TheAntiDrug.com
Distribution date: 8/21/2006

HOW SUPERVISED ARE "SUPERVISED" PARTIES? 

While drugs and alcohol have been present at unsupervised parties for decades, a new national study released last week reveals that drugs and alcohol are a substantial part of the teen party scene, DESPITE the presence of parents. Findings from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University show that one third of teens and nearly half of 17-year-olds attend house parties when parents are present and teens are drinking or smoking marijuana.* 

As the new school year gets underway, and so do the parties,TheAntiDrug.com is urging parents to foster an ongoing discussion with teens about the dangers of drug and alcohol use and also monitor their activities. Talking to teens about the risks associated with drug use and the physical harms caused by using drugs is one way you can help prevent them from accepting an offer to use.   In addition, parents should follow up the conversation by monitoring their teen's behaviors.  Parents can do a few simple things to help keep their kids drug-free:

ASK QUESTIONS: Who is your teen hanging out with, where is the party, how often will the supervising parents check in on the teen group, and so on.
Advice on what questions to ask: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/advice_ask_questions.asp]

SET RULES: Establish with your teen that drug and alcohol use is unacceptable, and agree on consequences for breaking those rules. 
Advice on setting rules and consequences: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/advice_clear_rules.asp

ENFORCE CONSEQUENCES: Did your teen come home reeking of alcohol or smelling of pot?  Enforce the punishment that you and your teen agreed upon. 
For more on enforcing consequences: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/one.asp

And if YOU are the parent hosting the party, here are some additional guidelines:

TALK TO YOUR TEEN: Before the party gets hoppin', lay down some ground rules with your teen and role play what they need to do in case things get out of hand. 
Practice role playing techniques: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/advice_role_playing.asp

CHECK-IN: Time gets away from teens when they are having fun, so don't rely on them to check in with you.  Be proactive and pop in on the fun--often. 
For other ways to get involved: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/advice_more_involved.asp

REACH OUT: Touch base with the parents of the teens your child has invited, and assure them that you will actively supervise the party. 
Talking to other parents: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/eight.asp

As research shows, the majority of teens say the main reason they won't use marijuana or other drugs is fear of upsetting their parents.  So be an active presence in your teen's life!  For more tips and advice, visit TheAntiDrug.com http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/.

* The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA). (August 2006) National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XI: Teens and Parents CASA study: http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/articlefiles/380-Teen%20Survey%20XI%20Final%20PDF.pdf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEWS
Survey Finds Parents In 'Denial' On Teens' Risks
1 in 4 Kids Rank Drugs and Alcohol as Top Concern; Adults Do Not See Same Threat Reported by: Lois Romano, Washington Post Read article: http://www.theantidrug.com/news/index.aspx

ADVICE
Pressure To Fit In
Teens are often under a great deal of pressure to fit-in and be successful.  Jumping on the bandwagon is an easy way for them to avoid feeling left out-even when it comes to drugs and alcohol. 

Read more about teen pressures: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/pressures-on-teens.asp]

CONVERSATION STARTERS
"Drinking - A Rite of Passage? When You and Your Spouse Disagree"
A mother and father disagree about the significance of their son's drinking. Advice on the risks of alcohol use, united parenting and why it doesn't pay to be the "cool" parent.
Read more: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/three.asp

FREE RESOURCES
Looking for FREE anti-drug information: Check out all TheAntiDrug.com's CAMPAIGN RESOURCES: http://www.theantidrug.com/news/get-resources.aspx

GET INVOLVED
Find Help & Local Resources
Locate the drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs nearest you or call 1-800-788-2800 for informational materials.
Visit here: http://www.theantidrug.com/ei/facility_locator.asp

FEATURED PARTNER
Florida Power & Light http://www.fpl.com/index.shtml ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Encourage other parents to subscribe to this newsletter. Anyone can join the list by visiting TheAntiDrug.com and entering an e-mail address on the home page.  You have registered to receive biweekly e-mail notifications with parenting tips and strategies you can use to ensure that your child remains healthy and drug-free. Remember, when it comes to keeping kids drug-free, YOU MATTER.

This email was sent by: National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
 
750 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC, 20503,
USA