When our children are little, our primary concern is that they are safe and healthy.  We install safety gates and outlet covers.  As they grow and mature, we wish that safety gates and outlet covers would offer the protection they need from the elements of the world we, as parents, have little control over.  Information and awareness can increase our chances of keeping that primary goal of safety and health in the forefront for our children.   To help with that goal, the RRISD Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Advisory Committee would like to share with parents some T.I.P.S. Tips for Intervention, Prevention, and Safety.

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 According to H. Steven Glenn, author of Raising Self-reliant Children in a Self-indulgent World , there are three basic needs in the development of a self-reliant young person: 1. To be listened to and taken seriously, 2.   To feel important, worthwhile and significant, and 3. To have meaningful roles.

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THE EIGHT MOST CRITICAL YEARS    Virtually all non-medical drug use begins between the ages of 12 and 20. If a young person can survive these critical eight years without using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or inhalants, not only do we drastically reduce the likelihood that he/she will use other drugs, but we will also reduce the possibility that he/she will ever have a problem with alcohol. Drug use rarely begins in adulthood;  it begins during the childhood years.

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Set A Good Example : Children often do what parents do. By setting a good example, we increase the chances that our children will make low-risk decisions about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

If you drink, let your children see you limit the drinks you take, abstain at times, and allow them to hear you say, "No thanks, I’m driving."

If you don’t drink, explain to your children why you have made this choice. Point out examples of low-risk drinking to them so they will have guidelines to follow should they choose to drink as adults.

Show your children you are a responsible host by having non-alcoholic drinks available for guests, never "pushing" drinks, and serving food with drinks.

Demonstrate positive ways to handle stress. Practice relaxing, exercising, or working at a hobby instead of having a drink.

Use prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication only as directed and necessary and never use illegal drugs. (From www.pride.org)

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Great websites to add to your favorites.  Check them often! 

www.connectwithkids.com/kvue

www.marininstitute.org

www.pride.org

www.dare.com  (lists warning signs, tips for talking to kids, statistics, and resources)

www.dfaf.org  (Drug-Free America Foundation, Inc. - same resources as above)

www.drugfreeamerica.com    (same resources as above, but also has drug index where you can look up a particular drug's picture, slang terms, short term effects, how it's used, etc.)

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Did you know?  Scientific evidence suggests that even modest alcohol consumption in late childhood and adolescence can result in permanent brain damage.  - Dr. John Nelson, American Medical Association, 2002. Research also shows teen drinkers score worse than their non-drinking peers on vocabulary, visual-spatial, and memory tests, and are more likely to perform poorly in school as a whole. “Underage Drinkers at Higher Risk of Brain Damage,” American Medical Association, 2003.

Check out the Williamson County Coalition on Underage Drinking at www.lifestepscouncil.org

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Homecoming/Prom Night: Make sure you check out the who, what, when, where, and how of the evening.   Call other parents ahead of time to make sure the details your young person shares with you about pre-gatherings and after parties are accurate and that parents will be present (and actively chaperoning) all events.  Party busses—ask for additional adult staff to ride along (“event coordinator”) so that the driver can always look forward and another set of eyes can watch the back.  Set a curfew.  Reinforce expectations for zero tolerance of alcohol and other drugs.

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Tougher Laws:  The Texas Legislature passed a bill this summer that states that, in addition to jail time and fines, adults convicted of furnishing alcohol to a minor will lose their driver’s license for 180 days.  A second offense will bring a one-year license suspension.  Karen Housewright of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said, …“we prefer that youths and adults obey the laws and avoid penalties altogether.”   Know that you can press charges against anyone who provides alcohol, tobacco, other drugs or weapons to children. 

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Resources for Teens, Parents, and Teachers:   Research shows that teens look to their friends, parents and adults they trust when it comes to problems with drugs.  The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has developed FREE resources to help recognize the signs and symptoms of youth substance abuse and take early action to stop it.  Check out their website at www.TheAntiDrug.com.

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The average age of first use of any drug is 11.5 years of age.  The first use of alcohol or other drugs often takes place at parties or social gatherings with peers.  Every child is at risk.  Parents and guardians of middle school children can reduce this risk by taking action.  Check out the guidelines suggested in “Parties for Middle School Aged Children” at www.pride.org/partiesformiddleschoolchildren.htm

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Start Talking To Kids Early    Attitudes about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs are formed early in life, so get your two-cents worth in while you can. Look for trigger-times when an alcohol, tobacco or other drug-related happening has caught your child’s interest and use the opportunity to give them your views along with accurate information.

For example, if your children are watching a show that portrays alcohol, tobacco or other drug use as funny or grown-up, you might say something like, "This program doesn’t show the other side of those drugs. Some of the bad things that could happen are…"

When an alcohol commercial catches your child’s interest you might ask, "Why do you suppose beer ads use athletes? Do you think drinking alcohol helps in sports? Get them thinking about what the ads are implying.

Remember, most children have their first alcohol, tobacco or other drug experiences between the ages of 11 and 14. The earlier you begin talking openly and naturally about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs to kids, the more likely they are to accept your views and information rather than relying on peers or the media.

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Practice Makes Perfect:   Most teens usually do not seek out alcohol or other drugs initially; they simply respond by taking them in order to "fit in" among peers.   Large numbers of youths who eventually try drugs turn them down the first several times they are offered to them. Stopping first-use of drugs is essential to stopping all drug use. Help your youth come up with responses to use, like "No thanks, not tonight," or "My dad would kill me," or just plain "NO."  If children practice saying the words ahead of time, chances are they’ll actually use them when the situation comes up.

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Did you know? According to research by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, kids who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21.   Among the 14 million adults aged 21 or older who were classified as having past year alcohol dependence or abuse, more than 13 million (95%) had started using alcohol before age 21. –National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report.

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Talk Back to Big Alcohol     The alcohol industry spends billions on ads everywhere—TV, radio, billboards, magazines, concerts, sports arenas and more.  Check out Marin Institute’s Talk Back system at www.marininstitute.org/talkback

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Remember when? ... Smoking was allowed on airplanes, restaurants didn’t have non-smoking areas, we knew nothing of second hand smoke?  Today, nonsmoking is promoted as a social norm yet 430,700 lives are claimed each year as a result of smoke-related diseases.  78% of RRISD elementary students think tobacco is very dangerous to use but that number drops to 51% in 7-12 grade.  ( Texas School Survey, 2004)  Share the dangers of tobacco use with your youth!

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District Stats… 9% of RRISD elementary students and 16% of 7th—12th graders have used an inhalant in their lifetime. ( Texas School Survey, 2004) Gasoline, paint thinner, glue, correction fluid, spray paint are commonly recognized as dangerous inhalants, however two others have emerged that our children need to warned about:  Dust Off and helium.  Please read the articles listed below and share your cautions with your children. 

“Inhaling Helium: Party fun or Deadly Menace?”          www.cganet.com/N20/hellium_safety.htm 

“What Parents Should Know about Huffing”  www.drgreene.com/21_180html  

“Dusted Off”   www.snopes.com/toxins/dustoff.asp

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