SOMETIMES SIMPLE SOLUTIONS SUCCEED

If parents don't want their children to abuse drugs, there are three simple
strategies that work. Set the right example. Know the facts. Talk to your
kids. As simple as it sounds, it works.

Parents can underestimate the harm incurred by allowing their children to
illegally smoke and drink. Because these things are legal later in life,
some parents fail to see the harm in allowing children to indulge. The
book, "Substance Abuse: The Nation's Number One Health Problem," reported
that young people who smoke before the age of 18 are "10 times more likely
to use illicit drugs than their nonsmoking peers." The same report showed
under-aged tobacco use among females and alcohol use among males is a
"strong predictor of progression into other drug use."

This research flies in the face of the pervasive myth that if children are
going to drink, it is better to drink at home where the parents know they
are safe. Not only are parents breaking the law, they are setting an
example that breaking the law is all right. Parents, obeying the law is the
best protection for young people.

For parents to display leadership in the family, they need to know the
facts. It seems that most children know more factual information about
drugs than their parents do. Schools are educating the students. Parents
need to know the facts, too, if they are going to present intelligent
reasons for family boundaries and expectations.

In this "information age," facts are pretty easy to come by. For instance,
cocaine and club drugs are becoming more available in the Triad. What are
the real consequences of using these drugs? Aside from losing out on
federal grant money for college if convicted for possession, drugs can
cause serious health problems.

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), sudden death from
cocaine is a real possibility, even on the first use. For those who avert
that, one out of 13 cocaine users are rushed to the hospital emergency room
for side effects that can be life threatening.

Club drugs, while fairly new, are quickly getting a reputation for being
very dangerous. To get the facts on drugs, parents can visit the National
Institute on Drug Abuse at www.nida.nih.gov or pick up loads of free and
colorfully printed literature at The Coalition for Drug Abuse Prevention in
Winston-Salem or contact them at 759-7500.

And finally, good communication really works. Many parents are reluctant to
bring up the topic of illegal drugs. But keeping silent can be the most
dangerous strategy of all. The 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse
reported that 12-17-year-olds had a four times greater chance of staying
free from using marijuana if they believed their parents would strongly
disapprove.

Obviously, the parents who strongly disapproved talked to their children
and they talked more than once.

Being honest with children is best. If parents used drugs, they should
admit it. Briefly tell why it was a mistake and then set high expectations
for their children. Let the children know much more is known about drugs
now and their children do not need drugs to fit or to cope with life's
problems.

These three strategies - set the right example, know the facts, talk to
your kids - sound so simple in such a complex world. That is probably why
they work.