NEW AADAC SERIES WILL HELP PARENTS COPE WITH KIDS

A new parent information series from the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Commission (AADAC) can help parents and youngsters cope and even prevent
drug and alcohol dependency.

The series offers advice on how parents can guide their children, from the
elementary years, through their teen years.

The first part of the series, called Create It, deals with how parents can
deal with issues which affect younger children. Part two, Nurture It, deals
with issues which affect older children, while, Choose It, deals with
issues such as raves, drug and alcohol use.

The last part in the series, Get It Back, deals with topics such as helping
teens evaluate their drug use, intervening when your teen is using drugs
and how to get through to your teen.

The series is hot off the presses, so new in fact, Marsh Hoke, Edson AADAC
office supervisor, is still weighing his options on how to distribute them.
One of the distribution options is through school newsletters, said Hoke.
Regardless of how this is done, the new series should help parents when it
comes to solving current and future problems when it comes to teen drug
use. "We want to do what we can to increase parent's confidence and skills
in drug profiling their kids"

One of the best ways to avoid future problems is for parents to participate
in their children's activities and to listen to what they have to say, Hoke
said.

"Frequently kids who get into trouble with alcohol or drugs don't have much
guidance or support."

A recent WestView Regional Health Authority Needs Assessment, which polled
residents of Edson and area identified teen drug use and abuse as the
Number 1 problem in the region.

Alcohol is a problem too, but often drug use overshadows alcohol in the
minds of parents and caregivers, said Hoke.

"Sometimes parents overreact - other times they underreact," said Hoke.
When drugs and alcohol are concerned, he said he'd rather have parents
overreact. Methamphetamines (speed) continues to be a problem in the Edson
area, but not for the younger set. He said speed users are generally in the
in the 17 to 30 age range.

Signs of possible drug or alcohol use include:

radical change in appearance; change in attitude; Evidence of drug
paraphernalia or empty bottles; Signs of inebriation or other unusual
behavior; and, Loss of interest at school, performance reduction, along
with a change of study habits.

In the meantime, Hoke reminds parents AADAC is there to help.

"We would like to hear from parents who have concerns about kids and drugs."