Parent Awareness

St. Mary Star Academy Parents & Teachers Seminar

Knowledge The Key to Prevention

Parenting of Adolescents. Drug Abuse Awareness.
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Credit is awarded to: Denise D. Witmer the "professional parent Presenter: Wendy M.S. Riley Education Technology
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Who does drug abuse affects?

families

& You!
Colleagues, athletes, friends, schoolmates, the young
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social groups, elderly, club mates, best friends, those people

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Clip arts from: Microsoft Office clip art online & yahoo search

Drug Abuse Awareness

Please note that even though some of these

warning signs of drug abuse may be present in

your teen, it does not mean that they are definitely abusing drugs. There are other causes for some of these behaviors. Even the life stage of adolescence is a
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valid reason for many of them to exist.

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Drug Abuse Awareness

While there are many issues with teenagers that can strike fear in the heart of a parent, teen drug use is #1. But you cant allow your fear to force you to ignore drug concerns in your teens life and all teens have them!
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Drug Abuse Awareness

Each and every teenager knows someone in school who experiments or readily uses drugs. Every teen has seen it on television or in the news.

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Drug Abuse Awareness To empower a drug-free teenager youll need to put your fear aside and meet this issue head on.

You can keep your teen drug-free, or start

them on a drug-free path if they have been
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experimenting already, because this issue

is not bigger than your loving influence.
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Drug Abuse Awareness

Start with this screening quiz:
Quiz (use your handout to answer the questions. Your answers are confidential)
Do notAfter you have completed of teenage ignore the warning signs the online quiz, select the Back drug abuse. If six of these signs, (not all in the button to return to this window. same category), are present for a period of
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time, you should talk to your teen and seek some professional help.

Next slide EDU 301WB You do not have to link to the Internet, all of your information can be displayed in the PowerPoint. You dont have to create a quiz, just an informative PowerPoint.

Be the Parent and Set the Rules:

While your teen is learning to become independent, you will still need to guide the way. This is especially true when it comes to

serious issues like drug use because it is not

just your teen you are dealing with.
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There are the drug dealers who would love to get to your child or the negative peers who would use your child to valid their drug using
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behavior.

Be the Parent and Set the Rules:

Therefore, it is very important you make a conscience effort to set the rules where teen drug use is concerned.

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How to Set the Rules

Here's How: 1. Tell your teen that drug use of any kind will not be tolerated in your family. Be clear so that there is
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

no interpretation. Ask if he understands these expectations.

2. Ask your teen if there are any questions. Be

prepared to answer these and bring up a few of

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your own if you feel more information needs to be discussed. Continue talking to your teen about drugs after the rules have been set.
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How to Set the Rules

Here's How: 3. Establish the consequences for breaking the rules. Be firm with them. Once these are set, think
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

of the consequences as black and white no gray area here. Dont let your teen off the hook or add

consequences when a rule is broken.

4. Check up on your teenager. When he tells you his

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plans, check them with other parents. Let your teen know that you take the role as his parent very seriously.
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Tips on Preventing Teen Drug Use

1. Be there for your teen when he needs to get out of a bad situation.
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

Parents, be the scapegoat: I cant do that, my parents would kill me! Or be the parent who will pick

up your teen without repercussions if he finds the

party hes gone too has drugs available or her date

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has been drinking.

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Tips on Preventing Teen Drug Use

2. Get to know your teens friends and their parents on a first name basis. This will help you know what
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

your teen is doing and you may make a good friend

to boot! 3. Keep connected in the after school hours. If you cant be home with your teen, call and leave notes. Have another adult supervise your teen or sign him

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up for an after school program. If these things arent

possible, establish a routine for your teenager and keep him busy during this time.
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Tips on Preventing Teen Drug Use

4. Talk to your teen often about drugs. Use ice breakers from television
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

shows or the radio in the car. Remember these are

conversations,
Not lectures.

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Tips on Preventing Teen Drug Use

5. Get your teen involved in extra-curricular activities.
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

Schools offer sports or clubs and community organizations offer classes

and youth groups. These will help him

mold his identity in a positive way and

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give him less time doing nothing and

becoming bored. Studies have shown

teens that have less time to just hang out are less likely to do drugs.
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Tips on Preventing Teen Drug Use

6. Ask questions when your teen makes plans to go out.
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

Who will he be with,

where is s/he going, what will he be

doing, etc. Do a check up. Call other

parents and do this together.

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7. Be a role model. If you drink, drink responsibly - and dont ever use illegal drugs.
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Tips on Preventing Teen Drug Use

8. Unite your family against drugs
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

using strong family beliefs. Establish that your family doesnt use drugs. Not that you will shun

your child should he make a

mistake, but that your family

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believes there are other healthier ways to enjoy life and fix problems rather than escaping into a drug haze.
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Tips on Preventing Teen Drug Use

9. Connect with your teen by doing things
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

together as a family. Make this a routine outing and have your teen help plan it. Eat family meals

together. Studies have shown that kids

who enjoy dinner together with their
There are Groups of Kids that Says No To Drugs

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parents on a normal basis are less likely to become involved with drugs.

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Tips on Preventing Teen Drug Use

10. Drop any baggage you may be
An ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure.

carrying. Dont allow the mistakes you made as a teenager or young adult to influence your

teen in a negative way. Tap into the

mature adult youve become and let the

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past go.

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Parents, Get Help for Your Teen

Often parents will feel that their teenager and their relationship with their teenager - is spinning out of control when they discover their teen is using drugs or alcohol.

It is a big shock. It is difficult to know what to

Train up a children in the way they should go, when they are old they will not depart from it.
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do next or where to turn for help. Here is a listing of places where you can take your next step in helping your teenager.
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Parents, Get Help for Your Teen

Trained counselors can respond to your questions just about every day of the week. A wonderful free

service that can help you with some answers or

walk you through when you and your teen are in crisis.
Cocaine Hotline Drug Action for Service Drug Action Service Genesis House Address: Winchester & Mt. Royal Ave. Nassau, The Bahamas
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Denial of Drug Abuse

As the new term begins, its yet another opportunity for parents to talk to their children about the dangers

of drugs, alcohol and smoking.

And its important that parents, educators and

students work together to keep drugs out of their

schools and prevent young people from engaging in
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drug use.

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Denial of Drug Abuse

When young people do not recognize the risk, use will increase. This is harmful to youth, harmful to

families and harmful to communities.

Nothing is better than our childrens futures when

their lives are at stake.

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Denial of Drug Abuse

We have a large and growing denial gap when it comes to drug abuse and dependency in this country, said John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. We have a responsibilityas

family members, employers, physicians, educators,

religious leaders, neighbors, colleagues, and
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friendsto reach out to help our children. We must

find ways to lead them back to drug free lives. And

the earlier we reach them, the greater will be our likelihood of success.
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Substance Abuse and Risky Sexual Behavior

Adolescents and young adults who use drugs use

alcohol and often take risks that endanger their

health and the health of others. One of the most harmful risks is that of engaging in risky sexual activities. Scientific research has demonstrated that the use of alcohol and drugs is
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related to the occurrence of unsafe sexual behavior.

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Substance Abuse and Risky Sexual Behavior

This type of behavior will put kids at risk for

pregnancy or contracting sexually transmitted

diseases (STDs), such as HIV/AIDS. Young people need to recognize the deadly consequences of HIV/AIDS, and that they are potential targets for infection.
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Substance Abuse and Risky Sexual Behavior

Adolescents are at high behavioral risk for

contracting most STDs, and teens account for onequarter of the new cases of STDs diagnosed each year. Do you know that STD infection may result in infertility, birth defects, and the transmission of HIV,
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which parents will have to take care? The problem

and stress levels will increase for parents, if denial continues.
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Substance Abuse and Risky Sexual Behavior

It has been estimated that at least half of all new HIV

infections cases are among people under age 25,

including teens. The majority of young people are infected sexually with some form of STD.
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Drug Testing Methods

There are several different types of tests given to

detect drug use.

If current drug use is suspected, a blood or breath test often is administered. If previous drug use is suspected, a urine or hair test may be used.
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These tests look for chemical metabolites, or traces,

that the drug leaves behind after it is eliminated from the body.
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Drug Testing Methods

There is a growing number of schools and businesses that are using hair tests instead of urine tests. If the method is hair testing, it is much more likely

that a nonuser will test positive, especially if the test

subject is a person of color. Just walking through a
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room where there is marijuana smoke could result in a positive hair test. Coarser hair absorbs and maintains the tell-tale signs much more than fine hair.
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In conclusion You can get help & you are not alone.
Trained counselors can respond to your questions

just about every day of the week. A wonderful free

service that can help you with some answers or walk you through when you and your teen are in crisis.
Cocaine Hotline Drug Action for Service Drug Action Service Genesis House Address: Winchester & Mt. Royal Ave. Nassau, The Bahamas
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Reference
Denise D. Witmer has been a "professional parent" at the Masonic Children's Home in Elizabethtown, Pa. She worked in the adolescent buildings from May 1988 - September 1997 and again from May 2003 - to July 2006. She was very active in the teen development and Independent Living programs. http://parentingteens.about.com/od/tobaccouse/ht/teen_smoki ng.htm The Bahama Journal - Bahamas News Online Edition http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=15963 http://www.jonesbahamas.com/search/ 2009 Anglican Communications Department http://www.bahamas.anglican.org/drugs.php
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Online Resources
Read: Signs in the Home
Learn to Prevent Teen Drug Use
How to Set the Rules: Teens and Drug Use 10 Things You Can Do to Prevent Your Teen from Taking Drugs Top Books on Talking to Teens About Tough Issues Knowledge Is Power: Index of Drugs of Abuse Protect & Serve Drug Testing Methods FAQ: Where can a parent get help if their teen is using drugs? Your family

What to Do If You Suspect Drug Use

Related Teen Drug Use Articles

Millions of Americans in Denial About Drug Abuse Facts About Substance Abuse and Risky Sexual Behavior Prosecuting Parents for Underage Drinking The Risks of Party Drugs
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Get Help!

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