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.