News (Media Awareness Project) - US: Wire: Parental Attitudes Toward Drugs Increasingly Mellow |
| Title: | US: Wire: Parental Attitudes Toward Drugs Increasingly Mellow |
| Published On: | 2005-02-22 |
| Source: | Associated Press (Wire) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-16 23:39:52 |
PARENTAL ATTITUDES TOWARD DRUGS INCREASINGLY MELLOW
NEW YORK -- Although today's parents were more likely to use drugs than
their predecessors, they are less likely to speak with their children about
the issue and see less risk in drug experimentation, according to a new
survey released Tuesday.
The study of parental attitudes toward teen drug use and drugs, conducted
by The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, found that barely half of the
parents would be upset if their children experimented with marijuana.
The number of parents who have never spoken with their children about drugs
was 12 percent, double what it was just six years ago, the 17th annual
Partnership survey found.
While most parents no longer use drugs (11 percent reported marijuana use
in the last year), they still carry attitudes fostered during their teen
years. This is particularly true about parents who were teenagers in the
late '70s and early '80s, when teen drug use was at a high point.
"While the vast majority of parents have left old habits behind, they're
carrying old attitudes and beliefs forward," said Steve Pasierb, president
and CEO of the Partnership. "If old habits die hard, the data suggests lax
attitudes about drugs die even harder."
Among other findings in the survey:
_ While parents believe it's important to discuss drugs with their kids,
only about three in 10 children say they've learned a lot about drug risks
at home.
_ Only 18 percent of parents believe their children have smoked marijuana,
but the number of teens experimenting with pot is 39 percent.
_ Just 21 percent of parents believe friends of their teen are smoking
marijuana, but 62 percent of teens report friends who use the drug.
The study was conducted among 1,205 parents nationwide, with a margin of
error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. The survey was conducted in
households with children under the age of 18.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, launched in 1987, is a coalition
of communications professionals aimed at reducing the demand for illegal drugs.
NEW YORK -- Although today's parents were more likely to use drugs than
their predecessors, they are less likely to speak with their children about
the issue and see less risk in drug experimentation, according to a new
survey released Tuesday.
The study of parental attitudes toward teen drug use and drugs, conducted
by The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, found that barely half of the
parents would be upset if their children experimented with marijuana.
The number of parents who have never spoken with their children about drugs
was 12 percent, double what it was just six years ago, the 17th annual
Partnership survey found.
While most parents no longer use drugs (11 percent reported marijuana use
in the last year), they still carry attitudes fostered during their teen
years. This is particularly true about parents who were teenagers in the
late '70s and early '80s, when teen drug use was at a high point.
"While the vast majority of parents have left old habits behind, they're
carrying old attitudes and beliefs forward," said Steve Pasierb, president
and CEO of the Partnership. "If old habits die hard, the data suggests lax
attitudes about drugs die even harder."
Among other findings in the survey:
_ While parents believe it's important to discuss drugs with their kids,
only about three in 10 children say they've learned a lot about drug risks
at home.
_ Only 18 percent of parents believe their children have smoked marijuana,
but the number of teens experimenting with pot is 39 percent.
_ Just 21 percent of parents believe friends of their teen are smoking
marijuana, but 62 percent of teens report friends who use the drug.
The study was conducted among 1,205 parents nationwide, with a margin of
error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. The survey was conducted in
households with children under the age of 18.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, launched in 1987, is a coalition
of communications professionals aimed at reducing the demand for illegal drugs.
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