Pubdate: Mon, 11 Mar 2002
Source: Edson Leader (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002 Edson Leader
Contact:  http://www.bowesnet.com/edson/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/780
Author: Ed Moore
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

NEW AADAC SERIES WILL HELP PARENTS COPE WITH KIDS

A new parent information series from the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse 
Commission (AADAC) can help parents and youngsters cope and even prevent 
drug and alcohol dependency.

The series offers advice on how parents can guide their children, from the 
elementary years, through their teen years.

The first part of the series, called Create It, deals with how parents can 
deal with issues which affect younger children. Part two, Nurture It, deals 
with issues which affect older children, while, Choose It, deals with 
issues such as raves, drug and alcohol use.

The last part in the series, Get It Back, deals with topics such as helping 
teens evaluate their drug use, intervening when your teen is using drugs 
and how to get through to your teen.

The series is hot off the presses, so new in fact, Marsh Hoke, Edson AADAC 
office supervisor, is still weighing his options on how to distribute them. 
One of the distribution options is through school newsletters, said Hoke. 
Regardless of how this is done, the new series should help parents when it 
comes to solving current and future problems when it comes to teen drug 
use. "We want to do what we can to increase parent's confidence and skills 
in drug profiling their kids"

One of the best ways to avoid future problems is for parents to participate 
in their children's activities and to listen to what they have to say, Hoke 
said.

"Frequently kids who get into trouble with alcohol or drugs don't have much 
guidance or support."

A recent WestView Regional Health Authority Needs Assessment, which polled 
residents of Edson and area identified teen drug use and abuse as the 
Number 1 problem in the region.

Alcohol is a problem too, but often drug use overshadows alcohol in the 
minds of parents and caregivers, said Hoke.

"Sometimes parents overreact - other times they underreact," said Hoke. 
When drugs and alcohol are concerned, he said he'd rather have parents 
overreact. Methamphetamines (speed) continues to be a problem in the Edson 
area, but not for the younger set. He said speed users are generally in the 
in the 17 to 30 age range.

Signs of possible drug or alcohol use include:

radical change in appearance;   change in attitude;   Evidence of drug 
paraphernalia or empty bottles;   Signs of inebriation or other unusual 
behavior; and,   Loss of interest at school, performance reduction, along 
with a change of study habits.

In the meantime, Hoke reminds parents AADAC is there to help.

"We would like to hear from parents who have concerns about kids and drugs."
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MAP posted-by: Alex