American parents need to be more proactive about their children's involvement with drug and alcohol abuse, according to a study released earlier this month. Conducted by Drugfree.org, a nonprofit advocacy group committed to reducing young adult drug and alcohol addiction, the report highlights the fact that many teenagers remain unaware of the dangers behind these behaviors, especially those that relate to prescription pills.
A press release from the group stated that only 14 percent of adolescents have had a conversation with one or both of their parents about pill abuse. Interestingly, over 80 percent of the same group had a similar chat about the problems associated with marijuana.
"For parents, it really comes down to not using the power they have because they don't think this is an immediate problem, meaning their own home, own neighborhood kind of thing," Steve Pasierb, president of the organization that runs Drugfree.org, said in a statement. "They believe that this is probably a safer way, not as bad as illegal street drugs."
Part of the problem, Pasierb went on to say, is that many parents struggle reconciling their desire to give their kids space while also setting a good example with respectable boundaries. However, this leniency leads all too often to further drug abuse which can pose life-long problems.
If you're a parent, it's vital that you sit down with your children and have an honest talk about drugs and alcohol. While you may not prevent them with being confronted by peer pressure, it's helpful to share your concerns and knowledge about the inherent dangers of these actions. In the event that someone you love is becoming embroiled in substance abuse, acting immediately is of the utmost importance. Intervention Services can help schedule a drug addiction intervention before it's too late.