EXPERTS SAY TALKING TO KIDS IS THE KEY TO PREVENTING FUTURE DRUG ABUSE

There Is No Bad Time To Talk With Children About The Dangers Of
Substance Abuse, Experts Say

Alcohol abuse remains the top health issue in the community,
according to the 2007-2009 Life in Marathon County report, though
drug counselors and police have long said that drugs are a prevalent
problem for adults and children. There were 58 juvenile drug arrests
in the county in 2006, according to the report. During the 2007-08
school year, the D.C. Everest, Merrill and Mosinee public school
districts expelled a combined 30 students for incidents involving
drugs.

To combat drug abuse in the Wausau area, it was announced Thursday
that local foundations have pledged $30,000 to create Citizens
Against Drug Dealers, or CADD. The money will be used to pay
informants whose information leads to drug arrests.

Drug abuse prevention, though, begins at home. Eileen Eckardt of
Wausau said parents need to have frequent conversations with their
children about drugs and alcohol at a young age to help avoid
problems when they are older. Eckardt, whose son got into trouble
after using marijuana, formed a group in February called Parents
Supporting Parents that allows parents to discuss how to deal with
substance abuse.

"A lot of us have a hard time believing our kids use drugs," Eckardt
said. "With denial, the longer it lasts, the worse the problem gets."

To begin a conversation, parents can mention a news report of a crash
or tragedy where alcohol or drugs were involved, said Dale
Christensen, a drug and alcohol counselor with Premiere Recovery
Services in Wausau. At about age 8, children begin to understand how
substance abuse played a role in those events and might have
questions, he said.

Children as young as 2 recognize their parents' actions and by age 5
can associate changes in parents' moods before and after alcohol and
drug use, Christensen said. A child who does not see substance abuse
growing up and whose parents discuss the topic with them is more
likely to make better choices, he said.

"If parents model the misuse of chemicals and sit a kid down at age
12 and tell them 'not to drink like I'm drinking,' as soon as (the
kid) can orchestrate it, they will test it out," Christensen said.

It's important for children to understand that while drug use might
appear pleasurable, the consequences are far worse, he said. Eckardt
urged parents not to be embarrassed if they learn their kids use
drugs, and to seek professional help.