Pubdate: Tue, 02 Aug 2005
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer (OH)
Copyright: 2005 The Cincinnati Enquirer
Contact:  http://enquirer.com/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/86
Note: Limits LTEs to 100 words
Author: Peggy O'Farrell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?195 (Partnership for a Drug Free America)

FATHERS URGED TO TALK MORE ABOUT DRUGS TO THEIR KIDS

A new survey from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America shows fathers 
don't spend as much time talking to kids about the dangers of drug abuse as 
mothers do.

That needs to change, says Rhonda Ramsey Molina, president of Coalition for 
a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati.

Survey results showed that only 37 percent of fathers had talked to their 
children four or more times in the past year about drugs, compared to 45 
percent of mothers. Numerous studies show that drug use is lower among 
teens who report learning about the dangers of drugs at home.

Local data mirror the recent survey results, Molina says.

"If we can increase the numbers of fathers to get them up there with the 
number of mothers, we can be much more effective in preventing drug use," 
she says.

The coalition is working to educate parents about how to talk to their 
children about drugs, Molina says.

It's hard to start the conversation, she says, and it's important not to 
make accusations. One approach that often works is to leave a magazine or 
newspaper open to a story about a celebrity's drug problems, and to start 
the conversation from there.

"You have the power, the right and the responsibility to talk to your kids 
about this issue," Molina says. "The single biggest mistake parents make is 
not having the conversation in the first place. Parents just don't have the 
confidence that they have influence over their children's choices, but they 
do. And what you don't say is as important as what you do."

Will Marshall, a manager with Talbert House, a substance abuse treatment 
provider, started talking to his twin sons about drugs when they were 8 or 
9. His sons are now 24.

Overall, he says, he and his wife, Stephanie, worked to give their sons the 
information they needed to make smart choices - and to make their sons 
understand they should make those choices, not hand the decision over to a 
friend or someone else.

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GET HELP

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is sponsoring two Web sites with 
information about preventing drug abuse and getting drug users help:

www.drugfree.org/parent offers resources, tips and information for parents 
on how to talk to their kids about drug abuse.

www.intervenenow.org offers information and resources for anyone battling 
drug addiction. A toll-free phone number, (877) 281-7884, is also available.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom