Talking to Your Children Can Save Their Lives

By Lisa Adler

Many area parents might not have known about “Molly,” better known as a pure form of Ecstasy, until a top University of Virginia student apparently died from its use. But as one PTA mom reflected this week, her 13-year-old daughter said most of the kids on her Fairfax County school bus knew all about Molly through popular music lyrics glamorizing its use.

What’s a parent to do? In addition to the growing infiltration of synthetic and illegal drugs into the social scene of high school and/or college youth and young adults, we see the federal government’s decision to not contest various states’ legalization of marijuana and the marketing of alcohol to our young people fueled by the pervasive intoxication of social media.

As parents, we need to make time to have the important conversations with our children about drugs and alcohol. We are our children’s most important educator. Our children look to us for guidance and support. They need to hear from us our expectations for them and consequences when it comes to using drugs and alcohol. These are conversations that could save their lives.

Other illegal drugs such as marijuana, synthetic marijuana and heroin continue to destroy young lives. Underage and binge drinking also pose many problems for families in Fairfax County. And prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem among youth and young adults – an epidemic, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, parents should know that the majority of our youth and young adults report that they do not choose to use drugs or alcohol. So the old adage of  “…everyone is doing it,” is just not the truth.

Mixed messages abound, and as parents, we need to consider our own behavior, our family values and keeping the lines of communication open with our children. The conversation should be had as early as 5th grade and should be repeated often when teachable moments present themselves, and especially as children transition from elementary to middle school, middle school to high school, and high school to college.

There is no panacea, no one thing, no magic words to keep your kids safe and drug free. Some of us are drawn to addictive behaviors or have other issues that leave us susceptible to negative influences. There is no easy answer, nor one answer that fits us all.

As parents, educate yourselves on current trends concerning youth, talk to your children, and be open to discussing or listening to the issues important to them. Try to set a good example, recognizing that our children watch what we do, not just what we say. Help your children find healthy and fun ways to alleviate the stresses that make up daily life (particularly in Northern Virginia!). Encourage them to be productive and useful to others.

The Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County is a great resource for helpful information and resources, and the nonprofit group is looking for parents and others to join and get involved in promoting a healthy and drug free community in Fairfax County for youth and young adults. Visit the website www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org and “like” the group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/unifiedpreventioncoalition.

Lisa Adler is the president of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County and has been involved in prevention and substance abuse work for nearly 20 years.

The Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County is a nonprofit organization with more than 50 community partners working together to keep youth and young adults safe and drug-free. Visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org.