Pubdate: Thu, 26 May 2005
Source: Wilson Daily Times, The (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Wilson Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.wilsondaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1452
Author: Rochelle Moore
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?195 (Partnership for a Drug Free America)

PARENTS: THE ANTI-DRUG FOR CHILDREN

The drug culture of the 1970s, when marijuana use was common among hippies, 
bikers and college students, is far different today.

Children are getting high at younger ages and have easier access to drugs, 
and parents lack up-to-date information that will help them stem the tide, 
state and national leaders said Wednesday during a drug abuse prevention 
conference in Wilson.

Wilson Families in Action was co-host of a two-day statewide conference of 
the N.C. Parent Network this week where volunteer and professional leaders 
met to learn ways to increase their prevention efforts. About 50 people 
attended Wednesday's session.

"The culture of drug use in this country has moved from a farming base to 
pharming," said Beth Wilson, regional director of the Partnership for a 
Drug-Free America.

Children and teens are finding many of their drugs of choice at home -- 
from parents' medicine cabinets. Others find them easily on the Internet. 
Drugs, such as cough syrup, inhalants, depressants, stimulants and 
steroids, are common and used by children as young as elementary school.

"What is coming up on the radar screen are prescription drugs," said 
Donna-marie Harris, media campaign director for the Partnership for a 
Drug-Free North Carolina. "As parents, we tend to be their suppliers. 
Unfortunately, parents don't think they have to talk about drugs to their 
kids until they leave middle school and enter high school."

Harris and Wilson said parents need to discuss the implications of 
substance abuse at a much younger age today. Wilson offered some of the 
latest research, information and advice during a Wednesday session: 
"Parents: YOU Are The Anti-Drug."

"We know that parental involvement is the key to drug prevention," Wilson 
said. "The reality is only three of 10 children are getting what they need 
from home."

Thirty-two percent of teens learn a lot about the risk of drugs from their 
parents, according to a 2004 national tracking study.

Today's parents see less risk in drugs, fewer parents are talking to their 
children about drugs and parents underestimate their children's exposure to 
drugs, the study concluded.

But today's parents are more likely to have been a part of the late 1970s 
drug culture -- making them more experienced to talk with their children, 
Wilson said.

One of the problems with that experience, however, is that some parents 
don't understand how the landscape of today's drug culture has changed in 
the last 30 years.

Phil Mooring, executive director of Wilson Families in Action, said the 
local agency is interested in being a part of the solution.

"We want you to know we want to partner with you," Mooring said. "This is 
what we want. We want parents to get it. This is the tool we need."

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is getting ready to roll out a 
multi-million-dollar media campaign that will help better inform parents 
and work to reduce drug use in children and teens.

Part of the campaign includes television commercials, some of which are 
expected to air in North Carolina this summer, showing parents how to 
discuss drug use with their children.

The commercials will be aired across the nation and in several major North 
Carolina markets, including Raleigh-Durham, and should be seen in Wilson, 
Harris said.

The national and state partnerships also provide other resources to 
parents, including a host of information on the Internet. The national site 
can be found at www.drugfree.org and the state site is www.drugfreenc.org.

The Web site for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America offers 
research-based information for parents, prevention tips, what to do when 
drug use is found, and an online community of parent partners.

Parent partners have experienced drug use in their children and are able to 
offer support to parents experiencing similar situations.

"If we can help our kids get through their teenage years without trying 
drugs, they are likely to never use drugs as an adult," Wilson said.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman