This news is very disappointing.
The 19th Annual Partnership Attitude Tracking Study published by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America shows a 12 percent decline since 2005 in frequent discussions about drugs and alcohol.
According to the report:
Only half of parents, 54 percent, reported thoroughly discussing the use of drugs like heroin, cocaine and crack with their kids. Even more concerning is that a mere 36 percent of parents reported having in-depth conversations about abuse of prescription medications and only 33 percent have thoroughly discussed abuse of OTC cough and cold medicines with their teens.
More alarming is the misperception among many parents that the abuse of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications is safer than the use of illegal drugs.
Parents, we need to talk to our kids! With one in 10 teens reporting that they have abused cough medicine to get high, there is no room for a decline in parental discussions. Medicine abuse of any kind can be very dangerous and it is up to you to make sure your child knows the facts.
Please don’t wait to talk to your kids; there is nothing more important than their health and safety.
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Comments: 12
Well call me Meanie!!!!
What you are really saying here is parents need spend time TALKING WITH their children.
I agree. And the earlier, the better. I watched a TV Magazine show once and learned that it's not in high school but in in elementary schools even, when students begin EXPERIMENTING with drug use.
Evening meals in my parents' house gave them opportunities to deal with peer pressure issues for my siblings and me. Drug use among children is a Peer Pressure Issue.
Could it be that a commitment to the dinner table daily is whats needed? Children know that they must "just say no" but parents need to talk WITH them as to the HOW of saying no.
( Hi Susan Grace D. [above]
You two look beautiful together!)
Great discussion article, Becky. Thanks again.
Pat
Children, not just teens are more aware today than ever before and after the fact may be too late. I sat in on 2 meetings while my granddaughter was in rehab. She saw first hand were drug and alcohol abuse can end. She is attending meetings now that
she has left rehab. I just pray that what she has learned has been scary enough to
make her strong enough to stand up to her peers.