I recently saw a news spot on youtube that was less informative then I would have liked. While it did provide some great information for parents of teens, it also missed a few key points that I think are important.
(1) Your Teen Can Get Much More Then Pot or Beer: The comment by the teen in rehab that “marijuana and alcohol are easy to get in highschool’ doesn’t educate the viewer about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Sure, marijuana and beer are available to teens…I don’t think that will ever change. These were present in teenage culture when you (the parent) were a teen and they will be present for long into the future
What’s disturbing to me is that teens have incredibly easy access to prescription drugs as well: OxyContin pain killers, “Soma’s”, and much much more. The scariest part of this trend is that teens often think that taking a few pills at a party is the equivalent to drinking a few beers…this is not true and can lead to tragedy.
(2) Parents Need To Know What Goes On: I don’t really feel like this news article talked about what actually goes on in the teenage culture. It did mention that drugs are available, but it did not go into the extent of available drugs and the views of the teenage culture towards these drugs.
Be Informed
As most of my readers know, it’s my goal with the www.UnderstandMyTeen.com project to ensure that you are understanding the realities of what goes on in the teenage world. Be sure to check back often for new information.
Want to See the News Video?
You can watch the actual news video as well as my own video response below.
For those of you that are new to my blog, I think it’s important for you to realize why I started the UnderstandMyTeen.com website. My childhood friend (I will call him “Rob” throughout this website) died due to a drug use incident a few years ago. Burying Rob really changed my life and I feel the need to help parents of teens better relate to their teens to avoid tragedies like this from happening ever again.
What You’ll Learn in This Article
Things to know about current teen drug culture
How to start that awkward conversation with your teen about not doing drugs
How to talk to your teen about the dangers of drugs
How to know if your teen is using drugs
How to help your teen quit using drugs…they need you to help, not yell
This posting is part I of a multiple part posting that I’m writing about teen drug abuse prevention and how parents can help their teens. During this multiple posting topic, you’ll learn about many powerful concepts when trying to make sure your teen isn’t getting involved in the dangers world of drugs.
What is Teenage Life Like These Days?
Drugs are very available to teens these days…I’d argue that they’re more available then in decades past, although I wasn’t there during those decades so I can’t really push for that argument. However, I can relate to the current teenage world because I am here for that…So I’d like to tell you about the reality of teen life.
drugs are available and easy to get for your teen
lots of teens have an ‘acceptance’ of drugs as being ‘ok’
it’s up to you as a parent to teach your kids about the danger of drug use
How Should You Start the Awkward Conversation of Talking to Your Teen About Drugs?
I realize that having a conversation about a touchy subject like drugs is hard for any teen and parent. However, it’s a conversation that needs to happen…it’s important that your teen realize the dangers of drug use and how it can tear lives apart.
Having a productive and effective conversation about drugs with your teen is very important. I would suggest ‘breaking the ice’ by having some comedic or funny beginning to the conversation.
show the teen a funny video or movie scene related to drugs
tell the teen a story you heard about someone doing something ridiculous when they were ‘high’
think of any way to make the conversation start off as funny…this will help your teen open up to you.
Understand that I’m not trying to suggest that drug use is funny…not at all! Instead, I’m telling you how to strategically start a conversation about this touchy subject with your teen so that they’ll actually listen to you.
If the conversation starts off awkward, your teen will shut off to you and simply hope the conversation is over as soon as possible…that’s not a good or effective conversation at all.
How Should You Actually Talk to Your Teen About the Dangers of Drugs
After you’ve had the chance to ‘break the ice’ by starting off the conversation in some sort of funny way, it’s time to get down to business: you need to talk to you teen about the realities of drugs. I suggest doing a few strategic things to make the conversation progress.
Be on the same level with your teen: it’s important that you make clear that you realize that drugs are available in the teenage world. Make clear to your teen that you’re not being ignorant and claiming that drugs aren’t around…my kid hasn’t seen drugs before…my kid doesn’t have the chance to try drugs.
Tell your teen that you know drugs are around them in their teenage environment
and that you just want to help
Tell them that you’re not trying to get them in trouble: They key to having a productive relationship between a parent and a teen is for the teen to feel comfortable talking to their parent about anything. For your teen to feel this way, they need to know they’re not going to get into trouble for telling you that “Tommy offered me pot today…I didn’t really know how to respond’.
Make clear that you want to help your teen
not get them grounded or yelled at.
Get your teen talking, ask questions, and truly listen: It’s important for you to encourage your teen to talk to you during this conversation. Do Not Lecture Your Teen! Parental lecturing is the easiest way to guarantee that your teen isn’t listening to you.
Your goal should be for the teen to do all the talking
and for you to do all the listening
Want to Learn More?
I will continue this posting in a few days but you can read all the details you need to know to help prevent your teen from doing drugs by reading my ebook. In the ebook, I go into much more detail then in this blog posting.
actual videos you can use to ‘break the ice’ with your teen and to make them laugh
other article references that are highly useful information. For example, learn all the secrets of how your teen might be hiding marijuana in your own home.
ways to productively help your teen avoid or stop using drugs. These are solutions that work! Instead of yelling at your teen and grounding them, do something that will really help them and not simply make them less willing to talk to you about their troubles.
You can read the entire ebook by clicking here. I hope that you will take the time to download the ebook and read it so that you can better relate to your teen. It’s my goal with this entire project to help you better relate to your teen so that you can be a better parent. I truly feel that this ebook will help you to make your teen truly understand the dangers of drugs.
Preventing teen drug abuse really does start with the parent…I hope my info helps.
link back to this posting on your own blog: http://understandmyteen.com/blog/?p=11
Summary of What Happened Today
As reported on CNN, nearly 100 people have been arrested at San Diego State University in relation to a drug selling ring consisting of marijuana, cocaine, and various other drugs. Of the arrests, CNN reported that “75 students and 21 non-students” were arrested on a variety of drug related charges. In particular, a specific member of a specific fraternity (I will not name the actual fraternity) was arrested in relation to the drug ring. According to CNN, the fraternity member involved reportedly “sent a mass text message to his faithful customers’…” and even went on in the text message to “discuss a “sale” on cocaine and gave details on reduced prices“.
Why Did I Write This Blog Posting?
On this blog posting, I’m not going to go into the particular details of the new story, as these can be found at numerous websites including CNN.com. On this blog posting, I will be addressing the issue that is sure to arrise in relation to this incident in the coming days: the frats must be to blame, right?…WRONG!
Are The Frats To Blame For This Drug Ring?
Considering the drug bust involved a number of fraternity members (CNN reported that “most of the students were aware of drug dealing by fraternity brothers”), it seems inevitable that some reporter (credible or not) will no doubt blame the Greek life (fraternities and sororities) for the situation.
It’s really sad to me to think that “Frats” will probably have to shoulder this blame,
further tarnishing the image of the Greek life on college campuses.
If you (people accusing Greeks) understood the inner workings of Fraternity life,
then you would surely have a much different view of this situation.
The Truth About Fraternity Life
Fraternity life is not all about partying, sex, drugs, and rock and roll as the public seems to think. Being in a fraternity is about brotherhood, meeting life long friends, networking for future careers, and motivating each other to be the best men that they can be.
Sure, there are sometimes situations that occur in Fraternity life that are tragedies (hazing, drug situations, rapes, and even deaths). However, these situations are not the product of some flawed lifestyle that all fraternities supposedly live.
Tragedies in the Greek system are the fault of a few irresponsible or otherwise negligent individuals. These individuals would likely be involved in irresponsible behavior regardless of whether or not they were involved in a fraternity.
Positive Stories About Fraternity Life
Considering the negative views that many people hold of fraternities, especially the views that will be promoted due to this recent drug bust at SDSU, I find it important to let the world know that the Greek system on college campuses have tremendously positive impacts on the majority of members. Before you start to side with articles that will say that Greek life needs to be removed or minimized on campuses (someone will surely start this movement after this drug bust), be sure that you know both sides of the story of fraternity life.
Sorority Starts a Snowball Effect Of Helping The Community!
This sorority took community service one step further. Instead of simply putting on a community service project themselves or donating to a single community service organization, they’re actually enabling numerous community service student organizations to continue to form at their campus, year after year. Money raised through their endowment program will be given as grants to any student organization attempting a community service project to help their community!
If You Get Rid of Greek Life…
…You Stop ALL of These Future Community Service Projects Also!
Fraternity Members Fight to Stop Rape With a Benefit Concert
Sigma Phi Epsilon members at the University of Idaho put on a concert that they call “Rock Against Rape”, in an effort to raise awareness on their campus about the tragedies of rape crimes and to raise money for the Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse organization. Through this concert, fraternity members of Sig Ep are making their campus a better place.
This is Surely a positive Impact of Greeks!
To Hear More Positive Stories Right Now
Visit the “Greeks Do Great Things” website (click here) to read about Greeks around the entire country that have done numerous great things for their campus and local community. If you’re greek, post a story on that site. The world will see the positive things you’ve done!
What Should You Get Out of This Article
The bottom line is this…I’m not trying to write a news story about the drug bust at SDSU. I’m not trying to say that Greek life on college campuses is good or bad. There are plenty of resources online and in the media that will report on these topics and argue for days and days and days and days…..
I’m simply getting the truth out to the world about thePositive Impact ofFraternities and Sororities
Remember These Points
An entire fraternity is not to be judged by the ridiculously stupid actions of a single member: this would be like saying all cops in America are horrible simply because one member of the police department was accused of rape. Drawing a conclusion like this is just not well founded and just plain dumb!
Fraternities are a positive force in the community: read up on the links in this article, as well as other news online and in the media. Fraternities try to make a positive impact on their community through service programs and much more. A tragic event or shameful drug bust should not take that fact away from the Greeks across the country working to make the world a better place.
If You’re a Greek, SPEAK UP! at the “Greeks Do Great Things” Website (click here). It’s really sad to hear how Fraternities are viewed in this country. If you’re a Greek, speak your mind and tell people the truth about your experience in a fraternity. Tell them about the time you helped raise awareness and raise money for multiple sclerosis…tell them about how you helped low income children get books to read which they couldn’t afford…tell them how you’re helping people with heart disease. JUST SPEAK UP ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS GREEKS DO! You can do this by clicking Email this to a friend
Please Comment On This Blog (scroll to bottom of page)
I encourage everyone (even if you disagree with me) to post a comment on this blog. I want to hear your thoughts, opinions, arguments, and criticism. The entire world can see this blog and it’s really important for me to spark a discussion on the great things that Greeks do!
Why Did I Start This Entire Website In the First Place?
A childhood friend of mine died tragically when I was in High School in relation to drugs being way too available and accepted in teen culture. Attending my friends funeral truly changed my life. The UnderstandMyTeen project is in memory of him and is meant to help parents ensure that this kind of tragedy is never experienced in their community. You can read more about this project by visiting the main UnderstandMyTeen website.
I miss you Rob. I still think of you everyday and am looking forward to seeing you again one day. Enjoy the perfect surf up there man…
I had a really good friend of mine die from a prescription drug overdose. Burying one of my childhood friends really changed my life…It made me realize that life is short, even for those of us that are quite young, and that every moment should be cherished and appreciated.
Teens Have The Easiest Access to Drugs
The death of my friend also made me realize that the epidemic of teen drug abuse has taken a disturbing and horrible turn for the worst! Prescription drug abuse is now destroying more teenage lives then ever before. The scariest factor of this is that teens have easier access then ever to go out and find their drugs of choice: Vicodin, Soma, Oxycontin, and other prescription drugs.
Things are not as they used to be…sure, if a highschool student wanted to go out and buy some pot, it surely wasn’t impossible. Even finding cocaine is not far out of reach for the majority of teen communities. However, finding prescription drugs is easy: it’s in your bathroom medicine cabinet.
I recently read an article about a 15 year old that took methodone from his father’s cabinet and sold it to a 12 year old…sadly, this girl died shortly after taking the methodone. A similar tragedy happened when a 17 year old gave his 16 year old friend GHB, causing the teen to die from the pills. It’s horrifying to hear about these deaths that could have easily been prevented.
Teens Dont Understand The Dangers!
Prescription drugs are no less dangerous then classic drugs (i.e. cocaine, heroin, etc.) if they are abused and taken as increased quantities. Oxycontin is a time released pain killer that is meant to be released into the blood stream over many hours. However, teens usually chew or sniff the pill, causing all 12 hours (in some cases) to be sent to the blood stream at once!
Because their parent takes something occasionally for a bad back or for chronic pains of some sort, certain teens seem to think that it can’t be all that dangerous. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Teens Spread This Stuff Like Wildfire
In my highschool classrooms, I never could understand how people so nonchalantly talked about and exchanged various prescription drugs. It amazed me that students would take pain killers just to sleep through class, take ADD medications (when they didn’t have ADD) so that they could be back to being hyper after school, and take ridiculous mixes of pills on the weekend’s at parties just for fun.
Whatever happened to having a few beers at a party and calling that a fun time…Hell, what ever happened to getting super drunk with your friends off good old fashion shots of vodka. It’s horrifying to me that teens are moving towards using prescription drugs just for the fun of it. Someone really needs to do something.
What Can Parents Do To Stop This?
As a teen myself, I can speak as to a number of things parents should do to stop this epidemic. As far as me taking action, I’ve created my website and blog (www.UnderstandMyTeen.com) to educate parents of teens about the true life of their teens. I want parents to better understand the world in which their teen is living. It’s so much different then when you all were kids! I want to help you better relate to your teens so that you can be better parents and keep your kids safe…
Talk To Your Teens: Make sure your teen is aware of the dangers of using prescription drugs. I have never personally taken pills for fun (I have taken 2 vicodin pills once because my wisdom teeth got pulled out), but I can tell you that my view of pills was forever changed after my friend died from them. Ever since his funeral, I take it upon myself to tell everyone I know that is somehow involved with pills about how my good friend died. I tell them exactly how he died so that they can have a vision and feeling about what they’re getting themselves into.
Count Your Pills Weekly: Have a weekly count of your pills in your house. Keep track of how many you use weekly and check to make sure there are none missing ever. If there ever is, immediately talk to your teen and ask them about it (in a productive way…don’t scream at them ever. they’ll turn off and ignore you). Don’t accuse them right away, but now may be the time to dish them up a few news stories about the dangers of pills so they can have a reality check.
Lock Your Drugs: If you think your teen might be taking your pills, keep your pills in an area where your teen cannot get to them. This can be a medicine chest with a lock, a locked box in your closet, etc. Just put them somewhere where your teen cannot get to them.
Stopping Teen Drug Abuse
It’s really important to me to help parents better understand their teens so that less teens have to die each year from tragic events. Attending the funeral of one of my childhood friends, seeing myself next to him in pictures from childhood, and not being able to see him anymore really kills me. I’ve created UnderstandMyTeen.com to make the world a better place.
Check back, and check back often. I plan on posting many blog postings relating to many topics that I’m sure will help you become a better parent. I hope that you enjoy my postings.
