What does 'Parents 4 A Change' Have to Do with You?

by
Lynn K. McMullin

On Tuesday, in the midst of all the snow calls and AlertNow hullabaloo, you also got a message from me and the Community of Concern's Substance Abuse Council about an upcoming program February 2nd.  Here are the details, and then I'll tell you more about why the program might be of interest to you.

WHO: Mary Marcuccio, from Parents 4 A Change, a dynamic speaker featured on Good Morning America! Along with an informative display to help you recognize today's drugs and paraphenalia sponsored by our local Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association

WHEN: February 2, 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Canton High School Auditorium -- with childcare provided.

 WHY?

The first time I heard Mary Marcuccio speak I was impressed with her intensity, honesty, and passion for sparing other families the same grief she experienced in her own family with a teenage son, now lost to drugs.  The tragedy struck at a time in his life, and hers, when she thought they had already beat the odds and were 'free and clear.'   I remember her talking about the little elastic bands he would have on his fingers, picking at them, flipping them around from finger to finger, in plain sight.  She had noticed the little elastic bands and just thought they must have come from his girlfriend's hair.  But, they came from baggies.  The baggies held cocaine.  Her son, like so many others, was a middle class honors student, college-bound, well cared for and living in the suburbs.  His parents were smart and knowledgeable.  They had a 'typical' parent-teen relationship.

That's one reason to come -- not because we're trying to scare you, but simply because knowledge is power.

Another reason to come is this:
Even if your children aren't yet teens themselves, you might have teens in your home.  It's not uncommon for teens to take a quick peek into the bathroom cabinets of neighbors, families for whom they babysit or mow the lawn, to collect prescription medications.  Bringing pills to share at parties is more common than any of us would like to think; and sometimes kids who will not participate in pill-taking, still contribute.

Several years ago, we did a Drug and Alcohol Survey at the high school. We asked our students about almost everything -- family patterns, friends, seatbelts, smoking, academics, and sports, church, etc.  What we learned wasn't earth-shattering, but it was worth sharing.

By filtering the responses we found that students with three or more of these indicators were significantly MORE likely to make unsafe choices, including illegal drinking, riding in cars with people who are drinking, using illegal drugs, and misusing legal drugs. Click here to read the full survey results.

• Students who spend 0 – ½ hour per day on homework
• Students who spend 3+ hours alone per day
• Students who do not eat 1 meal per day with their family
• Parents who “rarely” or “never” know where their teen is when the teen is away from home
• Parents who “rarely” or “never” know with whom their teen hangs out
• Parents who “sometimes,” “rarely,” or “never” set clear rules about the use of alcohol or drugs
• Students who report they “rarely” or “never” feel comfortable sharing their thoughts with their parents
• Students who smoke
• Students whose friends smoke, drink, or use marijuana
• Students who report no close friendships within Canton High School
• Students who feel they are in “fair” or “poor” mental and physical health
• Students who spend more than 3 hours during the school week “hanging out with friends”

Based on those findings, and the filtered responses of the 'safest' students, the Community of Concern wrote a plan called "What Parents Can Do Immediately."  Here are those suggestions:
1. Eat 1 meal per day with your children
2.  Set expectations for homework (in terms of stress, the healthiest two groups of students do 1 – 2 and 2 – 3 hours of homework per night)
3.  Arrange the schedule so that your children are not home alone more than 1 - 2 hours daily
4.  Know where your children are, and with whom, when they are not at home.
5.  Set clear and firm rules about the use of alcohol and drugs
6.  Become more aware of your teen's stress levels and more informed about stress reduction
7.  Help your student become involved in civic organizations and volunteering in the community
8.  Limit the amount of time your student spends “hanging out with friends”

One more thing parents can do: 
Join us February 2nd at 7:00 and become as informed as you can be!