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Parents’ advice on drugs, alcohol needed
Published Monday, October 12, 2009
Last week, ABC agents arrested a Florala High School student for possession of an alcoholic beverage on school property, a felony offense.
The week before that, an Opp High School student was charged with three drug offenses after he tried to sell prescription pills at school.
Those events should be reminders to parents of the importance of talking to their kids about the risks involved with drugs and alcohol, Covington County Children’s Policy Council director Susan Short said.
“Believe it or not, kids do listen to their parents,” she said. “Surveys show that teens say they primarily learn about the risks of drugs and alcohol from their parents.”
And parents shouldn’t think their students are safe from the dangers because they live in a small town.
“Covington County is a great place to live, but we have anything that is available in large cities across the United States right here,” she said.
While there is no “silver bullet” to ensure that teens don’t use alcohol and drugs, there are some things parents can do to lessen the possibility, she said.
“Sometimes really good kids make bad decisions and get in trouble,” she said. “But there are some things that parents can do.”
She said that research shows that anti-drug messages are most effective if they are heard at home, and fourth grade is the right time to begin talking to students.
“Studies show that many children take their first drink of alcohol when they are 11,” Short said.
While that statistic may sound shocking, it shouldn’t be. Statistics also show that 85 percent of the population of adults regularly drink alcohol, which makes the substance easily available to youngsters.
“If you are one of those who drink and you want to be sure your children aren’t drinking, lock it up,” she said.
Local law enforcement officials regularly make arrests for “house parties,” at which adults supply alcohol for teens.
“If you are a law-abiding citizen, you should remember that it is not legal to give alcohol to anyone under 21,” Short said. “And teens have never been responsible drinkers.”
A new danger, she said, is a phenomenon called “pharm” parties. Kids bring prescription drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinets and put the pills in a bowl.
“Then they pick a pill,” she said.
Teens take risks, she said, because their critical thinking skills aren’t fully developed.
“Parents have always known that,” Short said. “Science is just now figuring it out.”
Research also shows that children whose parents spend time with them are less likely to become involved in alcohol and drugs.
“Some children are sitting on a box of dynamite and parents are doing all they can to keep the powder dry,” Short said.
“I am a firm believer in church activities — even secular activities — designed to keep kids busy,” she said. “The research shows that it is less likely kids will use alcohol and drugs if they are attending church activities.
“Parental involvement is so very important,” she said. “Pick your fights, but be sure your kids know how you feel about alcohol and drugs.”
Kids care what their parents do and think, she said.
“And remember, when you’re a parent, they are always watching you,” Short said.
Comments
Posted by purelogic (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The headline almost reads like it is saying the parents need alcohol before giving advice on drugs. :) I suppose that would defeat the point however.
Posted by rutherfords_1 (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Parents don't keep close watch on their kids today...well I'll say the majority of parents. Most are too busy with work and other things to really keep an eye "literally" on their kids.
Another thing is majority of parents are too busy trying to be their kids friend, rather than letting them know who is in charge.
Don't fool yourself into thinking it is any different, and the way kids are today, they will get and do most anything they want to,if they want to bad enough.
It is no different in this small town as it is in a large city, I know.
There is most anything they could want,(as far as drugs etc.) on any given street.
Just ask your local cops or sheriff dept. they can tell you how seriuos it is here.
Posted by Anne (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just a reminder: the majority of young parents today with children in government run schools, have themselves, at school age, experienced alcohol, smoking and drugs, especially weed. If it was a bad experience, they will give the example accordingly. If they have fond memories of great parties and fun times, their children will be at risk to do likewise.
Teen alcohol drinking and smoking goes back at least 75 years and drugs since the early sixties - it's become generational. The worse our 'times' become, the more these vices are sought after.
Can the Law stop this? I think naught.
Posted by rutherfords_1 (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes you are right and the government is also paying for them to go to school and a place to live and paying their light bills and providing them with "food stamp cards" that they can simply go and get cash from or buy cases of gatorade and bags of doritos and such, while the kids run around barefoot and nasty tending to themselves while their mother (because usually no biological father is around), hunts someone else to buy some pills or alcohol from, and sometimes she just trades her "food stamp card" for some pills .....this is reality. Take a look around...they are having kids younger and younger these days, they aren't taught respect, character or anything else besides "hurry up and have a baby so we can claim it as a dependent".
Posted by kitty (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a great article. I am glad he said to start educating the children in 4th grade. These days it seems our children are learning earlier and more we did. Church is so great for children, as well as sports to keep children positive, and build self esteem. I remember once in Florala, a woman told me that a child's parents were "trash". This poor child did not choose his parents, a lot of these children are born into poor families, and the parents do not know any better. None of them were taught any tools, how to excel in life.
This made me sad, and some people see themselves as "better" and above others. Florala has a lot of churches, more affluent church goers need to reach out to those less fortunate, especially the children. Maybe this next generation will receive the tools they need to grow and not turn to drugs.
The police seem to be doing a much better job in the last few years, it is sad people turn to drugs at all. Hopefully, the town will become more positive, stimulate job growth and the people will be too busy working to mess with drugs and alcohol. A lot of these children are bored...they say they are bored. Churches need to reach out to each other and have a Friday night youth night, sing and Praise God. Then the children will see that God cares, even if the parents don't have the capacity.
I don't see drug and alcoholics as "bad" people. I see them as sick, and ill. We need to pray for our towns and nation, turn to service and uplift our country instead of pointing the finger at each other. Florala is a beautiful place, and there are a lot of wonderful works here.
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kitty: You are so on spot with your post.
It's not just Florala. But yes, our young people have been given a bad taste of what life is, and none of what life should be. I really don't think the Law is the solution, only a last resort. It's generational, as Anne said. We, as parents and grandparents must take action, and we must pray to God for our young. They will be the parents of children soon enough. God is always the answer. Let us unite our prayers for each other no matter what.
I don't know who you are, Kitty, but you make very good points that everyone should act upon.
Posted by lulubell (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 10:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Florala and Opp is certainly not the only community that have had their share of trouble with their teens. People if you want to get involved in what your child is up to, then listen in on their conversations and find out exactly where they are going to be. 9 times out of 10 they will tell you that they are spending the night over at so and so's and in the meantime the other so and has told their parents that they are spending the night at your so's house. I know I have 2 teenage son's and yes I sit on them if I have to but they know that I am the parent. This is because I have learned a valuable lesson from letting my children just hang with some friends after school or go to the skate park and hang with friends. Not no more, they are supervised by ME their MOM. The drug and alcohol problem that we have with the teens are more widespread than we could have ever imagined. Some teens can be reached but we have to get to them before it is to late.
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lulubell: good for you! - which is good for your boys. We've had a rule in my family from my father, NO SLEEP OVERS. I carried that rule to my own family. When they're married, they can "sleep over"!
May sound harsh, but if you stick to whatever rules you've set down, all the better for your children. Everywhere they will go, there will be rules they'll have to follow.
Posted by lulubell (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Parents' advice on drugs, alcohol needed
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Posted by tankmaster (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Blame it all on the parents....I blame some of it on the schools...there is no discipline (spanking) there are very few role models or leaders in the schools anymore. They have all but said "NO" to prayer in schools anymore, I stood at 6 football games last year and the National Anthem was played and there was NO flag on the pole. How can you play our nations anthem and not even fly OLD GLORY, I take that to be very offensive. I bet if you pole the Andalusia High School students, over half can not say the Pledge of Allegiance....I would say the county high schools would show about the same. We have teachers that put the lessons on the board, tell the students "here is your assignments" no talking, get to work, then they sit down and never teach anything. Some teachers they are...I would name them but if you have had children in the AHS school in the last few years, you know exactly who I mean. My tax dollars pay you teachers to be leaders in the classroom, examples for all students and if needed issue the proper discipline based on the offense, you are supposed to find ways to keep the attention of all the students in your class so they can learn the material you are supposed to be teaching, and when a child decides to challenge you and not pay attention or not listen or be disruptive, then you have to step up and do your job. Throwing them out, putting them in I.S.S, just don't work. Dang, be the teacher your supposed to be and quit milking a paycheck. Your hurting all of our kids. If the schools would do those things, our kids would be alot better off. To the teachers that are doing a great job, you know who you are, I thank you and please keep it up.
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tankmaster: That's why some of us homeschool our children.
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