Empower Parents

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Parents are one of the main influencers on whether or not their kids misuse drugs.  But, parenting is not easy.  Communities can take advantage of a wide variety of tools and programs to help parents be more effective in buiding the developmental assets that reduce the likelihood that kids use drugs.  While good parenting (however that is defined) is certainly no guarantee that kids won't use drugs, and the use of drugs by kids does not mean that the parenting was bad, it still makes sense to try to help parents be more effective in helping their kids to grow in a good, supportive environment and for the parents to have as good of influence as they can on their kids' choices regarding use of drugs or alcohol. 

Background

Parents have a large role in prevention and recovery

Parental influence is one of the most powerful tools for any community prevention efforts. A youths parents have the ability to instill powerful values and create positive safety nets to help lessen the risk factors that youth face everyday throughout their lives. A study from the Journal of Adolescent Health “Through early childhood education, increasing early parental involvement and expectations can alter life-course outcomes by providing children with foundation for positive behaviors"    This holds true for any youth who is going through the recovery process as well, parental involvement is a key factor in that process. An article by Recovery First a American Addiction Center treatment facility states that “ Parents play an instrumental role in the drug addiction treatment or alcohol rehab of their dependent child. In fact, most rehab center report that it is often the mother or father who initiates treatment for their minor.”   Parents also have the opportunity to provide valuable support to any youth going through treatment.  Parents can play a very crucial role and potentially life saving role in the recovery process. 

Parents have a big influence on youth behavior

Youth who perceive that their parents would strongly disapprove of their use of marijuana are far less likely to have used it in the last month than youth who don’t receive such messages from their parents (4.3 percent versus 31 percent).

When school prevention programs are supported by families, peers, and the community all sending the consistent message that drug use is not tolerated, it can have a powerful effect on young people.
 

Parents Influence Use of Opioid Pain Medication

In many cases, doctors, dentists and oral surgeons are still prescribing opioids to teens more often than would be ideal. Many parents may not realize the risks. Helping educate parents may result in some parents working with medical care providers to reduces the prescription of opioid pain medication and pursue other options. This resource is targeting parents of student athletes.

 

Tools and Resources

SAMHSA National Hotline

The SAMHSA national hotline  is a confidential, free, 24 hour a day 365 day a year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing men and/or substance use disorders. They also provide many links with helpful information to help families and individuals answer important questions about drug abuse and recovery.

Parent Resources:

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/parents

This resource has many links on how to prevent teen drug use starting from home.

Drugfree.org

This is a hotline that allows parents to speak to other trained parents about substance abuse issues.

 

Promising Programs

Safe Homes Network and App

Originated near Scottsdale, Arizona, Safe Homes Network is an application that allows parents to know where their kids are when they go to a party. When the child goes to a party the parent can check on the app. to see whether or not the house is registered in the directory. If so, parents can contact that head of house and make sure they know whether or not a party is occurring. The system is set up to act like a barrier for alcohol and drug consumption to happen under people's roofs.

  To become a Safe Homes member, you must:
  1. Parents sign a pledge not to allow underage drinking or drug use in their home.
  2. Parents' contact information is entered into the Safe Homes Network database.
  3. Parents download the Safe Homes Network App to their phone or tablet and check it when their child is invited to a party or gathering where they don't know the parents.

  Since the Fountain Hills, AZ coalition started the Safe Homes Network, there has been a 44 percent decrease in the past 30-day use of alcohol, a 37 percent decrease in marijuana use and a 51 percent decrease in prescription drug abuse.

 More information on Safe Homes Network
 

Gobi

Parent involvement is critical in preventing teen substance use. As a parent, it can be extremely difficult to talk about drug use with your kids in an engaging and effective way. Whether you suspect there's already a problem or you want to help make sure there is never a problem, Gobi can help.

Gobi is the only online prevention program designed by professionals and young adults for teens and their families. Gobi is based on the proven principles of professional drug and alcohol prevention. It’s designed specifically for teens, and it speaks their language—using a tool they already have in hand. Every day for 21 days teens get an email assignment on their smartphone and it takes only 5 minutes per day. Several times a week they get a supportive text message that is meant to be irreverent, humorous, cynical, and just offensive enough to keep them laughing (and engaged).

Parents are involved and get their own series of emails on adolescent development and communication skills. Teens will be asked three times to schedule a time to talk with their parents. Topics and guidelines will be included to make the conversation as successful as possible, and parents will also receive program support.

Teens Using Gobi Report: (Get source)

• Improved relationship with their parents
• A decrease in their use of drugs and alcohol
• Better ability to manage stress
• Increased awareness of their choices

Signing up for Gobi is free to use by both parents and youth.
More information on adopting the Gobi program

 

Drug Prevention Resources

Drug Prevention Resources has an abundance of tools and resources to help parents to reduce the likelihood of their kids using drugs.
 

Fathers' Uplift

Fathers' Uplift empowers fathers to overcome barriers and become positively engaged in their children's lives.

Parent Education

DEA Books

The DEA produced two books, "Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention" and "Prescription for Disaster: How Teens Abuse Medicine." Copies of each resource can be found in Tools & Resources.

Family Life's Art of Parenting

FamilyLife’s Art of Parenting FREE online course gives parents a simple vision and creative ways to make faith the core of their parenting.

Tools & Resources

TR - Empower & Strengthen Parents

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Sources

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1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, NSDUH Series H-46, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 13-4795 (Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2013), www.samhsa.gov/data/ NSDUH/2012SummNatFindDetTables/NationalFindings/ NSDUHresults2012.htm#ch6.7.
2. Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Heroin and Prescription Painkillers: A Toolkit for Community Action. 2016.
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