Prevent Drug Use & Abuse Among Kids HEIGHT: 148px"
title="PreventDrug Use & Abuse Among Kids & Teens" border="0"
alt="PreventDrug Use & Abuse Among Kids FONT-SIZE: 11pt">PARENT like
me_ who is concerned about the plague of drugs that threaten your son
or daughter?
Or are you a TEACHER, COUNSELOR, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, social
worker, child care worker, or other professional who wants to make a
difference in the lives of children?
Would you like more information, more knowledge, more skills that
will boost your ability to help children resist using drugs?
Would you like feel more confident and more competent as you work
with children who are exposed to the pressures to use drugs, drink
alcohol or become involved in other dangerous activities?
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_HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT TEENS FONT-SIZE: 11PT\">51% HAD USED AN
ILLICIT DRUG (including 46% who had used marijuana, 15% had used an
amphetamine and 11% had used inhalants).
These are staggering numbers. As a parent I am deeply concerned.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THESE TRENDS IN DRUG USE AMONG TEENAGERS? _HOW
CONCERNED ARE YOU?_
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WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WE ADULTS CAN DO?
_HERE IS A QUICK LOOK ARE SOME UNIQUE IDEAS FONT-STYLE: italic;
FONT-SIZE: 11pt">But it might be hurting our kids right now! That is a
concern that most of us (parents) constantly live with.
*
I believe that we don't have to be recovering addicts or an
addiction counselors to be able to help our kids and teens remain
drug-free! We can get the knowledge, tools and skills we need.
*
Reducing the RISK FACTORS that propel kids to use drugs is an
important drug prevention strategy that I think we all need to learn,
adapt to our kids and their situations. Then we need to adopt the
strategies that work for us.
*
I USED TO ASK MYSELF THIS QUESTION: DO I KNOW THE EXTENT TO WHICH MY
SON (THE TEENAGER) IS AT RISK TO USE DRUGS? I WAS ADAMANT THAT I
NEEDED TO FIND OUT - BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE.
*
I asked my self if my daily efforts made my children more resilient?
*
What should I tell my children about drugs? When is the best time to
talk with them? How do I listen and what do I listen for? (The answers
to these questions are crucial!)
*
Am I teaching my sons how to deal with the _NEGATIVE_ peer pressure
they regularly experience?
*
I believed that there were critical things that I needed to know and
about my teenagers' _friends_ AND _their parents_. I thought that
failure to know these things can leave our children seriously at risk
for drug use... and other terrible problems and incidents.
*
Well... I went on a mission... I developed a strategy on how to
"Stack the Deck"? This is the core of a unique set of strategies that
you can also learn to implement on a daily basis.
*
I developed a DEFINITION OF \"PREVENTION\" that made it clear what I
had to do... and how I sholud do it. This alone provided me with a
_'quantum leap'_ in my thinking! The light bulbs went off in my head!
*
I learned the basic SIGNS BACKGROUND: #ffffc1; COLOR: #cc0000;
FONT-SIZE: 11pt">
*
I asked myself Hohow I could capitalize on teachable moments... and
what should I teach... and when should I teach it?
*
How could I '_INOCULATE_' my boys against drugs and violence... and
all of the problems in between?
*
Was it ethical to 'brain wash' my kids against the negative
influences of gangs and bullies.... Yes, I said "_brain wash_". _Here
is a tip: If I didn't do it... someone else would. More importantly...
if I didn't learn HOW to do it... the bad people do... and they would
not hesitate to brainwash my boys - if they could! _
*
How could I build my boys' spirits and hearts... rather than destroy
them... And, how could I build their self-esteem and self image - and
even their self-concept! What would I need to do? How?
*
Which risk or RESILIENCY/PROTECTIVE FACTORS should I focus on? Where
do I learn this information? Who would teach me? How would it work
with my kids? Would it workat all?
*
What is the best method for teaching and coaching my children so
that they would buy-into the dreams and goals that I have for their
safety and success?
*
How could I develop a family prevention program that was proven to
work and that my kids would love? (OK... maybe not love... but at
least buy-into.)
SO WHAT DID I DO?
I asked a lot of questions. I did a lot of research. I read a lot of
books. I interviewed a lot of teachers, counselors, social workers and
psychologists. But more importantly, I talked with a lot of teenagers
and their parents. I talked with kids who were doing well and with
teenagers in juvenile detention settings.
I became a Certifed Prevention Professional. I took a job as the
Assistant Director of Drug Teenagers sharing with parents; Teenagers
sharing with other teenagers!
So for the first chapter of this forward moving process, I have
developed some critical pieces of information that I think you might
want to read and learn about drug prevention for kids and teens.
I will give you TONS (not ounces... not even pounds...) of
information about how to prevent teenage drug use. You will learn
about the keys to substance abuse prevention.
An "ounce" of prevention 'used' to get you a "pound" of cure! Not
anymore... not anymore... You need a "ton" of Prevention to get one
little "ounce" of cure. I will give you "Tons" of Prevention
strategies, techniques, ideas and methods!
If you are a _TEACHER, COUNSELOR, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR_, social
worker or other professional... can you use this information to work
with parents? I think the answer is yes.
If you are a parent, can you use this information to boost your
efforts. I am confident that you will find this information at least
very supportive. At most.. the information might change the way you do
some things.
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_For those parents who have teenagers who have already started to
use drugs... then you need intervention techniques and strategies. The
great thing about my information is that these techniques can also be
used for drug abuse intervention, relapse prevention, and some aspects
of treatment._
_I will explain to you why these strategies are critical in all
phases of prevention, intervention, treatment and aftercare. _
_YES! I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN PREVENT & INTERVENE IN DRUG USE
OR ABUSE AMONG PRE-TEENS AND TEENAGERS._
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