July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Parents crucial in fight against drugs
Letters to the Editor
To the editor:
It’s the ultimate goal of every parent to raise a safe, healthy, drug-free kid. For local coalitions working at the community level, connecting with parents is a key strategy in reducing overall substance abuse rates. Many coalitions have come up with unique ways to engage and educate parents.
We know teenagers are different from adults, and so are their brains. Different parts of the brain mature at different rates. Although adolescence is often characterized by increased independence and a desire for knowledge and exploration, it also is a time when brain changes can result in high-risk behaviors, addiction vulnerability and mental illness.
The parent-child relationship is more complex than it has ever been.
Do kids know how to make difficult decisions about life and drugs without consulting their parents? Are underage drinking and drug use simply a “rite of passage” for teens? Do all teens experiment? Why is keeping the partying at home a bad idea?
When it comes to drug prevention, parents are truly on the front lines, and parenting matters. Young people report their parents have a great influence on their decision to use, or not us, alcohol and other drugs. We talk to our kids about not talking to strangers, not playing with matches, and even what foods are healthy and not healthy to eat.
When I am teaching in the schools, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of knowledge the children soak up. When I ask them where they learned it, nine times out of 10, the answer is their parents.
Our challenge is in talking to our kids about drugs and alcohol. Your children are listening; are you talking? You may not understand your kids, but your kids understand you. Talk to them about drugs. If you need help, get help. If we can be assistance to you, the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition meets monthly, and the next meeting is Feb. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at East Jay Middle School.
Sincerely,
Kristi Henry, Jay County
office of Purdue Cooperative
Extension Service, for the Jay
County Drug
Prevention Coalition[[In-content Ad]]
It’s the ultimate goal of every parent to raise a safe, healthy, drug-free kid. For local coalitions working at the community level, connecting with parents is a key strategy in reducing overall substance abuse rates. Many coalitions have come up with unique ways to engage and educate parents.
We know teenagers are different from adults, and so are their brains. Different parts of the brain mature at different rates. Although adolescence is often characterized by increased independence and a desire for knowledge and exploration, it also is a time when brain changes can result in high-risk behaviors, addiction vulnerability and mental illness.
The parent-child relationship is more complex than it has ever been.
Do kids know how to make difficult decisions about life and drugs without consulting their parents? Are underage drinking and drug use simply a “rite of passage” for teens? Do all teens experiment? Why is keeping the partying at home a bad idea?
When it comes to drug prevention, parents are truly on the front lines, and parenting matters. Young people report their parents have a great influence on their decision to use, or not us, alcohol and other drugs. We talk to our kids about not talking to strangers, not playing with matches, and even what foods are healthy and not healthy to eat.
When I am teaching in the schools, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of knowledge the children soak up. When I ask them where they learned it, nine times out of 10, the answer is their parents.
Our challenge is in talking to our kids about drugs and alcohol. Your children are listening; are you talking? You may not understand your kids, but your kids understand you. Talk to them about drugs. If you need help, get help. If we can be assistance to you, the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition meets monthly, and the next meeting is Feb. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at East Jay Middle School.
Sincerely,
Kristi Henry, Jay County
office of Purdue Cooperative
Extension Service, for the Jay
County Drug
Prevention Coalition[[In-content Ad]]
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