Myth: My child isn’t exposed to drugs and alcohol and wouldn’t do them anyway.
Fact: Youth of all ages are exposed to drugs and alcohol. According to a national survey, 22 percent of youths had been offered, sold, or given an illegal drug on school property. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)
Fact: 13% of 8th graders; 30% of 10th graders and 40% of 12th graders have used an illicit drug in the past year. (University of Michigan, 2012 Monitoring the Future Survey.)
- Tell you kids you want them to stay healthy. The best way is to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
Myth: My kids don’t care what I think about their using drugs.
Fact: National surveys of teens have shown that youths were less likely to use drugs if they believed their parents strongly disapproved. (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
- Tell your teen that you don’t tolerate illegal drug use.
To learn more check out: Growing up Drug Free: A Parent’s Guide to Prevention
Myth: Using marijuana is not that harmful.
Fact: Marijuana can cause problems with short-term memory, attention, judgment and decision making, coordination and balance, heart rate and psychotic episodes. Long-term problems include addiction, poor educational outcomes, respiratory problems, risk of psychosis in certain people, and cognitive impairment. Current research shows marijuana use may negatively affect the teen brain and teen development. (National Institute of Drug Abuse.)
- Tell your kids that their brain is still developing until their early 20s.
- Smoking marijuana can be harmful and cause addiction.
Myth: Most teens will use drugs even if they think they are risky.
Fact: Research has shown that when teens think a drug is harmful, they may be less likely to use the drug. (National Institute of Drug Abuse, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana)
- Learn about illegal drugs and make sure your children know that using drugs has serious health and social effects. It is illegal for anyone to use them.
- Using drugs can lead to abuse which can lead to addiction.