PARENTS TALK DRUGS MORE WITH KIDS

NEW YORK (AP) -- More parents are speaking frankly with their children
about drugs, but many of them fear -- incorrectly -- that the message
is not getting through, according to a study by the Partnership for a
Drug-Free America.

The group's 12th survey, released Monday, found that 57 percent of
parents said they have spoken with their children at least four times
in the past year about drug use. Sixty-four percent said they have
``thoroughly'' covered the topic.

In 1998, just 44 percent of parents said they had spoken with their
children at least four times. In the same year, 52 percent of parents
felt they had ``thoroughly'' covered the topic with their children.

The latest survey also found that one out of three parents believes
``what I say will have little influence on whether my child tries
marijuana.''

``With teen-agers, many things go in one ear and out the other,'' said
Richard D. Bonnette, president and chief executive of the partnership.
``But what parents are saying about drugs appears to be sticking.''

A study last year by the partnership indicated that teen-age approval
of marijuana and other drugs was declining.

The latest study also found that 75 percent of parents believe ``most
people will try marijuana sometime'' -- an increase from 65 percent in
1995.

The survey found that most often a child's mother was responsible for
drug education. Eighty-one percent of the mothers surveyed said they
spoke with their children about drugs; for fathers, the figure was 63
percent.

While 57 percent of the parents acknowledged having smoked marijuana,
they said there is no hypocrisy in warning their kids to avoid drugs.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, launched in 1987, is a
nonprofit coalition of communications industry professionals.

Its latest survey questioned 800 parents. The margin of error was plus
or minus 4.6 percentage points.

On the Net: Full survey at: http://www.drugfreeamerica.org

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