Prevent Drug Abuse

Drug abuse and drug addiction are one of many things that parents have to worry about when raising their children.

“Parents are often worried about their child’s grades, who their friends are, and making sure they grow up right,” comments Mary Rieser, Executive Director of Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia. “While helping children with their school work can help with grades, and telling them about the birds and bees gives them information they will need growing up, many are at a loss on how to prevent drug abuse. But recent studies have shown that by simply setting and keeping enforced clear rules can cut the risks almost 500%.”

Youths whose parents set clear rules for them are less likely to report using illicit drugs, according to data from the 2008-09 PRIDE Survey. Middle and high school students whose parents set clear rules for them “a lot” or “often” were less likely to report using illicit drugs in the past year (12% and 21%, respectively) than students whose parents never set clear rules (49%). Similar results were found for having parents who punish them for breaking these rules. Previous studies have found that youths living in households where parents kept track of their whereabouts and set curfews were less likely to report heavy drinking (see CESAR FAX, Volume 17, Issue 31).*

Drug Abuse Prevention

“Other actions can be to prevent prescription drug abuse,” comments Ms. Rieser. “Prescription drugs are now being commonly abused by children who think they are safe.”

How to fight drug abuse in your own family?

1. Keep careful track of all prescription medications. Once you are done throw away the rest.
2. Keep prescriptions locked up. Although your children may not abuse them, their friends may come over and take them.
3. Educate your children on drugs and drug abuse.
4. Be aware of the signs of drug abuse in your family.
5. Communicate. Keep in good communication with your children on the type of parties they go to, who their friends are, and what is going on in their life.

“Adolescence can be a difficult time for children. If children don’t have someone they can talk to, someone they can trust, it is all too easy to go down the wrong path.

“Also be aware or the common signs of drug abuse. Knowing these signs can help you avoid future heartache and misery.”

What are some common signs of drug abuse?

Sudden changes in behavior can be a clue that there is drug abuse, especially with adolescents.

• New friends, new flashy clothes
• Keeping late hours can be a  sign
• Other indications include sudden decline in academic performance
• Lack of interest in known hobbies
• Borrowing of money
• Changes of mood, as in moodiness, unexplainable euphoria, sleeping in
• Changes of friends

Take care of your family. Prevent drug abuse.

*Source: CESAR FAX, Center for Substance Abuse Research, University of Maryland

Many people are aware of a drug problem in their community,  school or even at home, but are unaware of methods to fight drug addiction.

While drug rehab is an option for those already addicted to drugs, studies have shown that proper drug education and drug awareness go a long way to drug prevention. What can a person do?

Amidst the clamor of drug abusers and drug dealers in our communities, there needs to be a voice of reason. Our churches can bring a better vision to teach our children, empower our residents and provide the light of reasoning.

The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab in Georgia has recently been working with local churches on a simple plan to take back our communities, which includes cleaning up the local convenience stores and providing drug education. Our first step has been to gain a better understanding of the problem.

Crack Addiction Pipes

Convenience stores that sell drug paraphernalia are magnets for drug addicts and drug dealers. The store where citizens pick up their cat food or grab a cup of coffee in a hurry, may have crack pipes, papers, bongs and other paraphernalia for sale. The average customer won’t see these items. They are for special customers and remain behind the counter until they are requested. If there are individuals lurking outside the convenience store for periods of time, chances these may be drug
dealers, making this convenience store a “one stop shop” for drug abusers.

Religious educator can warn their parishioners on the possibility of drug trafficking at the local store. They should know to ask what paraphernalia is for sale next time they are in. And if it is for sale they should tell other concerned citizens and get them involved. Collectively, these citizens can complain in person and write letters. This is the stronger customer base and the stores will listen.

It should be possible to set up a meeting with your local law enforcement agency to work out a plan where local citizens can work with the police to get drug dealers off the street. Pass on what you learn to others so they can help too. We have worked with our local police and have discreetly reported license plate and phone numbers of suspected drug dealers. There is a noticeable decrease in the obvious number of dealers.

A new report, “Preventing Education in America’s Schools: Findings and Recommendations from a Survey of Educators” noted that although 37 states require drug education, most “Teachers don’t have the time, training or other resources needed to do the job effectively, regardless of what the state mandated standards say.” This leaves drug education up to the families and churches.

The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab can help religious leaders train local citizens on how to deliver interactive and effective drug education. If you want to train some of your parishioners on how to deliver interactive and effective drug education, then give us a call and learn about our free drug prevention training seminars. Studies conclusively show that drug education works in keeping kids from ever getting addicted in the first place.

Churches can set up activities like neighborhood sports, visits to museums and local events.

Spend some time with your kids and have some fun. There are things more fun than getting high at “pharm parties.”

Try these activities and see how community improves. It might take a little cooperation to clean things up, but what is a happy and safe community worth?

For information on seminar times for our Clean up our Community Project, call 877-236-3981.

Being also bombarded by ads on Facebook, reduces the chances of any drug and alcohol education these kids could possibly be receiving being lost in the din of advertisement.

Whether a youth is abusing cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin or alcohol they learned about these drugs from somewhere.

We need to cut off these lessons and teach kids about drug prevention.

For those who have seen too many ads, they need to learn about drug treatment.

“The Marin Institute is calling on Facebook to stop accepting paid ads for alcoholic beverages and to ban alcohol-related pages, applications and events, citing a study that found that alcohol-related content is reaching underage Facebook users despite company policies designed to prevent such marketing.

Depiction of alcohol and other drug use by minors on Facebook pages has long been a concern of preventionists, school officials and parents. But the latest controversy springs from Facebook’s recent moves to monetize the site, founded in 2004 and currently the world’s largest social-networking site with 300 million members.

Originally intended for use by college students, Facebook now counts among its membership everyone from preteens to retirees. An estimated one-third of the site’s members are under the legal drinking age.”

http://www.jointogether.org/news/features/2009/underage-facebook-members.html