PREVENTION BEST CURE

More than 100 people packed into the Kinsmen Community Centre Monday
night to listen to Staff Sgt. Ian Sanderson from Edmonton K Division
give a talk on drug abuse and in particular, crystal meth expected to
hit the community soon.

By the response, it is clear many Ponoka residents don't have their
heads buried in the sand and are willing and ready to deal with a
potential problem by taking preventative measures.

If parents discover their children are abusing drugs there are a
number of things they can do. Most experts advise it is important not
to overreact.

Some youth will experiment with softer drugs such as marijuana for a
short term and not become addicts of harder drugs.

But if your child is abusing highly addictive drugs such as met
amphetamines or cocaine, professional help and intervention is needed.

An American Group called Not My Kid has some helpful advice for
parents who discover their children are abusing drugs and it is serious:

1. This is no time to be a wimp. Don't overreact and lose your
temper, but your teenager needs a strong message that drug and
alcohol use is not acceptable.

2. A parent support group is likely to be very useful. Consider
joining Parents Anonymous or Alanon.

3. Get to know the typical drugs of abuse, what their effects are,
and what your adolescent is likely to look like if using a drug.

4. Talk with your teen. Don't lecture, be clear, and keep your
message short & to the point. Be open to communication from your teen.

5. Get to know your kid better. Find out how she or he sees
him/herself, where she or he wants his/her life to go, and what's
important. Find out what drugs & alcohol do for him/her. Spend time
with your son or daughter in recreation and family activities.

6. Learn the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your teen's
friends. Get to know the kids if possible. Form a network with the
parents of your son/daughters peers. Keep in touch with one another.
Don't be put off if other parents don't share your concern about
substance abuse.

7. Check your teens whereabouts regularly. Don't be too shocked if
you find that another parent is using drugs with them, allows
substance abusing parties at their home, or is supplying the kids
with drugs and alcohol.

8. If you learn that one of your teen's friends is involved in drugs,
don't keep it a secret from that youngsters parents . . . you would
probably feel sabotaged if another parent hid that information from you.

9. Use discipline that is apt to be effective. Restrict or eliminate
use of a car, take away cellular phones, or beepers, and limit
unsupervised free time unless your teen is committed to being 'clean
and sober.' Set clear, firm, and reasonable limits. Be consistent.

10. If your son/daughter says that she or he wants to have a
sleep-over, check with the other parent to insure that the youngster
has permission. If your teen wants to sleep away from home, check to
be certain that the other parent will be home and determine if the
other parent has the same curfew, values & expectations as you do.
Kids often select homes of absent parents for sleep-overs and
all-night drug/alcohol parties.

11. Get "Caller ID" and "Anonymous Call Rejection" on the phone line
that your youngster uses. Know who is calling your son or daughter.
If you question their whereabouts when they go out in the evening,
require that they call home from a "land line" phone so that the
location they are calling from appears on your "Caller ID." You'll
probably want to have "Caller ID" and "Anonymous Call Rejection" on
the main phone line to the house as well.

Warning Signs of Substance Abuse:

a drop in grades

poor achievement

moods are up and down

dishonesty about whereabouts

dishonest about a lot of things

early cigarette smoking

parental defiance

red, watery, or glassy eyes

uses eye drops to hide red eyes

has delinquent friends l

ate or unexplained hours

rejection of parental values

have found drugs & paraphernalia in his/her possession

disappearance of money or possessions

defensive about drug use

antisocial behavior

seems to have drug-using friends

often draws pot leaves, drugs, or drug symbol.