PARENTS' ROLE IN PREVENTION

Parents who talk with their children about substance abuse help keep young
people from experimenting with drugs and alcohol.

However, a study released last month by the Partnership for a Drug-Free
America showed that less than 30 percent of teenagers say they learned about
the risks of drugs at home. The percentage of parents who have never talked
with their children about drugs doubled from 6 percent in 1998 to 12 percent
in 2004, according to a partnership study last year.

That's not good. Many children are exposed to drugs that include ecstasy,
marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, inhalants, and many prescription and
over-the-counter drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco. Yet today's parents
see less risk in drugs, the study showed. Too many parents also allow minors
to consume alcohol and tobacco products in their homes, reasoning that it's
safer than young people doing so elsewhere. That sends the wrong message.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is starting a "Partnering with
Families" advertising campaign to get parents more involved in the lives of
children and to talk with teens to prevent substance abuse.

The campaign is a good way to address the problem. Parents just have to do
their part to make the initiative work.