A recent study conducted by our friends at The Partnership for a Drug Free America shows that parents are talking less to their teens about the dangers of drugs.
This 2006 PATS survey on parents confirms a 12 percent decline from 2005 in the frequent discussions (four or more) between parents and their teens about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse (55 percent in 2005 down to 49 percent in 2006).”
In my opinion this is a travesty when you consider the plethora of information available on this subject via the internet, 24 hour news services, and other public sources. Even worse is the fact that many of the drug talks that actually do occur may not be relevant since they are on the dangers of heroin and crack instead of prescription pill abuse. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t consider any talk on drugs a bad thing, it’s just that in my area I know that kids will be much more likely presented with the opportunity to abuse OTC (over the counter) and prescription medications than your traditional illicit drugs.
“Right now in the U.S., there are 32 million[2] families with children at risk of abusing drugs and alcohol,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Partnership. “The results from this year’s survey reveal a critical need to better support, educate, empower and truly help parents feel more prepared and comfortable discussing the current drug issues this generation of kids is facing. The need has never been greater, nor has this issue been more relevant, as last year’s results showed 1 in 5 teens abused prescription medicine to get high and 1 in 10 abused cough and cold medicines containing the active ingredient dextromethorphan, or DXM. The most recent PATS findings show many parents wrongly perceive the abuse of these drugs to somehow be safer than the use of illegal street drugs. Parents need the facts, to understand how things have changed, and the dangers of intentional Rx/OTC drug abuse must be at the forefront of the discussions with their kids.”
Come on parents, the resources are out there; let’s have more talks that are more relevant about the dangers of drug abuse with your kids.
