TEACHING KIDS ABOUT DRUGS IS ESSENTIAL

Parents going through the annual back-to-school rituals across Vermont are
asking the same questions they ask every year. Does she need a new
backpack? Does he still fit into those soccer cleats? But parents need to
add another, harder question to the list: Is this the year someone will
offer drugs to my child?

Chances are, the answer to that question will eventually be yes. More than
half of all American kids will use drugs at least once between first and
12th grades, but many will choose not to experiment. Can you influence
whether your child decides to give in?

1. Recognize that this is your job. Don't leave drug prevention to the
school. Although schools have responsibility for drug education, parents
have the greatest influence on kids, and no one is more able to help them
grow up drug-free.

2. Start early. Kids are growing up faster, and the dangers that once arose
as kids reached their teens are creeping lower and lower on the age scale.
Kids as young as ten years old are being introduced to drugs. Help to form
your children's attitudes toward drugs early. They will know drugs are bad
long before someone offers, making it easier for them to say no when the
time comes.

3. Keep it simple. Children tend to see things as either black or white.
So, there is no room for ambivalence. Be firm, but mostly you should be
clear about what you believe and the behavior you expect from them. Many of
the kids with the drug problems being treated at the Phoenix Academy at
Mountain View started with trying a little alcohol or marijuana at a party,
thinking, "How could it hurt me?"

4. Encourage your children to learn to rely on and believe in themselves.
Self-reliance begins with their taking responsibility for themselves.
Starting early to care for themselves, their toys, and their clothing makes
it less likely that they will try drugs at an early age. Taking
responsibility also firms up their sense of themselves and makes it easier
for them to make independent choices about drug use.

5. Be a good role model. No matter what you tell children, behavior speaks
volumes. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and it's likely they will, too.

6. Talk to your kids. As your children grow up, rules won't be enough. They
need reasons as well. Be prepared to talk with your children about the use
of alcohol, tobacco and drugs -- and to talk with them, not just to them.
Listen to them; encourage them to tell you what they think. Bring to these
conversations lots of patience and a good set of facts about the risks,
lifetime penalties, and health consequences of drug use.

7. Know your kids' friends. Are they likely to try whatever's offered to
them? Are they likely to be the one offering? It may not be your job to be
their parent, but they will affect your child's life.

8. Don't worry. Taking a firm stand against drug use will not damage your
relationship with your child. Most children will be grateful that you are
clear and honest with them. Moreover, many youngsters are looking for a
good reason to avoid trying drugs, so it helps if they can explain, "My
folks would kill me, if I did."