Q:  What are the consequences of drug use for women?

A:   Research indicates that women can become addicted quickly to certain drugs, such as crack cocaine, even after casual or experimental use. Therefore, by the time a woman enters treatment, she may be severely addicted and consequently may require treatment that both identifies her specific needs and responds to them.

These needs will likely include addressing other serious health problems -- sexually transmitted diseases and mental health problems, for example. More specifically, health risks associated with drug abuse in women are:

Q:  Why do some women refuse to seek treatment for drug abuse?

A:  Many drug-users do not seek treatment because they are afraid, they fear not being able to take care of or to keep their children, they fear reprisal from their spouses or boyfriends, and they fear punishment from authorities in the community. Many women report that their drug-using male sex partners initiated them into drug abuse and then sabotaged their efforts to quit using drugs.

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Q:  How can I find out for sure if my child is abusing alcohol or other substances?

A:  Successful treatment for youth abusing alcohol and/or substances begins with early identification of symptoms and effective communication. If you suspect your child has symptoms of alcohol and substance abuse, involve him/her in honest, open and straightforward discussion about the behaviour that concerns you. Consulting with your teen's physician, teachers, student assistance counsellor or school social worker may also help gather information to determine if he/she is abusing substances.

Urine drug screen results are one way of detecting substance abuse. For some drugs of abuse, such as marijuana, a urine drug screen can be an effective means of finding out if your child is using illicit substances. However, they can be easily altered by youth by adding certain chemicals or water, and are therefore somewhat unreliable. Additionally, many substances of abuse such as ecstasy, GHB, inhalants, alcohol and many over-the-counter drugs are commonly abused and will not show up in a typical urine screening.

Q:  What are Club Drugs?

A:  Club drugs are increasingly popular drugs frequently used at all-night dance parties (“raves” or “trances”), dance clubs and bars. Ecstasy (MDMA), GHB, Special K (Ketamine), Roofies (Rohypnol), Rochies in South Africa, Ice (Methamphetamine), Cat (methcathinone)  and LSD are among the most popular and most dangerous. Ecstasy and LSD are often taken together, known as a “Candy Flip”.

Each substance, when abused, can lead to irreversible neurological damage. In addition, the inconsistencies associated with the sources, chemicals, and possible contaminants used in the manufacturing of club drugs further heighten the risks to the users’ mental and physical health.

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