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Avatar universal

Watson 503

I just found a pill (Watson 503) in my son's bedroom. I searched on Internet and was upset, to say the
least, to learn it was hydrocodone. I have not told him I found this pill as I would like to look around
his room and see if I find anything else that I need to address.  I am so worried.  He will be senior in
high school next fall and has never been a problem.  I mean the usual stuff, late curfew, attitude, speeding
ticket, etc.  He has always been in the Beta Club and now the National Honor Society, so obviously his
grades are excellent.  He has always been a party person and goes out with friends regularly.  I have seen
no change in his personality except with golf.  He loves golf and has been on the golf team since 5th grade
and in high school, but this summer he shows no interest and said he will not try out for high school team
this fall.  I could not believe it. One more thing.  He has a summer job and is extremely reliable and does
a good job.  (this comes from his boss, not me)  Just a little history.

My question is:  l.  What do I say to him?  How to approach this situation?  2.  Do you think the golf problem
is a result of drug abuse?  3.  Does one pill mean trouble?  4.  What else should I be looking for.
5.  Is this a drug teens want and if so why.  

Help!  Any information or input would be greatly appreciated.

I am so afraid.  I thank you for your advise and for just being here at a time when I need someone, but do not

Char
wish to share this anyone else, at this time
  
15 Responses
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Avatar universal
Ditto what Vicuser said. Was my first thought that at his age interest changes are common. I wil take a dance with a cute girl over Golf anytime.
Bart
Helpful - 0
175734 tn?1225134440
The fact that you foud it is a good thing.......When guys are really into ill's...they would never misplace or leave one.... So thats kinnda good...

It is the drug of choice fot young people.....................If you really want to get thru to him...Let him read on here people's post about going thru Withdrawals.....If i had known how real w/d was i know i would not have started.........
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Looking back at the things I did when I was that age, I would say that one pill is a red flag of potential future problems.  I always lied to my mom cuz I felt like she was attacking me, and it was easier to tell her what she wanted to hear than the truth.  It's a hard balance to find with a teenager to keep communication open without making the kid feel like you're invading his "freedom".  Like everyone else said, it's awesome that you're putting thought into this instead of just reacting.  And its best to bring it up conversationally rather than accusing.  You'll definitely get a better response if he doesn't feel under attack.  This could be teenage experimentation and nothing more, so definitely work on opening the lines of communication more so than focusing on the why's and what's of the situation. Try to get as real with him as you can, let him know that he doesn't have to hide anything from you so that way he'll feel comfortable telling you the truth from now on, and then keep an eye out for behavior and attitude changes in the future.  You are doing the right thing.  
Helpful - 0
176495 tn?1301280412
My wife has some serious pain issues and is going to a pain clinic.  She was out of pills a day or 2 before refill time and one day was in
considerable pain and said "I wish I had some percocet"..my 19 year old daughter replied "I can get you some in about 10 minutes...anything else you want?"

We were both shocked

Jim
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
He might not be taking or abusing the drug he might be selling the drug thats another option you could look at........
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I used to live behind a highschool and would watch the many people (including adults) wave a kid down to get drugs..from weed to pills etc...it is a terrible problem...many kids sell whole rx's...My daughter once got 30 pills of adderol from a kid at school...where do these kids get all this stuff??? They take it from their parents/grandparents and whoever else..drugs have always been around but pain killer addiction is at an all time high..I pray that he doesn't get in any deeper to this..
Helpful - 0
372416 tn?1242665752
About the Father-Son talk:  Did you mean that you can get just about any kind of pill, or a whole prescription?  
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
I agree with Sad and have him check this forum out.  It would be a real eye opener for him.  Good luck and let us know how it is going.               sara
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sad is plugged in on this one - my son just graduated last year and we have spoken about his high school - virtually any prescription you wish to have can be obtained with little notice...and about always mixed with liquor.....one pill isnt a disaster - but dont let it become one..................
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yes, this is serious.
there are so many people caught up in this pain killer addiction. it always starts out innocently. no one deliberately wants to get addicted.
they are nothing to play around with. not only do they work for pain but they give you extraordinary energy to do just about anything and that is how many get entrapped.
and they make you happier than hell.
but you can become addicted so easily and then the nightmare begins.
you should make him read some of the horror stories here. inform him that it is just a low grade form of heroin with all the same kind of withdrawls that he may have seen in movies.
just because it is a legal drug doesn't mean it is safe to take.
you are only trying to educate him on what exactly he is playing with.

and that it is no different than the street drugs out there that can jeopardize his bright future. i would say that a clear communication and good understanding to use this as a lesson instead of condeming. you want him to be on the same page.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree with the above..I also looked through my kids rooms...some people think it's wrong..But you know..I care about my kids and had I not done that..I would have never known the things I found out..unfortunately..and check everywhere..one place my daughter hid things was taped in a bag inside the heat duct..taped under the bed, in winter coat pockets (in the summer)..I would just like to add that your son obviously does not have a rx for this pill..it is unlikey that this is the first time he has had them..The schools these days are full of rx's..you can get ANYTHING...from ritilan,pain meds, xanax,adderol,ativan..just soooo many..My daughter (11) told me the other day that kids have "pill parties"..she learned that from the D.A.R.E officer that visited the school..I would sit your son down and warn him of the dangers of this..Have him sit and read this site...too all that people go through..God Bless..
Helpful - 0
372416 tn?1242665752
I agree with VicUser's comment on the golf issue.

If you don't find anything else in his room, then the 1 pill is for recreational use.  That's not okay though.  At this young age he needs to learn to enjoy what's ahead of him sober.  

It's hard for me to imagine how teens get just as addicted as adults do, but they do.  I just think it's a lot easier to get being an older person.  

1 "pill fun" time can lead to craving that same high again.

You're doing your job.  I too definitely snooped through my daughter's room when she was in high school.  I just wanted to know what level she was at without her knowing that I snooped.  My heart broke when I found rolling papers, and a few journal entries about me!

Glad you came here.  Best Wishes.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
As a father of two boys, well men they are now 24 and 21, who were very active in 4-H, soccer and Scouting I can tell you that his loss of desire to play golf at the HS level may not have anything to do with the vicodin you found. It is very common for the interest of boys at this age to change, things they once lived for now may become just something they enjoy on a much more casual level. Working, cars, girls and other things that we as adults take for granted are becoming a part of his life and may be displacing old likes and interest. Peer pressure and HS clicks could also be an influence on his decision not to play golf in HS as well, I have seen this a lot with my sons and their friends.

As far as the vicodin goes, depending on your relationship with him, I would ask him straight up about it. Don’t accuse him or anything just ask and let him explain. I told my boys from an early age that as long as I pay the bills their room was my property and if I wanted to go through it I would. I did find cigarettes in the oldest room once and we had a long talk about it and he knew my feelings and it came down to me telling him that I knew I could not control what he did on a 24/7 basis, but he knew what his Mom and I believed in and the way we felt and it was up to him to do the right thing, he doesn’t smoke now.

I don’t want to down play the fact that he had a vicodin in his room, it could be the beginning of something serious, but it could be an instance not a pattern. I agree if you have any doubt have him do a drug test. He sounds like a good kid, but even good kids can go bad if they get in with the wrong people or start bad habits.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Your doing great thinking this out. It depends if your son has some reason it is there that make real sense to you. Ottherwise 1 pill could be on the way into something that will be a problem. People use the drug becuase they do not feel the way they want too without it, simplistic speaking.

So if he needs counseling I mean your his mom, does he feel good about himself etc. Do not panic, what problem there may be if detremined is treatable and is not out of control at this point in time. Go be the Mom, help him find out.
Helpful - 0
460948 tn?1232302122
Hydrocodone is an opiate and it does two main things that people of all ages like, First it gives you energy and second it opens up the user's personality more than normal.
I would suggest looking through his room further before you address  this with him at all. Then depending on if you find anything else I would then confront him, but don't give him a way out such as saying the pill belonged to someone else. If he completely denies knowing anything about it the go to your local pharmacy and pick up one of the drug test that includes opiates in it. Tell him you want him to take the test to put your mind at total ease and then insist that he take it.
If he is involved in taking these now is the time to stop him before he becomes addicted. Good luck and welcome to the forum. Keep posting and we are here to help you.
Helpful - 0
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