A Message from your Assistant Principal |
HELPING OUR STUDENTS TURN DOWN HARMFUL SUBSTANCES
The teenage years are exciting ones for our students. The opportunities for adventure seem to be endless and most adolescents are ready to dive in and experience all that life has to offer. But adolescence is also a very unsettling time for teens as bodies and emotions change from day to day. Approval from peers is wanted and peer influence is strong. It is also during adolescence that students begin to make choices that can have a lasting impact on who they are and what they do in life. One choice is whether to use substances that can harm them mentally and physically.
As parents, the last thing we want to acknowledge is that our student would make a decision to try an illegal substance. Unfortunately, wanting to belong, or not having the skills to resist pressure, may lead students to try substances such as alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America published the following statistics:
- Teens are twice as likely to use marijuana, as parents believe
- Two-thirds of 8 th graders report alcohol use in the past year
- More than 20 percent of 8 th graders report trying an inhalant
- Nearly 50 percent of all 8 th graders have tried cigarettes
- The number of parents who report never talking with their child about drugs has doubled in the past six years, from 6 percent in 1998 to 12 percent in 2004
Although this can be disheartening and make us want to isolate our children from the world, it is not realistic. There are steps we can take to help our students make healthy choices for themselves. As the schools provide information on the dangers of substance abuse, parents can provide a context in which the information is applied. The American Council for Drug Education states, "The choice to use or refuse drugs is heavily steeped in values. Parental ideas and discipline do more to shape the views of children than any other influences in their lives." Teens that learn a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to try drugs than teens that learn nothing at home. Although there are numerous documents published on drug abuse and why students use drugs, all the publications agree that to keep student drug-free requires certain steps to be taken at home:
- Establish a "no drug use" policy at home. Students don't want to upset families
- Establish and discuss clear rules and consequences for breaking the rules
- Kids don't usually get drugs from strangers. Get to know their friends and parents.
- If your student is home along, make sure they feel your presence. Research shows that between the hours of 3pm - 7pm , are when many students get in trouble with drugs.
- Let your students know you do not want them in risky situations and practice ways to get out of risky situations.
- Be aware of the signs and symptoms and take action if you suspect.
- Take time to discuss the issue of substance abuse. It's not always easy.
- Build relationships with your children. Let them know how wonderful they are. Students need to hear positive comments about their lives and how they are as individuals.
As schools, we incorporate prevention strategies, rules, and consequences which guide how we deal with students while they are in our care. Our teachers help hone the problem-solving and decision-making skills that assist them in making healthy choices for themselves. Parents, who are the prime nurturers in their children's development, are teaching their children about life decisions and choices. Two-thirds of surveyed students said that losing their parents' respect and pride is one of the main reasons they don't do drugs. In other words.
As parents, your words and actions do matter.
Bonnie Kaufman
Assistant Principal