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Teen Drug Use -- What Parents Should Know

The reports we occasionally see that this or that national survey indicates a rise in alcohol and drug use among teens -- and that they're starting to abuse at earlier ages and in higher number -- bears some serious parental scrutiny. I am one of many, many attorneys practicing criminal defense in the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area, and in the past 5 years I have represented approximately 150 teens for some kind of drug-related offense.

While most have been occasional users of marijuana (pot) and its derivatives, others were seriously using higly addictive drugs on a regular basis. Many of these other drugs were obtained from home, or a friend's home, and not necessarily from the dealer in the bad part of town. In almost every instance, the kid's parents had no idea that their child was even using pot!

As a parent of two sons born three years apart, I can also speak to this point with a modicrum of experience. Although neither was drinking at the time of the event in question, while in high school each boy generated a late night call to me from the police because they were with others who were drinking. Thankfully, neither was prosecuted, and more thankfully, neither -- again, to their mother's and my knowledge -- have become overly familiar with illegal drugs (in other words, we're assuming they've both experimented since they're college age and older, but if so, it has yet to surface).

The lesson here is that no matter how good an example a parent sets for his/her child, they must assume that there is conduct occurring that is being effectively hidden from them by their children. Think about it --- did YOUR parents know EVERYTHING you did as a teen? Probably not. And today's youth on the whole are exposed to much more temptation than were their parents and grandparents. In my view, teens today are more willing to spread their wings at an earlier age, and to take higher risks without seeing the potental adverse consequences of their acts.

So, my advice to parents reading this is to continue to be involved in your children's lives to the extent that you can without turning them into social outcasts, or stifling their development as well-rounded adults. At the same time, do not abandon your responsibillity to educate them about the perils that are out there.

Also, spend some time on the Internet. Social network pages such as Facebook and MySpace are popular with youngsters, and you can see what your kids find interesting and who comprise their circle of friends. Also, learn the lingo the kids use -- http://www.webmd.com/parenting/teen-abuse-cough-medicine-9/drug-slang is a source for educating yourself on the slang kids use to discuss drug-related practices. This could prove very helpful.