some wild things you did whilst a teenager, maybe he will open up to you.

Good luck

[netibiza]

But this teen has admitted to taking coke - but I don't know for how long or how serious.  She's clammed up now.  Should I ask the doc.  Apparently they are all on it over here, so it can't be too expensive as half of them aren't working in the winter.  I really don't know what to do for the best.  Should I leave her alone and keep my eye on her (she's banned from going out but as she's 19 it's a bit difficult) or should I frogmarch her to medical centre for a check up. 

[Gooner_Badge]

WOW .. There's a lot of ignorance out there.

Coke very much is an accessible drug to ALL ages.

It's very cheap to purchase now .. and for a long time that yuppie stigma has gone well out the window.

londondave had it spot on. 

[FP]

Oh Netty.  You must be worried.  Is there someone like a friend of the family who is closer to her age who she might talk to?  It's somewhat difficult to ban a 19 year old from going out.  Will she talk to you if you approach the situation calmly and rationally and explain to her that you are not cross or angry, just very concerned for her well being.  Difficult situation and fortunately not one I have ever had to deal with.

Best wishes.

[magicdice]

coke is accessible to anyone. you don't need a job to afford it, and drugs really aren't that expensive any more. a friend of mine started on it when she was seventeen. londondave has painted the best picture of coke user behaviour, in my opinion, but only for addicts or someone who's used it very recently.

however, you shouldn't worry yourself too much about the fact that she has said that she's used it, an awful lot of teenagers try drugs. taking a drug once is not the same as having a serious addiction to it.

best of luck in dealing with the situation

[spammylou]

Bad temper/mood swings.  Disappearing for long periods.  Permanently skint. Loss of appetite. Sniffing/tissues/sneezing.  But these are signs when someone is addicted, but it doesn't take long to become addicted and it certainly knows no boundaries.  My only advice I can give you based on my experience of it (I was married to a coke addict who went bankrupt and ended up in rehab) is; look after yourself and keep yourself apart from it as much as possible otherwise it will drive you INSANE, don't turn detective. Just be there for them; do not blame yourself,  but realise you cannot stop them, no matter how little or heavy the usage is.  I hope it is no more than a hormonal teenager with a bad cold.     

[jimmy654]

http://www.myaddiction.com/categories/cocaine_ withdrawal.html