Drugs
At the conception of the Wisconsin Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (WIDEC), methamphetamine lab numbers were at their highest not only in the state of Wisconsin, but also across the Nation. Children living in homes where methamphetamine is produced are at great risk of endangerment because of the lab's high explosion rates and the chemical hazards found in the environment. As a call to action, states began forming drug endangered children programs.
Today, WIDEC is not just about methamphetamine. We at WIDEC realize that children in ANY drug environment are at risk of neglect and/or abuse due to the child's caregiver's use, distribution or manufacture of drugs.
Any Internet search on a specific drug will give you information on what the drug is, how it is produced, street value, etc... WIDEC instead would like to call attention to the specific warning signs of each drug. When people are informed on what to look for and be cautious of, they are better equipped to report and most importantly protect the innocent children involved in such situations.
Below are various drugs and the prominent characteristics of use/abuse, as well as significant warning signs to identify drug endangered children.
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS: Any of the following symptoms can be signs of drug withdrawal. Nausea, sweating, tremors, agitation, irritability, loss of appetite, insomnia, confusion, headaches, tired, anxiety, thirst, cramps, carving.
ALCOHOL: slurred speech, bloodshot watery eyes, poor balance, odor of alcohol, drooping eyes, flushed appearance, confused, lack of concentration, vomiting, aggressive behavior, exaggerated behavior, crying, exhibitionist behavior. #1 DATE RAPE DRUG.
MARIJUANA: bloodshot eyes, euphoria, laughing, disorientation, impaired time & distance perception, binge eating, sweet smoky smell, dry mouth, unable to concentrate, short-term memory loss, hacking cough, lazy laid back appearance, unmotivated, talkative.
STIMULANTS: irritable, dilated pupils, intense emotions, fidgeting, headaches, difficulty concentrating, agitation, excessive activity, loss of appetite, insomnia.
ECSTASY: extreme euphoria, dilated pupils, teeth grinding, nausea, muscle pain, diarrhea, paranoia, loss of appetite, anxiety, increased body temp, insomnia.
DEPRESSANTS: slurred speech, staggering gait, depressed, spasmodic movement of eyes, unsteady, poor balance, confusion, droopy eyes, tired.
COUGH MEDICINE: euphoria, hallucinations, loss of coordination, drowsiness, increased pulse & blood pressure, hypothermia, slurred speech.
INHALANTS: chemical odor, sores around mouth/nose, coughing, runny nose, sneezing, impaired attention, slurred speech, red marks around nose & mouth, nosebleeds, nausea, vomiting, poor balance & coordination.
HALLUCINOGENS: sense of detachment from surroundings, hallucinations, fixed eyes, blank stare, anxiety, panic, distorted reality, slurred or blocked speech.
COCAINE: excitability, anxiety, dramatic mood swings, runny nose, sores around nose, hacking cough,
CRACK: tremors, involuntary muscular movements, paranoia
METHAMPHETAMINE: excitability, anxiety, tremors, involuntary muscular movements, dry mouth, dizziness, chest pain, teeth grinding, dilated pupils, tooth decay, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, increased blood pressure, insomnia, (awake for days at a time, then crashing & sleeping for days). Sores on body, (crank bugs), excessive scratching of skin.
NARCOTICS: constricted pupils, low raspy voice, droopy eyes, poor coordination, dry mouth.
STEROIDS: depression, violent outbursts, sudden weight gain, change in muscle mass, increased hair growth, irritability, acne, high blood pressure.
NICOTINE: odor, yellow fingers, fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, low raspy voice, dizziness.
How to Identify a DEC is a fantastic brochure produced by the Iowa Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. Below are some important warning signs everyone should know: