PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO BE SILENT ABOUT MARIJUANA USE

Peer pressure gets plenty of press, but parental responsibility needs more
attention.

Results of a recent survey
(http://www.hazelden.org/press_releases_detail.dbm?id772) reflect similar
findings from other studies, but the main message is worth repeating:
Parents need to talk to their children about the dangers of
drugs--including alcohol and nicotine.

An overwhelming majority of the parents surveyed--84%--believed marijuana
could be addictive. Yet, only 19% passed that belief along to their children.

The survey results were released by the Hazelden Foundation, a non-profit
organization providing drug addiction treatment, education and prevention
programs.

Nearly all the parents--98%--said they would be upset to discover their
children used marijuana. They need to express that viewpoint to emphasize
the seriousness of the situation. Perhaps parents are afraid their
children will not listen. But they can't listen to something they are
never told. Speak up.