Warnings of child substance abuse

By Amos Johnson

If your child has an alcohol or drug addiction, the signs and symptoms can blend with common teen or young adult behaviour.

Such warning signs can involve changes in health, hygiene, behaviour and their social life.

“These are important aspects that we as a community need to address,” said Const. Harbinder Gill with LaSalle Police Services. “We figure this is an important subject that we need to bring up and talk about it and shine some light on it to prevent further harm.”

The Windsor Essex Community Health Centre hosted their fourth Not My Kid: Adolescents & Addictions community panel at the Giovanni Caboto Club in early February. Guest speakers attending the event included health professionals, recovering addicts and even those who lost loved ones because of addiction.

“I lived years in an addiction between cocaine, booze, fentanyl [and] oxycontin and today I’ve been able to stay sober for a year,” said James Lucier, 23, a recovering addict who spoke at the event.

Lucier is now a part of Spiritual Soldiers, a group of recovering drug addicts who raise awareness on the dangers of addicitons through their clothing brand.

Spiritual Soldiers donate 10 per cent of sales from each piece of clothing towards the fight against addiction.

According to the Spiritual Soldiers website, “addiction is a war and a war can’t be won without soldiers.”

Sharmaine Tanario-Battagello, the addiction system navigator for Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare said addicts can suffer a number of mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. While overcoming an addiction can be one thing, mental health is another problem to look out for.

“I may not be using a substance anymore and I may be doing well, but if I have some of those other issues that aren’t being addressed, it doesn’t feel nice to be in that [position],” said Battagello.

“That may lower the likelihood of maintaining my recovery.”

According to statistics shown on the Canadian Addiction Rehab website, over 60 per cent of drug users are between the ages of 15 and 24. With drug abuse a common cause of early death, there are many volunteer organizations and police services who are doing their part towards the fight against addiction.