| As parents, caregivers and other important adults in the lives of young people, we know talking with our teenagers about drugs is an important responsibility. However, many of us question the wisdom of the black-and white pronouncements of “just say no” anti-drug messages that oversimplify the complex lives our teenagers lead. We worry that exaggerations and inaccuracies will lead to cynicism.
No parent wants his or her teenager to use drugs. Although we urge young people to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, our national surveys show that many do not heed our warnings. To prevent adolescents who do experiment from falling into abusive patterns, we need to create fallback strategies that focus on safety. Putting safety first requires that we are careful to provide our young people with credible information and resources. We also need to teach our teenagers how to identify and handle problems with alcohol and other drugs—if and when they occur—and how to get help and support.
Join us at the Safety First Project in advocating for reality-based approaches to drug education at home and in school that foster open and honest dialogue around the risks and consequences of drug use. Please also take the time to critically examine policies at your children’s schools. Parents throughout the country are organizing to oppose random student drug testing programs, an invasive technique that displaces parental authority relating to the important and serious issue of their child’s health and well-being. You can also learn about positive alternatives, such as our new model for honest, reality-based drug education with interactive learning, compassionate assistance and restorative practices in lieu of exclusionary punishment.  “Prevention is fundamentally about caring, connected relationships and an open exchange of information. As a parent, I know there are no easy answers, just thoughtful conversations. Teenagers need to know that important adults in their lives are primarily concerned with their safety.” - Marsha Rosenbaum, parent and author of Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens and Drugs | |
