Substance abuse help

I came across an interesting website that should be touted to every teen and every parent with teenagers (maybe more particularly with even younger children). It is the website of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

It is a great site with information for teens, real information and not “preachy”. Included is information about recognizing whether you or a friend has a “problem” with alcohol or other drugs, and information on helping a friend with a “problem”. It also has personal stories about recovery and in memorial of those that didn’t recover.

There is also a section for parents with information on a wide array of abused substances, support forums, and what to do if your child has a “problem”. It also has a “fun” little test, called The Two-Minute Challenge, testing your knowledge about some important facts about substance abuse. I’m going to help you cheat and give you the answer to what I think is one of the most important questions. I always make a point to tell folks that you can’t scare your kids straight, but if you give them real information they can/will choose to make the right choices and not take chances (at least it is the most likely way to effect behavior in this regard).

4.) One of the most important factors in whether kids decide to try drugs is? Correct! Correct Answer: B. Understanding the perceived risk of using drugs and whether the drugs are deemed socially acceptable. Research shows that perception of risk is one of the most important factors in influencing the decision to use drugs. (Source: Monitoring the Future)

Take a look at the site and its information; it may come in handy in the future.