FAMILIES HAVE KEY ROLE IN DRUG FIGHT

Parents and other relatives are among the strongest forces in determining
whether a child ends up using drugs.

Teens who abstain from drug use almost always cite a desire to please their
parents as one of the top reasons. While a small percentage of Iowa teens
report having tried methamphetamine, the use of other substances -
including alcohol and cigarettes - can set the stage for harder drugs, said
Barry Spear, chairman of the Partnership for a Drug-Free Iowa.

Knowing that, the state has been pushing parents to talk to their kids
about drug use. The Partnership for a Drug-Free Iowa is also now gearing up
for a big campaign, "The Power of a Grandparent," designed to tell
grandparents and other older adults that they can help, too.

"Without stepping on the parents' toes, we're trying to carry things one
step further by saying grandparents are good at setting expectations, too,"
said Dale Woolery of the Office of Drug Control Policy, who is a project
director for the partnership.

The public service messages regarding the role of older Iowans in
discouraging kids from using drugs will begin appearing on radio and
television and in newspapers as early as January. Pamphlets will also be
distributed.

The pamphlets and ads should give grandparents and parents an opening to
talk to youngsters about drug use.

"It's a difficult topic for a grandparent or any parent, but "The Power of
a Grandparent" gives them the tools to have the confidence to sit down and
talk with a young person," Spear said.

Talking to Kids

The following are tips for parents or grandparents on talking to children
about drugs:

Ages 5 to 8: Begin explaining what alcohol, tobacco and drugs are and how
they are harmful. Explain addiction. Praise your children for taking good
care of their bodies.

Ages 9 to 11: Take advantage of their curiosity about traumatic events,
such as car accidents or divorces, by talking about how drugs might have
played a role. Give them permission to use you as an excuse when peers
begin to offer alcohol or other drugs, saying things such as, "My parents
would kill me."

Ages 12 to 14: Take advantage of a teen's concerns about image to point out
the distasteful consequences of drug use. With tobacco and marijuana, that
might be bad breath and stained teeth. Point out other consequences of drug
use, such as ruined friendships, brain damage and the potential for accidents.

Ages 15 to 17: By this age, most kids have made decisions about drug use.
If they are abstaining, use specific reasons to reinforce that decision,
such as the risk of addiction, birth defects and so on. Students in this
age group think about the future. Point out that drug use could ruin their
chances of getting into college or starting their ideal careers.

Budget Is Flat for Treatment Centers

Care for many addiction patients is financed by state and federal grants
doled out by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Money: That money has stayed flat at $24 million the past two years.
Treatment centers, faced with rising costs, have had to tighten their
belts. Some have laid off staff members and increased the length of waiting
lists. But the centers narrowly escaped a major cut this year, and they
know their colleagues in many other states are facing worse situations.

Fallout: "Our programs are holding their own, but barely," said Ardis
Glace, executive director of the Iowa Substance Abuse Program Directors
Association. "I don't know what future cuts will do." Glace said many Iowa
treatment centers also face reductions from cities and counties that
support them. She said the financial stress means Iowans typically have to
wait two to seven weeks to get into treatment. "That increases crime, I
think," she said. "When people need treatment, they need it right away."