If you have a teenager or even a pre-teen you know how prevalent alcohol and drugs are in our school system. You must be afraid of all of the negative influences and poor decisions that abound our children.
Have you ever asked your teen how he perceives the pressures they encounter day to day? As reported in www.csmonitor.com.
Four out of every 10 teens have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. In addition, 23 percent of students say they used marijuana, 6.8 percent used cocaine, 11.4 percent used inhalants, 2.9 percent used heroin, and 3.8 percent used methamphetamines within 30 days.
Don’t think your teen is safe in campus either! In looking at trends of the prevalence of tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drug use on school property, 5 percent of students have used alcohol and tobacco on campus, 6 percent have smoked marijuana, and 26 percent were offered, sold, or given an illegal drug.
Part of the problem undoubtedly is social media. Peer pressure via social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace.
Students who attend "drug-infected" schools are more likely to see on social networking sites pictures of their classmates getting drunk, passing out, or using drugs, and 45 percent of students (10.9 million) have seen these types of pictures online.
Of those students who have seen partying pictures, 75 percent say the pictures encourage other students to engage in that behavior and 47 percent say the party scene looks like fun.
The best remedy for this is parental involvement. Make sure as a parent you are a good role model for your child. Make sure your child knows your stance against using drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Perhaps even take an online alcohol class or an online drug class with your child.
Our children are our future. Let’s not drink away or smoke away our future!