The one question my son was asked at the hospital that completely stumped me

One minute you're answering all the questions because they're still a baby, next minute, they're launched into the same category as you while still in the paediatric ward!

The last time I was in the paediatric emergency department was when my child was a toddler and had laboured breathing from croup. 

I was asked a myriad of questions, including what his breathing looked like, how long it had been going on for, any other symptoms, etc. 

The common questions you'd be expected to be asked - and you having to answer - because your child is too young and distressed to answer in that time. 

Thankfully, I haven't needed to go back since. Which is why I was so shocked by how different your experience in the ER can be when your kid is 10 years older than the last time you were there. 

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Kids entering the paediatric ward are no exempt from questions about drugs and alcohol. Image: Supplied

An unexpected dash to emergency

Our weekend took an unexpected turn this week after an incident during a martial arts class turned nasty for my 12-year-old son. 

During a routine sparring class, he was flipped backwards and landed on his head. Yes, ouch.

While there were no obvious signs of injury, the next 30 minutes proved that a trip to the ER was needed. His vision became blurry, he was disoriented, sore head (obviously!) and vomiting. All the typical signs you'd expect from a concussion. 

As expected for a Friday night during cold and flu seasion, the ER was packed with people. We were rushed through with a head injury and landed ourselves a seat in the paediatric department, which was equally frantic. 

Walking in to the colourful room with the TV playing cartoons to keep sick little toddlers distracted during their lengthy wait, I couldn't help but reflect on how different it was to be in there compared to our last visit.

I was now with a kid who was on the cusp of being in the adult section AND the children's section of the ER. 

But nothing could prepare me for how the rest of the visit went. 

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At what age would you expect a child to be asked about drugs and alcohol? Image: Supplied

The question I was not prepared for

As opposed to having to answer the triage nurse and doctor's questions like our last visit, it was important that my son was able to answer the questions himself. 

Obviously because they wanted to monitor if his brain was able to function normally and his speech wasn't impacted, but also important because he was now at an age where he could answer for himself. 

All the usual questions about the incident and symptoms were thrown his way, and then came one that I was completely not expecting. 

"Have you taken any recreational drugs, drunk any alcohol, or puffed any vapes today?"

Sorry, WHAT?!

I mean, I wasn't offended by the question and was confident what the answer would be, but WOW! One minute you're answering all the questions because they're still a baby, next minute, they're launched into the same category as you while still in the paediatric ward!

My son wasn't at all phased by the question, but as the doctor walked off to sanitise her hands for further observations, I had to ask...

"At what age do you start to ask questions about drugs and alcohol?" I quizzed. 

While she agreed it is a little confronting asking a minor such a thing in the paediatric ward, she admitted that it was absolutely necessary for children who have hit 12 years or are entering/have just entered high school.

The sad reality is, for more times than we like to admit, the answer comes back with an embarrassing "yes". 

Teens are getting curious younger

We were discharged after five hours of monitoring in the hospital, but I was still amazed by the question days later. 

I took the question to Aussie paediatrician Dr Golly, who confirmed that he is not at all surprised that questions of this nature were asked. 

"There is no doubt in my mind that the age for onset for some of these recreational drugs and things like smoking, vaping and alcohol use is getting younger and younger," he told Kidspot. 

"It's a judgement call every time you see a patient and assess the patient within their family unit about whether or not you ask these questions. I think that there are tactful ways of going about it, but the unfortunate reality is that these questions do need to be asked because they have a significant impact on investigations and treatment and form a complete picture of the child's status at the time of presentation. 

"I certainly do appreciate how confronting it can be, but those parents who are on the receiving end of those questions should not take them as an attack or a personal front. It's merely healthcare professionals doing their due diligence and reflects the fact that unfortunately, these scourges very much do exist in our community," he added. 

RELATED: Teen’s death should force schools to educate kids about alcohol poisoning

Statistics show it's a question that absolutely SHOULD be asked

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the rise of young people dabbling with drugs, alcohol, and e-cigarettes is definitely on their radar. 

The use of electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) alone among young people in Australia has increased in recent years. 

In 2019, 4.1% of young people aged 14–24 used e-cigarettes, citing their most common reason for trying them was curiosity at 73%.

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

In the same age group, around 1 in 10 (10.5%) consumed 11 or more alcoholic drinks on a single occasion at least once a month, with the proportion for males almost 3 times as high as that for females (15.3% compared with 5.3%). The most common day? A Friday or Saturday. 

Moving on to more serious substances, 24% of young people aged 14–24 engaged in illicit use of drugs (including non-medical use of pharmaceuticals) in the 12 months before the 2019 survey. Again, males were more likely to engage in illicit use of any drugs than females (27% and 21%, respectively).

Statistics clearly show that my son absolutely should've been asked the question, even at the age of 12.

And, while confronting as it was to hear it as the parent of someone who I still very much consider my baby, I applaud the doctors for asking it. 

Originally published as The one question my son was asked at the hospital that completely stumped me