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Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Belt it out in 2011 by Singing for Safety
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Kids and Drugs: It can happen to any Family
This is the story of Henry Granju, a young man who died at the age of 18 from his addiction to prescription drugs. "That's so sad," I heard myself say as I read the detailed account of Henry's addiction to drugs and untimely death as told by his mother, Katie Allison Granju. Recognize that name? You've probably heard of Granju as the author of "Attachment Parenting: Instinctive Care for Your Baby and Young Child," or seen her posts on Salon, Babble or her own blog, Mamapundit. Granju is a gifted writer whose pain and longing rises up from each post and made me realize just how easy it would be for this tragedy to happen to any family — my family ... my children. This is more than sad. It's tragic.
Prescription drug abuse has become an epidemic in the United States. According to WhiteHouse.gov, "abuse of prescription pain killers now ranks second — only behind marijuana — as the Nation's most prevalent illegal drug problem."
Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on deaths in the U.S. due to poisoning (from 1999-2004) shows that nearly all poison deaths in the country are attributed to drugs, and most drug poisonings result from the abuse of prescription and illegal drugs. What's more, the number of these deaths increased from 12,186 in 1999 to 20,950 in 2004. That's an increase of 62.5 percent in five years. And the trend is continuing to skyrocket.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that teens describe their prescription drug abuse as "responsible," "controlled" or "safe," with the perception that these prescription drugs are safer than street drugs. In fact, data from the Partnership for a Drug Free America show that four out of 10 teens feel that prescription medicines are much safer to use than illegal drugs, even if they are not prescribed by a doctor. This study, The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS): Teens in grades 7 through 12, found that nearly one in five teens (19 percent or 4.5 million) report abusing prescription medications that were not prescribed to them.
One in five!
That means if you know five teens, it's possible that you know at least one prescription drug user. I don't know about you, but I know a heck of a lot more than five teens. And it breaks my heart to think that any of them could be headed down Henry Granju's path.
As parents, the best thing that we can do to put a stop to this epidemic is to talk to our kids — and to each other. So I'm spreading the word about Henry and hoping that his story's tragic ending will help prevent at least one kid from making the same decisions that he did.
Be a positive influence for your kids
10 Things To Do That Show Your Kids You Care
- Teach your children to trust you by seeing you as a role model.
- Be patient, not just tolerant. Apologize when you make a mistake or do something you regret.
- Ask teens what they need from you - and do whatever you can to meet those needs.
- Listen to your teens, a lot. Avoid interrupting.
- Teach your children about ethics, values and principles they can apply in choices and decision making.
- Help them discover the feeling of gratitude, not just to say thank you.
- Keep the promises you make. If you do not keep your word, acknowledge that. Help your teen understand the circumstances or choices that precipitated the change in your plans.
- Answer your teen's questions and be consistent. When you notice behavioral changes in them, make yourself available and encourage them to talk about what is going on in their life.
- Be understanding when they have a difficult time and let them know you will love them no matter what.
- Be diligent. Have ongoing conversations with your kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol.
For more helpful hints support, tools, resources and answers visit www. drugfree.org
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