| ber a conversation I had with a police detective | | | | out of date? |
| some 35 years ago. He was telling me about what a | | | | Take an inventory and keep track of what is in the |
| mother had told him over the phone about her | | | | house. |
| teenaged son. “Once he’s out of the | | | | If a medication runs out too quickly, that is a sign |
| house, he’s not our problem.” The | | | | that someone might be abusing that drug. Talk to |
| detective, who served an upscale suburban | | | | your kids and make this a family project. |
| community, was explaining to me that parents can be | | | | Teens especially will experiment with drugs. They |
| irresponsible and in his mind almost criminal in their | | | | hear about the experiences of their friends. They |
| neglect of children. | | | | want to be cool and part of the crowd. If they |
| Parents are the most important people in a | | | | experiment with the drugs in your house, what will |
| child’s life. They set the tone for everything. | | | | happen? If you have a pain medication, what will that |
| If parents abuse drugs, the children are likely to | | | | do? If you have a stimulant of some kind, what will |
| abuse drugs. If husbands beat their wives, their sons | | | | that do? What are the dangers of overdose? Ask |
| will likely be wife beaters too. If parents divorce and | | | | yourself, what are the dangers to my child? |
| abandon their children, those children are not likely to | | | | Take control. Be the parent, the adult. Have an open |
| become model parents either. Parents are the front | | | | conversation with your children about drugs, |
| line in the prevention of drug abuse and | | | | especially the drugs in your house. Stay on top of it |
| there’s so much they can do to try to secure | | | | and know the inventory. Make connections with |
| the best possible future for their children. | | | | principals and teachers at the school, with your family |
| The trouble is parents want schools to do everything. | | | | doctor and pharmacist, and with local law |
| Teachers become parents, because “once | | | | enforcement officials. |
| he’s out of the house he’s not our | | | | Be savvy. Know what is in your house, in the |
| problem.” What happens in the home is more | | | | community and the potential negative impact it will |
| important than what happens in the classroom. | | | | have on your family. Drug abuse prevention starts in |
| Parents can set the example by being informed. That | | | | the home with responsible parents. Having this family |
| begins with understanding the dangers of prescription | | | | discussion and having a plan about how to handle the |
| medication. What is in your medicine cabinet? Do you | | | | medications in your home will be an effective |
| know what medications are in the house, and how | | | | preventative measure. |
| much of that medication you have? Are medications | | | | |