HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking for your opinion--abook on Substance Abuse

[ROSYPAT at aol.com]

List Serve Friends,   =

I recently had about the same conversation with my friend at the Council =

for Alcohol and Drugs here in Houston.   When the question came out, I was =

interested in the responses but didn't feel as qualified as my friend Karen =

McWhorter to respond.   So I asked her what she thought.   I would like to =

share her response.

Here it is. =


I agree with the most recent response - I think parents need to be aware of =

ALL of the types of drugs kids are using....and WHY they are using them. To =

numb pain, to fit in, stress, etc. While parents need to be informed of =

what types of drugs there are out there that kids are using (especially =

prescription drugs) the way I see the assets leading prevention efforts is =
to link =

the assets to the information that is out there and show how - when we buil=
d =

specific ones - they act as protective factors. It's very clear that the =

most effective ways to reduce your teens drug use are to do the following =

things:
 =A0
 1. set boundaries - COMMUNICATE with your kids what=A0 your values are abo=
ut =

their using drugs
 2. know where your kids ARE and WHAT they are doing - knowing who their =

friends are is HUGE - birds of a feather really do flock together
 3. limit access to misused substances (prescription drugs, alcohol, =

cigarettes, aerosol sprays, etc.)
 4. build a positive relationship with your children - EAT DINNER =

TOGETHER!!!
 5. get your kids involved in community activities - the less unstructured, =

unsupervised time your kids have, the better
 =A0
 Those are the top 5. If you do these things, it covers all the substances. =

But to be an informed parent of ALL the things that are out there is =

extremely important.
 =A0
 Does that help?
 =A0
 :-) Karen
 =A0

 Karen P. McWhorter, LMSW, CPS
Director, Prevention Resources and Services
The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston
303 Jackson Hill St.
Houston, Tx 77007
(office) 281-200-9321 ~ (fax) 713-838-9351
www.council-houston.org
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