Friends of Narconon President's Briefing--Issue 98

Once it was thought that a person was a drug addict or alcoholic only if he needed the drug daily, or if he went through withdrawal symptoms (vomiting, seizures, cramps, death) when he abruptly stopped using the substance.It was thought that alcoholics and drug addicts were unemployed, poor, and from the inner city. These are misconceptions. Many drug addicts do not use drugs or alcohol daily and do not experience physical withdrawal when they stop using. The majority of addicted people are employed and appear to be functioning normally.This can help parents understand how it is their kids can go to school, seem to get good grades, appear to be doing well, and then all of a sudden - bang! Their kids drug problem is out of control. It can happen very fast sometimes and parents need to be on the alert for all the various signs and symptoms. While many of you undoubtedly feel you have things under control with your kids, and I do appreciate that. But I can tell you in all my years I have spoken to many parents, very upstanding moral people, who felt they had it under control, only to nearly lose their kids to drugs. And the common thing they say to me is I had no idea . So as we start a new school year, I want to provide all you parents, friends and family members with some very important tips to spotting signs and symptoms of drug use.