Hello my friends, I was sent a very serious note today from one of our friends, asking me questions about teen drugs. There teen has been taking drugs for sometime but they just found out that there child was using alot of drugs, So Im posting this info for you and your teens for those who have them. Parents Affect Teens' Drug Decisions Keeping Close Parental Watch Helps Deter Use By Jennifer Warner WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD on Friday, December 09, 2005 More From WebMD Depression Often Follows Risky Teen Behavior 10 Ways Teens Benefit From Family Dinners Get the Latest Parenting News Delivered to Your Inbox Dec. 9, 2005 -- Parents may not be helpless after all when it comes to influencing their children's decisions about drugs and alcohol. A new study shows that peers play a major role in teen drug use, but parents also play a big part by influencing who their children hang out with as well monitoring their activities. Researchers found that when parents were tolerant about drug use, their children were more likely to have friends who used drugs. But children who felt their parents were closely monitoring their activities were less likely to use drugs or alcohol. "Much of the previous research in this area shows that adolescents make their decisions about drugs based on influence from their friends," says researcher Stephen Bahr, professor of sociology at Brigham Young University (BYU), in a news release. "But those studies neglect the notion we found here, that some of the family characteristics help determine who teens associate with. We also found that some steps taken by parents had a direct effect on lowering drug abuse, even in the face of peer influences." Parents Affect Teen Drug Use In the study, researchers analyzed information from a 1997 survey of more than 4,200 U.S. students in grades 7-12. The results appear in the Journal of Primary Prevention. The results showed that 21% of the students reported drinking alcohol, 12% engaged in binge drinking, 9% smoked marijuana, and 12.5% took hard drugs, such as heroin and ecstasy, in the in the last 30 days. Researchers found the influence of peers on teen drug and alcohol use was strong, but it was mediated by family characteristics, such as parental tolerance of drugs and alcohol and use by siblings. The surveyed teens were asked about identified risk factors for teen drug use including peer and sibling use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, parental monitoring, and how they perceived their parents' tolerance of drug and alcohol use on a 5-point scale. For example: * For every point increase in parental tolerance of alcohol use, the frequency of teen use of alcohol increased by 80%. * For every point increase in parental tolerance of marijuana use, there was a 33% increase in the frequency of marijuana use. * Students with an older sibling who had used marijuana or alcohol were also 50% and 71%, respectively, more likely to use these substances than those without an older sibling who had used marijuana or alcohol. Keeping Tabs on Teens Stops Drug Use The study also showed that parents played an important role in affecting teen drug use by monitoring their child's activities. The frequency of drug use dropped by 10%-14% for each degree that teens perceived their parents as monitoring their activities. "There are some who have even argued that parents don't have influence on those decisions, that kids are independent in deciding who they're going to be friends with," says researcher John Hoffmann, also a professor of sociology at BYU, in the release. "We're arguing that's not true. Parents do have influence over who their kids are friends with, and they can directly influence that by monitoring activity more closely." "This means even if your kids are hanging out with friends who are using marijuana or hard drugs, if you are monitoring where they go and what they're doing, then you can decrease the risk that your kids will be using these substances also," says Hoffmann. "As long as kids are aware that their parents know what they're doing, they're going to be less likely to use it." Many blessings to all our families. Kathy Martin

Hi Kathy. This is Great Information. This is what scares me about My Neices. My Sister, as Many Know, is a Drug Addict and as much as this has Hurt My neices and as Much as they know How Bad the Addiction is, this still has a Profound Psycological Effect on Children. They see there Mother sometimes and The Middle and Youngest daughters are More attached to her. I Have Many concerns about this Issue. As I am writing you Now, All Heck(putting it Politely) is Breaking Out over at My Moms House. My Sister, Middle Neice, My Mom and Now My Oldest Neice is Fighting. Not Physical, although I am afraid that this May Happen soon. I have been on My Moms Case to Get the Authorities Involved. The Middle Neice, Leah, is so attached to her Mother that she wants her there, But My Sister is Litterly tearing that Family Apart. I am not getting Involved this Time because every time I do, It Tears Me Apart. Thanks so Much for this Valuable and Very Important Information. I Pray that No One ever has to Have to go through this. Always Communicate with your Children. They should Never be exposed to this Kind of Life. Sorry so Long. :) Thanks Friend, Shelly Hargis

HI Kathy, I have never read this before, but everyting in this report is what I did with my kids! I think the first deterent in kids taking drugs are the parents. First, of course, they have to be good role models themselves. Next, parents have to be involved with their kids lives...you need to know who your kids friends are....start this at a young age...and if you disapprove of a friendship because you feel a particular child is a bad influence, break-up that friendship. If you have to go to the other child's parents to help ensure that, then do so! I have had to go to a couple parents in the past, and each time they didn't even know what was going on with their child until I told them! Parent intervention is the key! There won't be alot of peer pressure if you know the kids involved in your child's life. So, get involved with your children. Let their friend's know you, let them come to your house to visit instead of your child running the street, treat these kids like your own when they come over, and also let them know you have rules etc. All my kids friends liked me and respected me because I didn't allow them to act like heathens in my house and they had to follow the rules in my house just like my own kids did! I truly cared about them...something too many kids don't get at home. I can honestly say, I never had a problem with my 4 kids getting into drinking and drugs...Thank God! Marilyn L. Ali

Hi Kathy. Great to see you again. This kind of stuff is just a "new born" so I know about it only what was seen on TV! But believe me, for me (and my entire family I HOPE!) it was enought, in order ton realize the "benefits" That is why this info is much more valuable than any other business info ever! Thank you very much.

One more very important thing! Taking care of kids, do not meen to give them, food, closes, place to live, and everything they dream! I think its much more important to give them attention (always to keep an eye on them even when we are not there) and communication. Not just speaking to them but listening as well! In fact, listening is more important than any other thing.