Help how to drug test for Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP, Psilocybin)

[Sunnysideup2]

Hello, I’m new here and we are going through some really tough stuff with our 14 year old (ADHD, anxiety, depression). We have been using a 12 panel urine test by identify diagnostics to monitor his self medicating / drug abuse. Can someone point me in the direction or how to test for Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP, Psilocybin)- specifically shrooms? They don’t seem to be on the tests. Sorry for not giving more details, just surviving day by day. Thanks for any help you can share!

[Mateo00]

hi i dont think there is test for psychedelic . honestly and sorry you are not going to like my answers. Mushrooms are not addictive like other drugs actually. At 14 i understand you are concerned. I dealt w some issues w my son who is almost 16 . Mushrooms are knows and there is research on adult brain to help adhd / depression etc good luck and it’s probably not wjat you wanted to hear .

[Sunnysideup2 in reply to Mateo00]

Thank you Mateo00, I appreciate you taking the time to answer. It’s way past just the hallucinatory drugs (see response to Mamaichil below). We are working hard to keep our 14 year old alive… his intense lack of impulse control makes it very difficult and the PHP hasn’t really helped with medications yet because of the drug use. Surviving one day at a time.

[Mamamichl]

have you tried asking your doctor? They may have to call cps though and ask you both some questions to make sure you weren’t the one giving it to him. Here is some basic information. Hope this helps!

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[Sunnysideup2 in reply to Mamamichl]

Thank you for replying- it’s been a long few months. Essentially he started doing drugs in school (literally during school hours) and went through a really bad downward spiral. We didn’t even know until it was too late, he’s in a PHP (partial hospitalization program) 8-2 M-F due to an overdose / suicide attempt. It’s been 3 weeks. The program is mental health, not drug addiction and so we are still testing daily until he gets into a drug program as well. We are truly struggling how to get through this.

[Sunnysideup2 in reply to Sunnysideup2]

We have been advised by the PHP to open a voluntary case with CPS due to his continued behavior at home because I’m learning 14 year olds have the rights of an adult. Getting him into a residential treatment program may be where we have to pivot to, but there is some sort of process since he is refusing. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done and our family is falling apart.

[Mamamichl in reply to Sunnysideup2]

my brother needed to be into a residential treatment facility. I also worked at one for a short time. It really does help.

[Mamamichl in reply to Sunnysideup2]

one of my students and my partner’s niece both went to intensive outpatient programs for similar behaviors. Technically the mental health part is more important than the drug part, because it breaks the mental cycle that causes the addiction (if done correctly).

It’s gotten bad that the kids are able to find things so easily. They know where to get them without ID and which kid has a debit card their parents don’t monitor. They even buy burner phones when grounded. It’s hard to adjust to it. I even have to take students when there are 2 to a stall or give admin packaging of vapes I find in feminine product trash. Burner phones can’t be used without Wi-Fi though, so that may be helpful to know.

AA works for some people, but you may want to look into alanon for yourself (it’s for family members of people with addiction). Definitely get all involved counseling (you, kiddo, etc.) and Know you’re not alone in this. Are you in the process to get him in a drug program? I know beds are generally limited, so you’re probably on a wait list. My mom is an addict and her worst of her spiral was when I was 16, so I get the feels to an extent. Take it one day at a time, and one moment at a time, if a day is too long.

[Sunnysideup2 in reply to Mamamichl]

Thank you for answering. I just took the time to post on a help thread because I recognize that not many people will read a post on Hallucinogens if they don’t have experience with it. This is the post I made for background information

I could really use some advice from anyone who has been through this or something similar. I’ll try to summarize as briefly as I can- my 14 year old son has ADHD, depression, and anxiety. He had always been a kid with buckets of energy, no filter, and operates like a light switch (he’s on or off). Up until the last year or so, we have managed it without medication, using self monitoring, checklists, mediation, mindfulness, etc. and with the help of his teachers he was a good student, played sports, and we had a relatively happy family life (he had moments where he struggled). Then he hit puberty, the pandemic happened and it all spiraled out of control. He became addicted to video games (worst was League of Legends) and home life started getting harder (lying and stealing computers from our bedroom to stay up all night playing). He is a computer genius and has hacked every Wi-Fi controls we have tried. He has even gotten burner phones when we take away his privileges. Fast forward to counseling for a year on video game addiction, and here we are finding out my 14 year old is addicted to drugs to self medicate. Started with marijuana, moved to shrooms, nicotine and cocaine (he has no money, so even more concerning on that front). We went into counseling (family and individual) only to hit a crisis point. The counselor said to begin looking for PHPs (partial hospitalization programs). After spending day after day calling and begging, we got a call back three weeks later and he got in a good PHP. The night after day one, he overdosed / tried to end his life. We ended up in the ER. They didn’t have any inpatient beds and after 12 hours sent us home (I was too new at this to understand I should have fought harder to leave him there). Now we are three weeks into the PHP. He tells them what they want to hear and for weeks now the focus has been on “communicating” better as a family. This week he finally stopped putting on the act 100% of the time, and they are beginning to see what we see at home. They can’t certify him to inpatient or residential because he is aware that they will and will filter what he says so they can’t say he is unsafe. The PHP is mental health, and when he “graduates” they will send him to a zoom drug clinic three hours a day. We’ve been told that in two weeks the PHP reduces services for the summer so he will most likely “graduate” unless they can show he is unsafe. Please give me advice!!! Where do we go from here as parents? We test him daily for drugs, we have all medications and sharp objects in our house locked up. The PHP wanted us to help “build trust” so we gave him his phone back with the agreement that he would only use Spotify for a week. The first day he “broke”the parental controls and is texting, calling, and FaceTiming whoever he wants. He even broke the no contact rule at PHP and is starting a relationship with a girl in the program. Our other children are now also in counseling because life is so difficult at our house. Our marriage is holding on by a thread. My son wants to go back to drugs and tells us all the time we can’t control him. We are a family that has chores, and rules, and everyone participates, we follow through with expectations. I’m not sure what else to do!?!? I love him so much, he is only 14 and wrecking his life. He oscillates back and forth from I’m so sorry, I want to be better to I’m going to to whatever I want. We have cameras on all sides of our house (outside) because he told us of all the times he snuck out to parties all night… we have our house alarm on at night. He tells us he can pick locks (we lock up computers, medication, etc). The PHP suggested this week we open a voluntary case with CPS. I’m so worried that I’m not doing enough to save my son, but I don’t know what else to do!!! He is a wonderful young man, with so many good qualities and a huge heart. How do I just let him wreck his life? I feel like every day I am trying to hold us all together, make sure my other kids are okay, have counselors, have some of my attention. There is probably so much more I could add here… but any advice?!?!? In terms of medication he is on Zoloft. He has tried Concerta, Vyvannase and Adderall. The PHP has us not giving him Adderall because he was abusing it (pocketing it, cheeking, etc). Advice please!!!

[Mamamichl in reply to Sunnysideup2]

there is only so much you can do for having one who is addicted. You do need to focus on yourself and your happiness and not let him drag you down or you will surely drown as well. Addicts need to hit their rock bottom before they are ready to get clean. Based on why you are saying, he doesn’t feel he’s hit rock bottom. You may have to not have technology in the house for anyone. It’s a family sacrifice if you want to go that far. Life low tech, and done get Wi-Fi. He can’t use it if it’s not there.

Make sure he goes to that drug rehab. Addicts will always tell you what you want to hear. Pay attention to their actions, not their words. If you don’t take care of you, no one else will and you will drown. Have you tried calling cps? They may have ideas what to do.

[Sunnysideup2 in reply to Mamamichl]

Thank you for your reply. We are in the process of trying to open a voluntary case with DCF I believe.

[WYMom]

I empathize with your situation and am writing for you, not your child. I worked for a defense attorney for 13 years and now work in probation. You cannot change him. All your can do is love him safely. Addicts don't care who they hurt and they will hurt you often. He wont stop until he decides to. Nothing you can do can change that. This is not your fault. So yes, seek help for him. Love him. Just love yourself too. We are all human, doing the best we can.

[Sunnysideup2 in reply to WYMom]

Thank you! That means a lot. Trying hard to love myself and not blame myself.

[eva2022]

Where are you located? Maybe there is a high school close by you that is similar to the one below:

eaglerockschool.org/

It’s in the mountains away from people so there is no access to anything that is not on campus. I have a brother that went through what your son is going through. It was so hard for our family. I’m looking back, something like this may have helped our family. The chronic stress that a family experiences is incredibly difficult.

[Sunnysideup2 in reply to eva2022]

Thank you! Newport Academy is a place we looked at, and even spoke with the PHP about getting him into. Without his consent we have to go through different channels that seems impossible to navigate- we continue to work on how and what to do and what the right decisions are.

[Peerandparent]

Especially since your kid has been self-medicating, depending on what you're seeing, it may be worth considering psychosis. ADHD increases the risk of developing psychosis, especially if they have a history of marijuana use as well.

I'm sure you're in contact with their PHP, and even if they are limited in what they can report to you, they can always receive a report.

Hopefully since they're connected with mental health folks, they're aware of much of what's going on, but speaking as a mental health professional, I will say that people will often behave differently with their families than they do with relative strangers... Where I work we do our best to involve family as much as possible.

Keep in mind that your son's team may be aware of what's going on and be unable to tell you. They also may be taking a harm reduction approach with your son, or taking other steps to attempt to meet your son where he's at, rather than trying to force him into a plan that doesn't work for him and will likely cause him to reject the plan and go back to old habits.

Do what you need to in order to keep your family safe. You also need to decide where to draw the line with your son's behaviour and assign consequences you are prepared to follow through with. I'm not going to tell you where to draw the line and what consequences to set, because it needs to respond to your needs, limits and life. What I will say is to make sure you explain to your son why those limits exist and what he can and can't expect.

[Sunnysideup2 in reply to Peerandparent]

Thank you, I agree that it may be where we end up. I’m finding the way the system works is a slow trial and error manner.

[Knitting20projects]

PS. I just realized I know someone whose son attended a program like this in Utah. It turned his life around. He is now sober, living on his own, working, etc (I think he was 15 or 16 when he attended it). He has some ongoing mental health diagnoses he has to work on, but he is doing much better than his family expected he would be (considering where he was).

[Sunnysideup2 in reply to Knitting20projects]

Thank you for that! It gives me hope!