SMOKING MARIJUANA: NOT JUST A PROBLEM FOR ROYALTY

Talk to children as early as elementary school about the dangers of drugs,
but first make sure you know what you're talking about by doing research.

When Prince Charles found out son Harry was smoking pot, he did exactly
what experts say parents should do.

He took it seriously.

Some parents may view marijuana as a "soft drug" or a "rite of passage,"
but there could be more trouble down the road if the problem isn't
addressed early.

"If they're smoking pot, you have to wonder what other illegal activities
they might be involved in," said Jack Claypoole, executive director for the
Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council Behavioral Health Center
of the Midlands.

"If they've made one poor choice, how do you now stop them from doing it
again?"

In South Carolina, 29 percent of eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders say they
have used marijuana at least once. Approximately 17 percent of these
students have used marijuana in the past 30 days. Nationally, almost 20
percent of eighth-graders and just over 40 percent of 12th- graders have
used marijuana at least once.

Last week it was revealed that Prince Charles' son Harry, 17, admitted to
his father that he smoked marijuana and drank alcohol a year before.
Charles took Harry to talk to recovering addicts so he could see firsthand
the danger of drugs. But just because you aren't royalty doesn't mean you
can't help your child.

There is no single solution for parents who discover their child is smoking
pot. They should first try to find out why their child did it and make them
think about how their actions could affect their future.

They can also have their child talk to a counselor who can figure out how
serious the problem is and develop a treatment program. Claypoole also
suggests that parents go to counseling as well so they can reinforce what
the child is learning.

At Palmetto Baptist's adolescent intensive outpatient program, some clients
who successfully completed treatment talk to the newer kids about the
consequences of drug use, said adolescent intensive outpatient program
coordinator Laura Truesdale.

If parents haven't been closely monitoring their child's activities before,
they need to make a special effort to keep tabs on what the child is doing
at all times. While it may be time-consuming, Claypoole has seen more and
more parents stepping up to the challenge.

"I think we're seeing an awakening among parents," Claypoole said. "Parents
are more willing to dedicate their time and energy to help kids resist
problems."TALK ABOUT IT

* Use real-life examples, such as USC football player Derek Watson's
getting kicked off the team, to start a talk about what drugs can do to
your future.

* Set clear expectations about drugs and alcohol and be consistent in
enforcing rules.

* Be honest with your children about your past drug use, but only if they
ask. Then, frame your answers in the context of not wanting to see your
child make the same mistakes.

WARNING SIGNS

* A change in the type of music they listen to or the style of clothing
they wear.

* Hanging out with a different crowd or losing interest in activities he
used to enjoy.

* A lack of motivation.

* Spending more money than usual.

* The smell of cigarette smoke could be another tip-off because young teens
who smoke cigarettes are seven times more likely to smoke marijuana as well.