Week 10 - Chapter 15

1.  Most adolescents will experiment with drugs, alcohol, and/or cigarettes. How should parents deal with this? In 3-6 sentences, please describe your views. At what age should parents first discuss drugs/alcohol/smoking with their children? What should parents say? Are there some drugs you, as a parent, consider worse than others, and some which you consider to be "no big deal?" How should parents model "use" behaviors for children? (for example, should parents smoke in front of their children?) How should parents deal with related dangers and problems, such as driving drunk? Use the text to support your position.

I think the best way for parents to deal with the problem of substance abuse is to be proactive.  By being proactive parents can teach their children at an early age the consequences of substance abuse.  In order to educate children on the hazards associated with substance abuse, parents also need to know the signs that lead up to identify potential abuse in their children.  If a parent suspects abuse in their adolescent, take charge of the situation and seek help for the many agencies available.  I don’t think there is a specific age to start talking to your children about abuse, but that by being active in your child’s life, you may be able to detect that intervention and education is needed.  By this I mean that I think some groups of people  are more likely to experience different levels of use at different ages; i.e. white, histpanic, African American middle-socioeconomic versus their lower socioeconomic counterparts.  I think that different socioeconomic groups use different substances.  As a federal officer I consider all drugs on the same level, whether it be marijuana, barbiturates, or the opiates.  I really can’t accept drug use of any kind.  As a parent and trained police officer I hope that I will be able to detect substance abuse in my daughter if she was using.  To deal with the problem, my wife and I will educate her early, and be proactive in her upbringing.  I think that being proactive is the key to raising well rounded, productive children, that don’t abuse substances.  Only time will tell.

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