The Symptoms of Youthful Addicition

HOW can a parent tell if a child is using heroin? No single sign is certain proof. The drug affects individuals differently, and many symptoms can be indicators of other youthful maladies. But any sudden change in a child's manner or habits should put parents on guard. What to watch for:

P: Early stages of use are characterized by abrupt changes of mood and behavior, such as loss of interest in school, dates, sports and other activities, truancy, carelessness about personal appearance. Also by unusual seclusiveness, frequent talking or reading about drugs, loss of appetite, increased thirst, constipation. While "high," a user may act drowsy or intoxicated or show a lack of concern for pain. The pupils of his eyes may contract to pinpoints.

P: After developing tolerance to the drug, a user may be able to work and converse normally under its influence. Loss of appetite and constipation will continue; he may look pale and undernourished. Look for signs of injections: black and blue tattoolike marks, small scabs or long scars along veins, especially on forearms, backs of hands and insteps, small drops of blood on clothing. An addict may keep his sleeves rolled down to hide marks.

P: Withdrawal symptoms, when use of heroin has been interrupted, are the easiest indicators to spot: restlessness, nervousness, excessive yawning and sweating, running nose and eyes, twitching, cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. Pupils may be wide open. This period can last up to three days.

At all stages, a user may be desperate for money. Parents should watch for disappearance of salable objects from the house.

Heroin addicts are often extremely cunning in avoiding detection. The drug usually comes in little glassine bags. It is a fine white, gray or brown powder, very bitter to the taste. The tools needed for an injection usually consist of a hypodermic syringe, often made from an eyedropper and a needle, a spoon or bottle cap (to dissolve the heroin), and cotton balls (to strain it).

A parent should calmly confront a younger child with his suspicions without accusing or condemning him. He should take the child to a clinic, doctor or psychiatrist for an examination. If an older child flatly refuses examination, the parent should turn to juvenile court or social agencies for help. Some states have forced commitment to narcotics treatment centers, others permit voluntary rehabilitation.

In areas where such programs are inadequate, parents unfortunately have little choice but to go to the police. That step is a difficult one to contemplate, but a hooked child is almost certain to end up in police hands anyway as he steals to maintain his ever more expensive habit.

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