TIME TO ACT! Prevent Teen Drug Abuse, Teens Fitting In

Many teens feel like an outsider and long to feel included and liked by their teenage peers. This need can be so strong that they engage in teenage drinking or drug use to help them make friends, fit in or be accepted. 

Teenage drinking and drug use may give kids an in with a desired clique
If the kids your teen wants to hang out with are drinking or doing drugs, they may feel like they need to do them as well, or risk being left out. This may be true — but you can talk to your teen about why it's so important to fit in with this particular group if they're asking him to do something he doesn't want to do. (The kid could also feel pressure even if no one specifically asked him/her to take drugs).


Kids may use drugs or drink to change their image
Some teens use drugs or engage in teenage drinking as way to alter their image at school or work to one they perceive as more "dangerous" or "edgy."

Teens may use alcohol or drugs to fit in when moving to a new school or town
Keep a special eye on your teenager if you've just made a move to a new town or if she's just started at a new school. Some kids perceive drugs or teenage drinking as a way to easily fit in and make friends in an unfamiliar environment.

Read more.

Sue Scheff: Parent and Teen Communication - Let's Talk

Talking to your teens and kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol isn't has hard as you think. Time to Talk will help you talk with your kids.

The Talk Kit will help you with...

How to start talking
How to say it
How to teach kids to turn down drugs
How to answer the question: "Did you do drugs?"
Tips for caring adults involved with kids
A Practical one-sheet guide to the drug and alcohol scene. You can browse the Talk Kit online, or print out the tips sheets and information tools.

Visit: http://www.timetotalk.org/

Sue Scheff: Learn About Teen Medicine Abuse

I was asked by caring parents and individuals to give people encouraging news. StopMedicineAbuse is making a difference in creating awareness in parents and helping open up the lines of communication with their teens and tweens today.

Although almost two-thirds parents have talked to their teens about cough medicine abuse, a large number still have not had this critical conversation. To help alert these parents, many OTC cough medicines will now feature the Stop Medicine Abuse educational icon on the packaging. The icon, which also can be viewed online (see in this Blog), is a key reminder for parents that teen medicine abuse is an issue that they need to be aware of.

More Parents Talking with Their Teens about Cough Medicine Abuse

Posted by Five Mom, Christy Crandell , on Monday, May 11, 2009

Our efforts to educate parents about medicine abuse have reached thousands of families in the United States. With your help, more parents than ever are learning about this risky teen substance abuse behavior and are talking with their teens. According to the Partnership Attitude Tracking Study, released by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 65 percent of parents have talked to their teens about the dangers of abusing OTC cold and cough medicine to get high-an 18 percent increase in the number of parents who talked to their teens in 2007.
My fellow Five Moms and I are excited to share this promising news with you, but there is still much work ahead. Although nearly two-thirds of parents have talked with their teens, 35 percent of parents said that they have not had this important conversation.

We know that when parents talk to their teens about the risks of substance abuse, their teens are up to fifty percent less likely to abuse substances. If you have not already talked with your teens about the dangers of cough medicine abuse, visit our talk page for some helpful ideas on how to have this discussion.

It is also critical that we share this information with our friends and communities as well. Too many parents are still unaware that some teens are abusing OTC cough medicine to get high, and it is important that we talk with them about this behavior. By talking with other parents, we can make sure that every family has the knowledge and tools to help keep teens safe and healthy.

Sharing information about cough medicine abuse is easy. It only takes a moment to start a conversation, and thanks to Stop Medicine Abuse, you can Tell-A-Friend through e-mail or post the Stop Medicine Abuse widget to your blog or web site. The more parents are aware of cough medicine abuse, the better we can prevent this behavior from happening in our communities.
Have you talked with other parents about cough medicine abuse? Share your advice about having this conversation at the Stop Medicine Abuse Fan page

Sue Scheff: Drug Free America - Parent Campaign

Parenting today has become more challenging than ever. Social Networking is expanding a new area of concern for parents - and today more than ever, parents need to be informed and keep updated about substance abuse, teen drug use, huffing, drinking, inhalant use and other harmful habits. Peer pressure, the need to fit in - combined with kids suffering with low self esteem can lead to negative behavior.

Stay informed - visit http://www.drugfree.org/ to keep yourself educated.

Parent Campaign

Greater parental involvement in the decisions kids make about drugs is critical to preventing and reducing substance abuse. Our research has shown that kids who report learning a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to half as likely to use drugs as those who don’t. However, only about 3 out of 10 kids report learning a lot about drugs from their parents. Our Parent Campaign is designed to inspire more parents and other family influencers to connect with their kids in ways that persuade them to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The campaign includes comprehensive new information and resources to assist families in preventing, recognizing, and dealing with substance abuse problems. The website is organized in action-oriented sections that both educate and inspire parents and other influencers of kids to better understand and “know” their children, how to connect with them, how to keep tabs on them, how to spot drug use, and what to do if they suspect their child is using alcohol or other drugs.

Visit our Parent Campaign