Prevent teen drug use

A new website PreventTeenDrugUse, developed by the Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., provides parents, with relevant research on marijuana and other drug use. It outlines the serious long-term negative effects drug use can have on youth, including lower academic achievement, dropout, mental health problems, and addiction.

Personal stories from a teen, a father, and a physician demonstrate how drug use can adversely affect youth, families, and communities. The website features videos reviewing current information. The site also identifies helpful prevention and treatment resources.

Parents have the biggest influence on their children’s lives, including their decisions to use or to not use marijuana and other drugs. Parents need to understand and act on this information to protect their children. Concerned parents can join the Prevent Teen Drug Use website listserv and participate in discussions.

Youth marijuana use must not be trivialized. The short- and long-term effects of marijuana use are serious. Parents must arm themselves with the necessary knowledge to educate their children about the dangers of marijuana and other drug use. Parents need to set the record straight in an information environment filled with pro-drug propaganda. While not every young person who uses marijuana or other drugs develops lifelong problems, many do. The totally unpredictable risk of future addiction increases as the age of initiation decreases. No child’s bright future should not be left to chance. Drug use prevention must become a top priority for parents.