Published: July 16, 2008 06:47 pm            

DUNKER: It begins at home

The New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated Schools will be offering free drug-testing kits at school registration to parents of sixth through ninth-grade students through a national program entitled “Project 7th Grade.” The program’s purpose is to encourage a dialogue between parents and their youth and to give the youth a reason to avoid drug use.

Drug and alcohol use among middle and high school students is a problem in Southern Indiana. How can parents, family members, professionals and citizens help prevent our youth from experimenting with these toxic substances? What places a youth “at risk” for drug use and abuse? Here is what we do know:

There are signs of risk, some as early as infancy or early childhood. These include aggressive behavior, problems with self-control and difficulty getting along with others. The National Institute on Drug Abuse emphasizes the importance of proper parenting by listing three key situations that put a young child at risk for experimenting with drugs later in life: a lack of attachment and nurturing by parents and caregivers, ineffective parenting and a caregiver who abuses drugs. The child’s unmet needs can take form later into their childhood or even into adulthood when they numb their emotional pain with substances or other addictions.

Additionally, the Institute published research findings in June 2008 indicating that children of mothers who smoke during their pregnancies are approximately twice at risk for difficult behavioral disorders, putting them at risk for more trouble as adults.

Risks for substance abuse include problems in the classroom, trouble with social skills, poor school performance, and socializing with peers who use drugs, tobacco and alcohol. The availability of drugs and beliefs that drug use is normal, acceptable and expected at their age will also put youth at risk for experimenting with substances.

However, all youth are at risk, especially during times of significant change. Oftentimes, drug use becomes a problem during early adolescence when youth leave the safety of elementary school to attend middle school. Another time of great risk is when they enter high school, when drugs are easier to obtain, they begin to have their own transportation and social activities may include alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Even college youth living away from their parents for the first time face high risks with drug and alcohol use.

Parents and families face a daunting task in the prevention arena. But there is good news: we also know that there are many protective factors which can help prevent substance use and other risk-taking behaviors. The Search Institute has identified 40 positive experiences and attributes called “Developmental Assets” which can influence our youth to make wise decisions and to grow up to be competent, caring and responsible adults.

These assets include a strong relationship between parents and their children, parental involvement in their children’s lives and education, family support, positive family communication, a deep family spiritual belief system, strong core family values, family monitoring of their youth’s whereabouts, setting strong, clear rules and enforcing rules with discipline consistently, a unified front regarding rules and behaviors with parents, step-parents and guardians, mentors, caring neighborhoods, a nurturing school environment, positive peers as friends and high expectations from adults through encouragement and support.

When youth are involved in creative activities, youth programs, religious activities and reading for pleasure, their chances for taking risks are lower. When they are motivated to excel in school, are actively engaged in learning, care about their school and consistently do their homework, they are less likely to choose problem behaviors. It is imperative that adults in their lives promote these assets in our youth.

When youth show positive values, such as helping others, promoting equality, reducing hunger and poverty, standing up for their beliefs, telling the truth even when it isn’t easy, accepting and taking responsibility for themselves and their actions, and understanding restraint, they are less at risk for self-defeating behaviors. They learn these values from the adults in their lives.

When youth show competency in planning and decision-making, interpersonal strengths such as empathy, sensitivity and friendship skills, learning about and sharing other cultures and backgrounds, resolving conflicts peacefully and logically, and resisting negative peer pressure, they are more likely to make positive decisions for their health and well-being. They learn these skills from us.

When youth experience positive feelings about themselves, have a sense of purpose and look forward to a positive future, they are less likely to risk losing those feelings through experimentation with substances. We play a key role in guiding them in that direction.

Although the news is negative when it comes to alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among youth, there is hope. We must help our youth find the best in themselves by doing whatever we can to promote prevention in our families, neighborhoods and community. That begins with each of us and the choices we make. Our youth are always watching and observing our actions and behaviors. We are their primary role models. We must “walk that line” if we expect our youth to make the right choices.

Susan M. Dunker is a certified prevention professional and program director for Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana after-school prevention programs with Our Place Drug and Alcohol Education Services, Inc. She can be reached at susandunker@ourplaceinc.org.

        

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