Sunscreen Tube Hid Vodka, Soda Can Held Illicit Drugs

VILLAS – As a parent, how would most people feel about entering their teenager’s bedroom (inner sanctum?) in search of signs of drug or alcohol use?
Would they feel embarrassed? Guilty? Or, would they feel like a caring and responsible parent?
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Timothy McMahon, public affairs officer for the New Jersey Division, wants parents and guardians to avoid feeling reluctant to perform occasional “walkthroughs” for the sake of their children and their own peace of mind.
On Sept. 27, a special presentation of “Hidden In Plain Sight” was presented at the Villas Fire House for a large gathering welcomed by Steve Selby of the  Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition, and Kim Mounce of the Cape May County Healthy Community Coalition.
The program is designed to educate parents to recognize the signs that a child might be using drugs or alcohol by knowing how to spot items in their rooms that might indicate that they need to have a conversation with their children.
McMahon began his 33rd repeat presentation by providing insight into the drug problem in New Jersey and the nation. He noted that the nation consumes 80 percent of all prescription drugs in the world while the population is 5 percent of the world.
The U.S. also consumes 95 percent of all hydrocodone that exists in the world. In New Jersey, there were 18,000 doses of Narcan used to reverse overdoses in 2014.
McMahon explained that the program is intended to prompt parents “To just look at things differently, and have an open mind” when it comes to parenting a teen in today’s world.
McMahon stressed that the exercise they would complete at the fire house would alert them to circumstances that they may encounter that, by themselves, seem to have innocent explanations, but when viewed in combination with other signs, might signal that it is time for a serious talk.
What to Look For
McMahon had set up a mock bedroom before the arrival of participants, including a chest of drawers, a wall, bed and night stand that looked typical with numerous items like ball caps, soda cans, books and ornaments on the shelves.
McMahon invited everyone to take a clipboard and to carefully examine the “room” and write down anything that they thought might be a drug or an alcohol hiding place.
The parents gathered at the mock-up, and it was clear that some were a little reluctant to pry, even during an exercise. Others took lots of time and came up with over 30 hiding places. 
After 10 minutes, McMahon began exposing the innocent looking items for what they were.
A large tube of sunscreen was a cleaned-out flask for vodka. A can of soda had a false bottom with drugs inside. 
Electrical outlets hid drugs behind the faceplate, while a fake yellow highlighter also contained pills. 
In all, McMahon had hidden 50 examples of drugs or alcohol in a tiny “bedroom” that measured 10-by-12 feet. McMahon then reminded all parents that they should not be “afraid” to look into their children’s rooms.
He explained his theory that those rooms “are my rooms, those beds are my beds.” He often walks through his own teenage son’s room while he is present so that he knows that his father cares and is not reluctant to be a parent.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.