| While it may seem as if drug use is under control, | | | | face-to-face about the inherent dangers of doing |
| each day someone tries drugs for the first time and | | | | drugs and drinking alcohol. There is a reason why |
| becomes addicted. If we know that drugs are bad | | | | there are age restrictions on when you are legally |
| for us, then why do we continue to insist on getting | | | | allowed to purchase cigarettes and alcohol. However, |
| involved in them? It cannot be stressed enough how | | | | despite this fact, kids still find loopholes and ways of |
| important it is for parents to talk to their children. | | | | getting around it. For some, this temporary rebellion |
| The problem with today's children and teens lies in | | | | against their parents can have catastrophic setbacks. |
| the fact that many parents work full time jobs. We | | | | Year after year, kids become embroiled in drugs. |
| no longer live in a world where only one parent | | | | Some join drug gangs and still others learn an even |
| leaves for work in the morning. Rather, now we | | | | harder lesson when accidental overdoses lead to |
| have to contend with both parents working | | | | premature death. |
| (sometimes two full-time jobs). So, then if this is the | | | | Schools have tried to take the initiative to offset |
| case- who is watching the kids? Exactly. | | | | drug use among the youth by providing mandatory |
| It starts off innocently enough. A child or teenager is | | | | classes on the dangers of drug use but still the |
| hanging out with their friends at someone's house or | | | | problem remains. Ultimately, the only thing that seems |
| after school hours when suddenly someone produces | | | | to curtail drug use and alcoholism is early intervention |
| a pack of cigarettes. Before long, the cigarettes are | | | | by parents who are not only there for their kids but |
| passed out and everyone is taking a drag. But the | | | | who care enough to talk to them about the dangers |
| question still remains: "Why do kids feel the need to | | | | behind drug and alcohol abuse. There will eventually |
| try drugs or alcohol?" Perhaps the answer lies in the | | | | come a point in a child's life when what their parents |
| fact that often times, children witness their parents | | | | say to them won't carry nearly as much weight. If |
| doing things that they shouldn't be doing such as | | | | we can even help just one child know not only the |
| drinking alcohol or smoking in front of them. | | | | difference between right and wrong but also help |
| A different type of situation that many teens find | | | | them to have the confidence and strength of |
| themselves in where they are faced with the | | | | character to refuse drugs and alcohol when offered, |
| decision to do drugs and/or alcohol are at parties. It is | | | | then we will truly be making headway. Until then, all |
| really the parent's responsibility (not the school's) to | | | | we can do is continue to be shining examples of how |
| sit down with their child and talk to them | | | | mature adults should behave and hope for the best. |