I speak to a parent or student who has been hurt by the disease of addiction on a daily basis. The damage that this disease causes to families and communities is devastating. I would like to suggest one tool all parents can use to lower rates of illegal substance use among our youth and thus reduce the likelihood of contracting the disease of addiction. This tool is regular drug testing, starting in the middle school years.
An annual Columbia University survey reports that by the age of 17, 70 percent of kids say they’ve been offered illegal drugs. The Columbia University survey also reveals that 80 percent of high school students, and 44 percent of middle school students, have personally witnessed things like: illegal drug use, illegal drug deals, illegal drug possession and students getting drunk and/or high on drugs.
This survey is conducted across all socio-economic school settings and, sadly, many youth report witnessing the above on school campuses, on their walk home and in friends’ and acquaintances’ homes.
The most important reason to drug test your kids is that it gives your child the power to say “no.” Our 12-25 year olds are in a period of brain development equal only to the ages of infancy through toddlerhood. Consequently, they need our guidance in equal measure. However, we cannot constantly supervise our youth, as it is counter to their developmental need to mature and separate from their parents. Consider regular drug tests as a substitute to looking over their shoulder every time they are offered drugs or alcohol. They would not take the drugs if you were watching, so make it easy for your child by letting him say, “I can’t do that, my parents drug test me regularly.” The drug test is a gift of support and safety for your child. You will not let your child be in a car without a seatbelt. Don’t let your kids out in public without the protection of parental guidance and drug tests.
At the Wellness & Prevention Center, we recommend this as one of many prevention tools. Start discussing your views on alcohol and drug use early – I have worked with addicts who first used in elementary school. Be very clear on what your rules are and enforce them with all of the caregivers in your child’s life. Model your beliefs in your home—if you need a drink the minute you walk in from work, you are teaching your child that the only way to de-stress is by using mind altering substances. Always set aside time to have conversations with your children—families who regularly sit down for family dinners raise healthier children. And finally, for drug testing to be an effective tool, you must start the practice before you suspect your child is using. Suspicion will damage your effectiveness as a parent. Prevention will strengthen your family. For more information visit, www.livedrugfree.org or contact me at the Wellness & Prevention Center.
For more tools, attend tonight’s Get to 21 speaker series, Weeding Through the Myths, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the San Clemente Community Center. San Clemente and Dana Point High School Students receive extra credit passes.
Susan Parmelee is a social worker who works during the week at San Clemente High School in the Wellness & Prevention Center and at Western Youth Services. To subscribe to Wellness & Prevention Center weekly emails email “subscribe” to tritons41@gmail.com.