TEENS AND DRUGS

According to the Executive Office of the President Office of National
Drug Control Policy, teen drug used has dropped by 11 percent over the
past two years.

The report finds that parents play an important role in keeping kids
off drugs.

On the local scene, there are many programs that are designed to
educate Marshalltown students.

One program, D.A.R.E., Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is taught to
5th and 6th graders in Marshalltown's elementary and middle schools.
According to D.A.R.E.'s web site, the program's primary mission is to
provide children with the information and skills they need to live
drug-and-violence-free lives.

In eighth grade at Miller Middle School, Joan Johnson has a health
unit entitled Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATODS). The unit
discusses the harmful effects of ATODS.

"We discuss the effects of drugs not only on themselves, but on others
as well," Johnson said. Topics discussed include peer pressure, ways
to say no to drugs and student priorities.

The unit combines behavior skills and knowledge, while accessing
community resources when learning about drugs.

SATUSI is another program that provides services at both the middle
school and high school. SATUSI offers programs including educational
groups, treatment groups and continuing care.

Vickie Lewis, SATUCI director of professional services, noted that
kids that have more assets are less likely to use drugs.

"Parents that are aware and have set boundaries will make a difference
in their kids' lives," Lewis said.

Nationally - "Parents need to stay involved and informed," said John
P. Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy. "Many parents
worry that their influence wanes as children become teenagers, but
setting standards will have a positive impact on whether your child
uses drugs."

Research shows that teens transitioning from middle to high school are
at an increased risk for drug use.

The 2003 Monitoring the Future survey found that between grades 8 to
10, the percentage of kids who have tried drugs doubles from 18 to 36
percent. Disapproving attitudes regarding drug use decreases from 82
to 68 percent during this time.

Drug use by a friend is one strong predictor of a teen's own drug use,
yet parents tend to underestimate this risk.

The 2003 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study found that 17 percent of
parents think their teens had friends who smoke marijuana, but nearly
two-thirds of teens report having friends who use the drug. A 2002
National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 79 percent of teens
aged 12 to 17 who smoked marijuana reported getting it from their friends.

"By paying attention to changes in a child's behavior, attitude about
school or a decline in grades, parents, other family members, teachers
and coaches can be alerted early to signs of potential alcohol or
other drug use," said Lee Rush, executive director of the National
Student Assistance Association.

According to the report, parents remain the most powerful influence on
their teen when it comes to drugs. Approximately two-thirds of youth
aged 13 to 17 say that fear of upsetting their parents or losing
respect of family and friends is one of the main reasons they don't
smoke marijuana or use other drugs.