War on Drugs:

FIGHTING THE BATTLE STARTS AT HOME; TALK TO YOUR KIDS

Parents of today's youth face a problem similar to those of their own
parents and grandparents -- the use of illicit drugs among teens and
college-aged young men and women.

Knowing how to approach such a difficult and scary topic isn't
easy.

Avoiding the conversation altogether, though, could equate to a death
sentence or a life-long battle with addiction.

The new-found freedom and curiosity of young adults compound the
problem. They are much more difficult to monitor, and dealers know
where to find them -- 60 percent of teens said that drugs were sold,
used, or kept at their school.

The key is to become educated with the different types of drugs a
young person might come into contact with and the signs that someone
might be using them.

The supply comes from the illegal drugs sold on the street, as well as
our own medicine cabinets. According to the Centers for Disease
Control, "In 2009, 20 percent of U.S. high school students had ever
taken a prescription drug, such as Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin,
Adderall, Ritalin, or Xanax, without a doctor's prescription. Teens
also misuse OTC cough and cold medications, containing the cough
suppressant dextromethorphan (DXM), to get high."

With the facts in hand, we owe it to our children to sit down and talk
about the impact drugs could have on their lives.

Talk to them about the horrors of addiction and how easily a person
can fall into that trap. Let them know prescription medicines --
current drugs of choice -- can be just as deadly, armed with examples
of celebrities who have lost their lives due in part to or because of
drug use. Heath Ledger, Brittany Murphy and Michael Jackson are among
those on the list.

Make sure they realize they could be turned down for a job if they
fail a drug test.

Once the knowledge is shared, it is time to become vigilant. Monitor
the teen's behavior, who he calls his friends, where he spends his
time and for any signs of prescription or illegal drug use.

If use is suspected, seek help immediately. It won't be a fun process,
but the sooner the use can be stopped, the less damage the drugs can
cause.

This multi-generational problem isn't likely to end any time soon.
However, with some effort, we can help our youth understand exactly
what they gamble if they choose to try an illicit drug.

If we don't teach them, who will?