FATHERS NEED TO DO MORE TOUGH TALK ON DRUGS

IT'S TIME for dads to step up and spend more time talking to their
children about the dangers of drugs.

According to a new survey, it's moms who do most of the talking. The
director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America says that's
simply not enough.

"The ever-changing drug landscape facing our kids today presents new
drug threats, like teens' abuse of prescription and over-the-counter
medicines," said Tom Hedrick in releasing the new survey earlier this
week, on Father's Day. "Not enough young people are getting a clear
message about substance abuse, and research shows parents talking
with kids early and often can make all the difference. We simply
can't rely on mothers to do all of the heavy lifting."

The survey also showed fathers were less likely to see "negative
consequences" should their children use some drugs, including smoking
marijuana, and also were less likely than mothers to turn to outside help.

Fathers should view the results as a warning to spend more time
talking with their children about the dangers of drugs and other
risky behaviors. Teen drug use is down in recent years, but as
Hedrick points out, many teens are now seeking out otherwise legal
medications to get high.

In April, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America announced a study
showing that more teens abused prescription medications in 2004 than
had used Ecstasy, cocaine, crack or LSD. Many teens -- and children
yet to hit their teenage years -- also had tried prescription
painkillers or tried to get high off of cold medicine.

Research is clear on the significant impact parents can have by
talking with their children early and often about drugs. Such
conversations aren't easy. But it's much better for children to hear
the truth from their parents than to hear lies from their peers or
other adults making money by preying on vulnerable teens.