PARENTS NEED TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE MARIJUANA

Over the last few months, The Times-Reporter has attempted to shine a
spotlight on the growing problem of heroin abuse in Tuscarawas
County. Though in actuality the number of young adults and teenagers
addicted to heroin is relatively small, the problem is magnified not
only by the addicts' ancillary criminal activities but also because
of the negative overall impact those crimes have on family and
friends, the justice system and social services.

As we start another school year and at the risk of sounding like an
old tired preacher, we have a bit of advice for parents.

Wake up and smell the marijuana.

Actually, that advice comes from the National Center of Addiction and
Substance Abuse at Columbia University, which recently released its
annual survey of teens and parents on such issues as the teen party
scene, which as we all know from reading the newspaper is flourishing
in our own communities.

The center surveyed 1,297 teens, age 12 to 17 (591 boys, 706 girls)
and 562 parents of teens, 84 percent of whom (470) were parents of
teens who completed the survey.

Last week, the Chicago Tribune, citing the survey, editorialized that
parents are, in a nutshell, clueless.

"Twelve percent of parents see illegal substances as their teenagers'
greatest concern," said the editorial. "Yet 27 percent of teens say
drugs are a major worry. How is it that teenagers are more concerned
about drug use than their parents?

"Maybe because parents are choosing the bliss of ignorance."

So, how about those teen parties -- you know, the rite-of-passage
parties that are held at the home of a student while the parents are
away on vacation, or maybe at the movies. Those are the kind of
parties where bad things happen. Some of those parties and the teens
who attend them make the front page.

Here's what the center concluded:

. When parents are not present, alcohol and drugs are more likely to
be available.

. Virtually all parents say they normally are present at their teens'
parties; one-third of teens say they're not.

. Virtually all parents say they would not serve alcohol at parties;
nearly one-third of teens say they have been to parties with teen
drinking and parents present.

Joseph A. Califano Jr., chairman and president of the center, said
the message this year is "laser sharp."

"Teen drug and alcohol use is a parent problem, not just a teen
problem," he wrote. "Too many parents fail to fulfill their
responsibility to chaperone their teens' parties, have no idea how
drug and alcohol infested their teens' world is and are utterly
unrealistic about their own conduct with respect to their children.

"The lack of involvement, denial and self-delusion of these parental
palookas put their teens at enormous risk of drinking and using
illegal and prescription drugs.

"Teen parties are a common part of teen life, and these parties are
awash with alcohol and drugs."

Califano also sounds a special warning for parents of young teens.

"The transition from age 13 to age 14, often when a shift from middle
to high school occurs, is a time of dramatically escalating substance
abuse risk," he wrote.

High school freshmen are much likelier to be offered prescription
drugs, Ecstasy, marijuana and cocaine. They are also likelier to
attend parties with teens drinking with parents present; likelier to
attend parties where teens are smoking pot with parents present; and
likelier to attend parties where teens are using other drugs with
parents present.

"The message is loud and clear, parents," adds Califano. "Wake up and
smell the beer and pot! If your teen is having a party at your home,
you should not only be there, but also be aware of what is going on.

"And if your teen attends a party at someone else's home, you should
confirm that the parents will be present and that alcohol and drugs
will not. The reality is that even when parents are present at a
party, some kids will try to sneak in substances."

It seemed to me when my children were teenagers that some parents
wanted to be their kids' friends. I generally concluded after
watching that dynamic that it doesn't work.