Pubdate: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN) Copyright: 2002 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. Contact: http://www.knoxnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226 Author: Catherine Thatcher Brunson Note: Catherine Thatcher Brunson is the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Drug Commission in Knoxville. http://www.metrodrug.org/ PARENTS ARE BIGGEST WEAPON IN FIGHTING TEEN DRUG USE Good news! The national Monitoring the Future survey was released Dec. 16, and it shows that drug use among our nation's youth is decreasing for alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and ecstasy. Prevention efforts are working. But it is not time for us to pull back. As soon as we begin to see progress in one arena, we see a disturbing trend in another. What are we battling now? The only two drugs that showed increased use in the national survey were prescription drugs and crack. On Feb. 19, the Knox Teen Assessment Program survey will be released on Knox County's 7th-, 9th- and 11th-graders. How will we rank compared to national statistics? Will we be fortunate enough to see decreases in alcohol, tobacco and other drugs? If we do see decreases, does that mean we don't need increasing efforts directed towards drug prevention? Academic failure, truancy, violence, theft and risky sexual behavior are often associated with illicit drug use. Further, most of the leading causes of death of young people - motor vehicle crashes, homicide, injury and suicide - are more likely to occur when under the influence of psychoactive substances. Do you think your child is immune to this problem? Do you think this is a problem that only affects inner cities? If you answered yes, you couldn't be more wrong. Data indicate that adolescent drug use is a problem that cuts across all geographic, socio-economic, racial and ethnic boundaries in America society. It's everyone's problem, and we all need to be a part of the solution. Last summer, the Office of National Drug Control Policy launched the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign - a five-year initiative dedicated to reducing youth drug use in America. The campaign uses advertising, the Internet, relationships with the entertainment industry, public information distribution and community partnerships to reach children and parents about this issue. The campaign is one way that parents are getting the message to talk to their kids about drugs - but it can't be the only way. As community leaders and parents, it is our responsibility to amplify and enhance the messages of national efforts. Work must be done in Knoxville, which means we must develop messages and programs that are tailored specifically to our community. Furthermore, it is vital that parents or anyone who has a stake in a child's life realize their impact and become actively involved in denormalizing drug use. At the Metropolitan Drug Commission, we have put together some programs that are a great start. In the past year, the Metropolitan Drug Commission has collaborated with Knoxville's Promise on Community Service Day. In conjunction with the Bijou Theatre, we brought "Prevention Theater" at no cost to area middle schools to address bullying and inhalants; hosted Family Day with Knox County Schools; with the support of Knox County, we will be training law enforcement and working with area businesses on an Underage Drinking Campaign; partnering with WBIR and Citadel Communications on a social marketing campaign to provide normative education to both youth and parents; and we are in the process of working with an area youth serving organization to design and produce a youth-developed prevention message which is aligned to an upcoming special event. On Thursday, April 24, we will host a "Youth Leader Appreciation Night - A Salute to those on the Frontlines." Research shows that 40 percent of parents indicated that, once a child becomes a teenager, they believe they have very little influence over the child's decision to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs. In this instance, it's a good thing parents are wrong. Our children do listen to what we have to say - even if they appear to disregard our opinions. As parents and citizens, we make the real difference in the prevention of youth substance abuse. Even with strong peer and social pressures, parents are the most important and long-lasting influence in children's lives. Take the time to get involved. It is a decision that you will never regret, and our children deserve nothing less. Your time, their lives, our future. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake