Pubdate: Mon, 27 Nov 2006
Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)
Copyright: 2006 The Billings Gazette
Contact:  http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT DRUGS

Yet another survey has confirmed that children and  youth are
listening when parents talk to them about  drugs.

The Montana Prevention Needs Assessment, a survey  conducted every two
years since 1998 through the state  Department of Public Health and
Human Services, found  that hearing anti-drug messages from parents
makes a  positive difference in keeping kids away from drugs.

But the survey also indicates that anti-drug message  must be clear
and strong. If youth perceive that  parents think alcohol, tobacco and
other drugs are  "very wrong," they are highly unlikely to use. But
any  equivocating by the parent can render the message
ineffective.

"Even a small amount of perceived parental  acceptability can lead to
substance use," an executive  summary of the survey says. "For
example, relatively  few students (22 percent lifetime and 8.3 percent
in 30  days) whose parents think it is "very wrong" to use  marijuana
actually used the substance. In contrast,  when a student believes
that their parents agree with  use somewhat (i.e., the parent only
believes that it is  "wrong," not "very wrong") uses increases to 63.2
  percent for lifetime and 32.5 percent for use within 30  days of the
survey. Rates of use continue to increase  as the perceived parental
acceptability increases."

Likewise, peer acceptance of drug use greatly increased  the
likelihood of students using. When students thought  there was "no or
little chance" they would be seen as  cool if they used marijuana,
only 13 percent had tried  it. When students thought there was even "a
little  chance" that they would be seen as cool, 40 percent had  used
marijuana.

The good news is that Montana students report  decreasing levels of
use of alcohol, cigarettes,  marijuana, hallucinogens, cocaine and
ecstasy. Montana  students were slightly less likely than peers around
  the nation to report methamphetamine use. But Montana  students still
had more experience with alcohol,  cigarettes, smokeless tobacco,
marijuana and inhalants  than their peers nationwide.

Findings of the Prevention Needs Assessment will help  state health
officials target problems and plan  programs. Some of that drug
prevention work needs to be  done at home. Parents, if you want your
children to  live drug-free and to avoid underage drinking and
smoking, say so. Make your point very clear: It's very  wrong.
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MAP posted-by: Derek