Pubdate: Wed, 20 Dec 2000
Source: Daily Southtown (IL)
Copyright: 2000 Daily Southtown
Contact:  6901 W. 159th St., Tinley Park, IL 60477
Fax: (708) 633-5999
Website: http://www.dailysouthtown.com/
Author: Laura Lynn Ryan
Note: Laura Lynn Ryan is the First Lady of the State of Illinois and the 
Chair of Futures for Kids.

TALK ABOUT DRUGS

There is good news and bad for parents concerned about their teens and drug 
use this holiday season.

The good news is that fewer teenagers in America are smoking marijuana and 
more kids have negative feelings about the drug. However, the recently 
released Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) Attitude Tracking Study 
found that the trial use of a new and dangerous drug, Ecstasy, has doubled 
since 1995.

If you haven't heard of Ecstasy, it is a synthetic stimulant -- often 
called "X," "E" or "the Love Drug." It is the new popular "club drug" often 
used in dance clubs and all-night raves. According to PDFA it is now the 
drug of choice for many teens in rural and suburban areas. And more 
American teens have tried Ecstasy than heroin.

The consequences of Ecstasy use are only beginning to be understood. 
Long-term effects may include nervous system damage and permanent memory 
impairment. In the short term, depression can set in after an 
Ecstasy-fueled weekend. A growing number of teens are dehydrating and 
passing out after heavy use. You may have read about those who have died. 
But teens living in the moment rarely care about such facts.

During the holidays, it is important for parents and other guardians of 
teens and pre-teens to talk with them, either for the first time or to 
reinforce previous conversations.

As chair of the Futures for Kids program in Illinois, I hosted nearly 100 
teens from throughout the state at the Governor's Teen Summit 2000. They 
told me what we've confirmed through this national study -- that more teens 
are hearing anti-drug messages and paying attention. Overall teenage drug 
use slowly declined over the past few years. But there are still millions 
of teens trying and regularly using alcohol and other drugs, beginning when 
they are as young as 9 or 10 years old.

Many teens think "everyone is doing it" and so they should, too. They need 
to know that most teens are not using drugs. In fact, the PDFA study found 
that trial use of marijuana was down about 10 percent. And the regular use 
of marijuana by teens is down 13 percent since 1997. This year, more teens 
believe marijuana will make them lonely, boring or act stupidly or 
foolishly than ever before. That's good news.

Your children need to know that they are in the majority, so they can feel 
confident saying "no" when someone encourages them to "join the crowd." 
Although Ecstasy use is up, 90 percent of our young people have never used 
it. This illustrates the point that there is no "crowd" drinking alcohol, 
smoking or using other drugs. In other words, using drugs is not as popular 
as our young people are led to believe.

Researchers tell us that when anti-drug attitudes are strong, drug use is 
more likely to drop. Futures for Kids will be using this approach in an 
exciting new statewide anti-drug campaign aimed at 10- to 14-year olds that 
will be launched next year.

While we're seeing that such programs are working, the most effective 
deterrent to drug use is still parents talking to their kids about alcohol, 
tobacco and other drugs. Ask them how they feel about drugs. Listen to what 
they have to say. Then empower them with information that will help them 
stay drug-free this holiday season. Let's make this New Year the beginning 
of brighter futures for the children of Illinois.

Laura Lynn Ryan

Illinois First Lady

Chair, Futures for Kids
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