|
|
Will Your Kids Try to Be “Kool” This Summer?
Summer should be a welcome, joyful time of year. Admittedly, teens need a break, especially with the everyday pressures they face during the school year. However, with that break comes more amounts of freedom, leisurely time, and some dangers, too.
Did you know that summer is the riskiest time of the year when it comes to teens and marijuana? SAMHSA (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) stated that more teens try marijuana for the first time in June, July, and August than any other time of the year. In fact, research shows that young people with unsupervised time are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as underage drinking, sexual activity, and cigarette smoking than other teens. Sadly, some teens will be lured into trying alcohol, tobacco, or drugs this summer because they have heard that it is a “kool” thing to do. That is exactly what happened to one girl named Emily. She's tried Adoral, Ecstasy, cigarettes and marijuana. She’s admitted that she got hooked on the drug Oxycontin when she was 15. She stated that she learned about Oxycontin when Jack Osborne, son of rocker Ozzy Osborne, talked about his addiction on MTV. "I saw the name on one of my mom's prescription bottles a long time ago, and I just remembered and thought, hey, let's try it."
So parents, realize that structure and continuity in the family are still important over the summer months. Establishing and maintaining open communication is essential to raising drug-free young people, so keep your relationship with your teen foremost. Remember: You are the first line of defense when it comes to your teen's safety and your efforts will make a difference. Kids who are close to their parents are more likely to think twice before experimenting and less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Of youth who reported that their parents would disapprove of marijuana use, only about 5 percent had used marijuana in the past month.
Here are some great suggestions to support your teen’s healthy decisions:
- Establish a regular weekly routine with your teen – even if it’s just going out for ice cream.
- Ask specific questions - Who is your teen with? Where is he? What is he doing? When is he to be home?
- Talk to other parents about how they keep tabs on their teens. Stay connected and share your stories to aid your monitoring activities and keep your kids safe.
- Safeguard all prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications when you’re not at home. Would you know if some were missing? Every day, more than 2,000 kids age 12 to 17 try a painkiller nonmedically for the first time.
- Be sure you control the medication and monitor dosages and refills if your teen has been prescribed a drug.
- Talk to your teen about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs. These are powerful drugs that, when abused, can be just as dangerous as street drugs. Tell your teen how the risks far outweigh any "benefits."
Carol Littleton, CPS, ETCADA Prevention Specialist
|
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 June 2010 13:38 )
|
