As teen births go down, Drug use goes up!

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbM9w6awMepGiWCnlnaYZH81jAhwv3jt-JffFKi3pUtedZ4dpRz2n4P8ns7uQe5yQnvxqSCAziaObR3WFjrKOSl_On6TiQgVhDthUNy8FTFV1WW1h39hAgtCmXJnfUAShQAJjGGcL9X5N3/s1600/teen-pregnancy-rates-rise-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" /></a>A recent <a href="http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/06/u-s-kids-health-teen-births-down-early-drug-use-up/">CNN blog post </a> discussed areport which showed births to adolescents declined for the second consecutive year.  The report was a compilation of statistics from numerous organizations, in which there was a decline in the U.S. The report stated a drop in the adolescent birth rate, from 21.7 per 1,000 girls ages 15-17 (2008) to 20.1 per 1,000 (2009, preliminary data).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There was also other good news, the report also noted that adolescent injury deaths have also decline. This drop in injury-related deaths among teens ages 15-19 from 44 per 100,000 (2008, preliminary data) to 39 per 100,000 (2009, preliminary data). The number also includes teenage driving deaths. These numbers might be an indication that some legislation has had an impact on teen driving, but the researchers also indicated that there could be multiple factors at play.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8TM5_8GWhO_GVEACUXbA04tsZ5PO4biO_Mk6m1kJK1PD_uKJIwZ53KrDTtgWRnXF_zNxld2K7Hm4si2hr7E6GtiToE-r87t1Tm-r2JIxhyuzjvPi_wlMgJR2CSr7gUFe-xfIyR3TQxaW/s1600/0309_teen_drug_abuse_170x170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" /></a>The report is title America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2011 all though the full report is not yet available, <a href="http://www.childstats.gov/index.asp">previous reports</a> are. The group gathers statistics from asthma cases in children to their test scores in math.  The report is a collection of 22 federal agencies. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now for the bad news. The report also found a rise in the proportion of eighth graders who reported using illicit drugs in the past 30 days, from 9 percent (2009) to 10 percent (2010). The report found that more children were likely to live in poverty and fewer children were likely to live with one parent working year round, full time.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>Surely this information bears further scrutiny and helps monitor the well being of America's youth.

As teen births go down, Drug use goes up!

A recent CNN blog post   discussed areport which showed births to adolescents declined for the second consecutive year.  The report was a co...

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Summer Safety

School is almost out and warm weather is finally upon us after a long and grueling summer. Summer is a time for having fun in the sun! Children and teens should be able to have fun, as well as being safe. Since this winter and spring made it extremely difficult to enjoy the weather everyone should take a few moments to discuss Summer Safety Tips with your sons and daughters.<br /><br /><div> </div><ol><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Children and teens shouldn’t talk to strangers</strong> – It is extremely important to remind your children and teenagers to never talk to anyone they do not know. There are numerous stores that highlight the risk of talking to adults that teens do not know. Explain to your children or teens know that if they see someone suspicious that they don’t know they should immediately either run away if they are alone or go somewhere where there or other people. Vehicles can be extremely enticing to a child or teen. Remind them to never go into a vehicle with a stranger. If someone tries to force them into a car tell your child they should run away to a public place for help or start screaming loudly. Bring as much attention to them as possible.</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyW0n75YMQsyZE27Km6hg5_-PCfukEwUId_fkZEvmunasjisx4BaEo-Cwh4EZIGuQM_6Gwi7YoSc3jH77YDgsVf2qo-Rxg0aqC-HGUvtTRvUlV7WBnQr0wMybw8cJtmTVR0bUMHMP_VAF/s1600/teen-summer-jobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyW0n75YMQsyZE27Km6hg5_-PCfukEwUId_fkZEvmunasjisx4BaEo-Cwh4EZIGuQM_6Gwi7YoSc3jH77YDgsVf2qo-Rxg0aqC-HGUvtTRvUlV7WBnQr0wMybw8cJtmTVR0bUMHMP_VAF/s200/teen-summer-jobs.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a><strong>Water Safety</strong> – In the summer time children and teens love being in the water, especially when it is hot. Whether it is a beach, pool, lake or river all children should be aware of water safety. Children or teens that don’t know how to swim should stay in the shallow end of the water. Children and teens should also always swim at places that have life guards. In the event that something was to happen they would have someone there to help them. When it comes to pool safety small children should always be accompanied by adults, never walk away assuming that a child is safe. It only takes an inch or two of water and time unattended for a tragedy to happen. For parents who own pools in their homes they should be aware that children can get into trouble when they aren’t looking. Make sure that when the pool isn’t being used there is a cover over it or a gate that children can’t get into with an adult.</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Monitor you child or teens Internet use</strong> - During the summer time Children and youths' have more free time to use the Internet and computer. The Internet provides access to games, educational resources, social networking and it also can be a dangerous one as well. This points directly to tip number one that children and youth’s should never talk to strangers. When youth are on the Internet they may go on chat website where they have no idea who they are talking to. Some things that you can do to make sure you’re child or teen is safe is to block certain websites on you’re computer or get child monitoring software. </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Safety in numbers</strong> - Your children and teens probably will want to go to summer camp, vacation trips with friends or teams, and other outings. Tell your child or teen to always stay with a group when they are out. This includes when walking to a friends house, the pool or even on their way home. Relying a cellular telephone to make a child feel safer by talking to them as they walk, only serves to divide their attention from their surroundings. Walk with your child, ride a bicycle, walk the dog or better yet drive them to their destination.</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsQ2-ariu73oe8CqAhwGB4LqIAslqDkZKm0rf9LtrNY2OSUH7-MfqYO-r2CiLw4CJsx5bwWuBP4oSTeIfXGY38cIK7QJElKI2lhsC3h7Gb2u1bqJvar26qRe_a37km_w_qwxDMj-TRTjR/s1600/pkg_summer_safety_underage_drinking_article.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsQ2-ariu73oe8CqAhwGB4LqIAslqDkZKm0rf9LtrNY2OSUH7-MfqYO-r2CiLw4CJsx5bwWuBP4oSTeIfXGY38cIK7QJElKI2lhsC3h7Gb2u1bqJvar26qRe_a37km_w_qwxDMj-TRTjR/s200/pkg_summer_safety_underage_drinking_article.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a><strong>Educate Your Child or Teen about drug and alcohol use</strong> - Children and Teens are under constant pressure too experiment with drugs and alcohol. Teens who are talked to about drug and alcohol use by their parents are at a much lesser risk of drug and alcohol us than those parents who don’t. Summer time gives children and teens more time to associate with friends that may offer those drugs or alcohol. You can also encourage your children to talk to you about these kinds of issues so they know they don’t have to hide them.</li></ol><br /><div> </div>

Summer Safety

School is almost out and warm weather is finally upon us after a long and grueling summer. Summer is a time for having fun in the sun! Child...

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Sythetic Cannabis: Spice and their friends

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi4qst9hrGMnQVLxtKprZCCnGzlfnjSI8b9YDvIYKvnEeQXBApUx34lNoJ2zH9rPTlVfPOvzNrodvbXoWoW_OeFzwjvxDPBe1Lb2-f1sYyHh3PKTxB671bel_jMxX7sqGLPAYIucBEsh-/s1600/800px-Spice_drug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi4qst9hrGMnQVLxtKprZCCnGzlfnjSI8b9YDvIYKvnEeQXBApUx34lNoJ2zH9rPTlVfPOvzNrodvbXoWoW_OeFzwjvxDPBe1Lb2-f1sYyHh3PKTxB671bel_jMxX7sqGLPAYIucBEsh-/s200/800px-Spice_drug.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_cannabis">Spice</a> is a new herbal blend being sold legally in some locations and not in others. The ingredients according to users are herbal and natural. But when synthetic cannabis blends first went on sale in the early 2000s it was thought that they achieved an effect through a mixture of legal herbs. A Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed this was not true and that they in fact contained synthetic cannabinoids which act on the body in a similar way to cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis, such as THC. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkESJoNUBEOj1P1ED5c3OV0-Km68BR9Zad9rd6TLUNogaGsvvhdRw8tLvk31m7p1WUjj4ya6RUbPBg1qrMCcfglwn-N-KVgr49yI3yXpRW-kma-Zr2YqZo9T-urdIENA8Pcbbbm3BfrrDP/s1600/234L_1_Synthetic_drug_K2_pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkESJoNUBEOj1P1ED5c3OV0-Km68BR9Zad9rd6TLUNogaGsvvhdRw8tLvk31m7p1WUjj4ya6RUbPBg1qrMCcfglwn-N-KVgr49yI3yXpRW-kma-Zr2YqZo9T-urdIENA8Pcbbbm3BfrrDP/s200/234L_1_Synthetic_drug_K2_pic.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A large and complex variety of synthetic cannabinoids, most often cannabicyclohexanol, JWH-018, JWH-073, or HU-210, are used in an attempt to avoid the laws which make cannabis illegal, making synthetic cannabis a designer drug. It has been sold under various brand names, online, in head shops and at some gas stations.</div><br />Spice is smoked the same way organic cannabis is smoked. But unlike cannabis, it takes longer for the hit to take effect, but once it does, it's effects last much longer. For the novice user who may have experienced organic cannabis their belief that the drug will kick in normally might pose a risk to attempts to smoke much greater amounts than they would with the organic cannabis.   <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPHiZEqXsiIHpOv6vsNwVgvoSJaTTcUhf36D-5-8eHLBSbrWuOtKgveTMyYaIRzM2tNxQqIHdN3uT0Cn6Vg6rX424Z4VPSiOA76fsZebAlJ1gJPCZudQHhERCYiTa7zI7tq4LrIBfROtU/s1600/teen-drug-use2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPHiZEqXsiIHpOv6vsNwVgvoSJaTTcUhf36D-5-8eHLBSbrWuOtKgveTMyYaIRzM2tNxQqIHdN3uT0Cn6Vg6rX424Z4VPSiOA76fsZebAlJ1gJPCZudQHhERCYiTa7zI7tq4LrIBfROtU/s200/teen-drug-use2.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a>Parents need to pay attention to what their children are doing and using and yes your children can say to you "No, Mom this isn't illegal!"  The difficult battle for parents, law enforcement and legislators is to stay aware of and involved in drug trends as they occur. As with these synthetic cannaboinoids, the legal system is slow to react and needs to be coaxed by legislators, parents and law enforcement. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Regardless of legality, parents, adults, educators, law enforcement and legislators need to be proactive and involved in understanding several issues. First, anything that a teen uses to create an intoxicating or hallucinating state should be a concern. There are many legal products that teens and adults use that create a brief intense "high!" Products that are readily available and legal might include glue, dust off spray, paint, paint thinner and other household products. Second, because these products skirt the legal system and were never truly intended to be used to get a "high." the risk of side effects are greatly increased.  The potential for side effects including exposure to cancer causing materials and psychological issues can be greatly increased. Lastly, you should have the <a href="http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/safeguarding-and-monitoring/conversation-tips/default.aspx">conversation </a>with your child or teen regarding their use and abuse of drugs. Parents who have those conversations greatly reduce the risk of your child experimenting or conducting risk taking behavior. This includes sending a clear unambiguous message to your child about your views of drug abuse and the risk surrounding it. </div>.

Sythetic Cannabis: Spice and their friends

Spice is a new herbal blend being sold legally in some locations and not in others. The ingredients according to users are herbal and natur...

Read more »

Legal Drug Can Cause Dangerous Effects for Children!

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRmpupOfXKiR9Y6WOQOdcBKOKX2JJ-llg8L_1BA9m1kIqQRM-SJlvqyzchbeQurv0rZ3_j5lWYhjwTuyxE4Z_FK8W1EuYBlrSnDDn5Y3mdQU_pjs1sOH1S345L059nBoNKJuL2eK0ZPKq/s1600/lazycakes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRmpupOfXKiR9Y6WOQOdcBKOKX2JJ-llg8L_1BA9m1kIqQRM-SJlvqyzchbeQurv0rZ3_j5lWYhjwTuyxE4Z_FK8W1EuYBlrSnDDn5Y3mdQU_pjs1sOH1S345L059nBoNKJuL2eK0ZPKq/s200/lazycakes2.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a>I am sure many of you have heard about brownies that have had weed mixed into them and cooked. But I am relatively sure that most have not heard about "Lazy Cakes!" <a href="http://www.mylazycakes.com/">"Lazy Cakes!"</a> are marketed as herbal brownies designed to help adults de-stress. The brownies contain a high dosage of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin">melatonin</a>, a hormone that helps people sleep. According to the "Lazy Cakes" website, each brownie contains two servings or about 8 mg of the hormone. According to medical experts most people need a much smaller does of melatonin when it is used as a sleep aid.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2OLkToBDhi0tf5vIruC9xsMEzvy8zOsCERFvnFmYi7Us449H2AmG8UveyWvjBTK9dQMmg7iSnFf1JRzdWrm8DrRTBXoAYn_O7C8RtQqrvp8E9fV9CWAN47q_lUQuJAnE8HrYxKX36aE1/s1600/lazycakesingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2OLkToBDhi0tf5vIruC9xsMEzvy8zOsCERFvnFmYi7Us449H2AmG8UveyWvjBTK9dQMmg7iSnFf1JRzdWrm8DrRTBXoAYn_O7C8RtQqrvp8E9fV9CWAN47q_lUQuJAnE8HrYxKX36aE1/s200/lazycakesingredients.jpg" t8="true" width="181" /></a>The problem with this product is that seen in the picture it's cutsie marketing and cartoon character appearance is clearly marketed at children and teenagers. Lazy Cakes are currently available in most convenience stores throughout the country. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">According to Dr. David Zich of Northwestern Memorial Hospital "Melatonin helps calm us down. It also lowers our core temperature and prepares us for sleep." But there are risks. "Melatonin can actually cause seizures in people who are predisposed to it. If you're a woman trying to get pregnant, or a man trying to start a family, it can interfere with your ability to start a family." For children and teens the effects may be more profound. Since "Lazy Cakes" have hit the market there have been several reports of children being hospitalized after eating them. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">  </div>Currently Arkansas became to first state to ban "Lazy Cakes."  Illinois Senator Dick Durbin has sent a letter to the FDA requesting them to regulate "Lazy Cakes."<br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QBBs5nLGdf48q59phrBKbvOGAjxBixJfS_RIHKxjsMNiaQ3UT2PYakIt_-Zk1RSSxavZoqH3XerW0Vz_cL-hZycXyH8YOorLkWR6sL9kzQtbcx-wFpsjnlrPGi4LIOAKx5ywNDMq0Q9G/s1600/kushcakes2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QBBs5nLGdf48q59phrBKbvOGAjxBixJfS_RIHKxjsMNiaQ3UT2PYakIt_-Zk1RSSxavZoqH3XerW0Vz_cL-hZycXyH8YOorLkWR6sL9kzQtbcx-wFpsjnlrPGi4LIOAKx5ywNDMq0Q9G/s200/kushcakes2.png" t8="true" width="170" /></a>But where there is one there are others, including <a href="http://www.kush-cakes.com/">"Kush Cakes"</a> and "Lulla Pies"  On the Kush Cakes website the warn that they should be taken with alcohol, and then contradicts itself with a this listing on the FAQ page, <em>"<span style="color: yellow;">4. Are Kush Cakes safe to eat while drinking alcohol?" "Does a 1 legged duck swim circles? Of course! You can eat a Kush Cake while enjoying a nice cold beer, or glass of wine perhaps. Be careful, you may get REALLY relaxed. Oh no!"</span></em><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>This seems extremely contradictory and can be misleading to children and teenagers. According to Kush Cakes "<span style="color: yellow;"><em>are made with more potent concentrated cakes are baked with love, our proprietary blend of natural ingredients and of course lots and lots of luscious chocolate!"</em> </span>but a listing of their ingredients are not readily available. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdx-qhGZvOHG4nyeVtsdM-pFPpA1IAsXAIkFe_4wVJiKzWUlOI8NjvlDH4mrXbLrZcMz7ATQbHDbjS24elJNiPeeVs_8Zw1vg-USofGCLwEZ0t0v-dMLpVJz-BStwPgYYfRhZC7OOhevw/s1600/188167_222780781069567_8352917_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdx-qhGZvOHG4nyeVtsdM-pFPpA1IAsXAIkFe_4wVJiKzWUlOI8NjvlDH4mrXbLrZcMz7ATQbHDbjS24elJNiPeeVs_8Zw1vg-USofGCLwEZ0t0v-dMLpVJz-BStwPgYYfRhZC7OOhevw/s1600/188167_222780781069567_8352917_n.jpg" t8="true" /></a>Then there are <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lulla-Pies/222780781069567">"Lulla Pies"</a> which are either a cookie or brownie. Seriously do adults need to use brownies or cookies to relax, are we all that stressed that cookies help us relax, my opinion is no! But these very items are extremely popular with children and teens "chocolate goodness" how would we feel if we labeled "heroin" with "chocolate goodness" would we feel better about it, NO! Now before you get worked up I am not saying the two are the same. But the ambiguity that we are allowing to be sent to our children is setting them up to begin using drugs or drug infused foods to help them deal with "stress" at even an earliar age! That to me is a recipe for disaster!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These items are directly targeting the population that is looking for legal alternatives to getting high or increasing their high through poly drug use.  </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Either way this is another clear attempt of marketing that is designed to be attractive to children and teens. Otherwise why not market them like many other brownies packets in plain clear plastic with the label on them. These colorful, character driven packaging are marketed to your kids. Contact your legislature, community leader to let them hear your dissatisfaction with this really bad idea.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>

Legal Drug Can Cause Dangerous Effects for Children!

I am sure many of you have heard about brownies that have had weed mixed into them and cooked. But I am relatively sure that most have not h...

Read more »

Parent Tips - Part 1: Why do young people experiment with drugs?

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOyua4NnVQWnJxp2tIgrINu9JE5hVZUrUGuRuk2jVqa9B21b8AW9GTaERXgEzA9CfzZHBQT2oWWLfSeyahwxdnCKesz-MZlfgQ7kr-aYEIYjPjac6A4ZzvniS7vHSb_uoLpbVEnHTC_2I/s1600/0_teenDrug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOyua4NnVQWnJxp2tIgrINu9JE5hVZUrUGuRuk2jVqa9B21b8AW9GTaERXgEzA9CfzZHBQT2oWWLfSeyahwxdnCKesz-MZlfgQ7kr-aYEIYjPjac6A4ZzvniS7vHSb_uoLpbVEnHTC_2I/s1600/0_teenDrug.jpg" /></a>Understanding why a youth might start using drugs is paramount into formulating a proper response to their involvement. Current research has identified over 50 factors which might contribute to someone being at risk for drug use. Many of those factors are similar in a variety of addiction related issues including violence and gambling to name a few. What is interesting to note that these factors do not fall into a particular subgroup but fall across multiple subgroups. Examples of these would include free time available, family structure, peer group, social pressures and media exposure. This is really important for parents to understand that they have to deal with the individual youth’s situation and state of mind if they are going to have an opportunity to make an impact.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEVLUtt6GGgJPNC11W9oSJG0D14zxYPH148I__sQs__1YOcYTod-dV8SJQhf_96ROgq-UmMFYNPBt8CYR8jJnAYGNxSeV5wmpyMNZQ0hYW09ksWSi30o4K3OTAbTxoGAfhOer2PLH7fGA/s1600/teendrug.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEVLUtt6GGgJPNC11W9oSJG0D14zxYPH148I__sQs__1YOcYTod-dV8SJQhf_96ROgq-UmMFYNPBt8CYR8jJnAYGNxSeV5wmpyMNZQ0hYW09ksWSi30o4K3OTAbTxoGAfhOer2PLH7fGA/s200/teendrug.bmp" width="143" /></a>OK so what drive’s a youths desire to experiment with drugs? According to the research on the pathways to drug use Dr. Alan I. Leshner, PhD Director of NIDA says, “that there is one of two types or reasons. One group of people seems to sue drugs simply to feel good. They are seeking novelty or excitement, to have a good time.” This would include those youths who just want to fit in with the group, who want to be “cool.” According to Leshner, this specific group is also the most responsive to prevention programming that educate through harm reduction, as well as those influenced by the powerful protective factor of having strong and living parents interested in them and in all aspects of their lives.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The second pathway is from an entirely different group of young people who are using drugs for quite different, actually more problematic reasons. This group is suffering in some way or another and uses the drugs as a form of self-medication to make themselves feel better or even normal.  This group often times includes people who are stuck in very difficult life situations - poetry or abuse families to name some examples.   It may also include youth who are suffering from a variety of undiagnosed or untreated mental disorders, like clinical depression, manic depressive illness, panic disorders, and schizophrenia.  According to Dr. Leshner "there are as many as 10 million children and adolescents who may suffer from emotional and psychiatric problems of such magnitude that their ability to function is compromised, the majority of those kids are at extremely high risk of becoming addicted to drugs."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Young people who use drugs to medicate themselves are doing so not only to feel better but to feel normal, in which in many cses they may be treated with anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications.  But because they are undiagnosed the use of illicit drugs does  not effectively treat those issues. In fact it may actually enhance those issues making the youth feel worse.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So what other factors are there that contribute to youth drug abuse? The more common ones are listed below:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Enjoyment </u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Despite all the concerns about illicit drug use and the attendant lifestyle by young people, it is probably still the case that the lives of most young people are centered on school, home and employment and that most drug use is restricted to the use of tobacco and alcohol They may adopt the demeanor, fashion and slang of a particular subculture including the occasional or experimental use of illegal drugs without necessarily adopting the lifestyle. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Even so, the evidence of drug use within youth culture suggests that the experience of substances is often pleasurable rather than negative and damaging. So probably the main reason why young take drugs is that they enjoy them. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Environment </u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Many young people live in communities which suffer from multiple deprivations, with high unemployment, low quality housing where the surrounding infra-structure of local services is fractured and poorly resourced. In such communities drug supply and use often thrive as an alternative economy often controlled by powerful criminal groups. As well as any use that might be associated with the stress and boredom of living in such communities, young people with poor job prospects recognize the financial advantages and the status achievable through the business of small scale supply of drugs. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlztyIUX-ofbYQW09nKVJMHmqRfqqsxyG5hzggUArd3cA28-oVyv5OL3blU4jmjzHCCMPItEqhqMcy1sU4YrTWCOOQe2NCBrsFcnbkrY45B-apKafr8NpE87jgM2c-KVU9yu346gAHwrl/s1600/teen-drug-use2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlztyIUX-ofbYQW09nKVJMHmqRfqqsxyG5hzggUArd3cA28-oVyv5OL3blU4jmjzHCCMPItEqhqMcy1sU4YrTWCOOQe2NCBrsFcnbkrY45B-apKafr8NpE87jgM2c-KVU9yu346gAHwrl/s200/teen-drug-use2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>However, drug use is certainly not restricted to areas of urban deprivation. As the press stories of expulsions from private schools and drug use in rural areas show, illicit drug use is an aspect of our society from top to bottom and in all regions. <br /><br /><strong><u>Curiosity </u></strong><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Most young people are naturally curious and want to experiment with different experiences. For some, drugs are a good conversation point, they are interesting to talk about and fascinate everyone. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><strong><u>The defense mechanism </u></strong><br /><br />Some young people will use drugs specifically to ease the trauma and pain of unsatisfactory relationships and the physical and emotional abuse arising from unhappy home lives. Such young people will often come to the attention of the school. If these problems can be addressed, then if drugs are involved they can become less of a problem. <br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><strong><u>Natural rebellion</u></strong> <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcyd6mxmMKy7cqv0Q7WiyBEfT6JIqkz5xuo3r29WCopDbo6WsQSTmKfZimFkHLHJoEybydeQm-yGpAZ10ohCfGd3UWxpRGHvWEssYZylmLqT1aTPxGYwAlxVOtKtOz78jX-eurZTE7xZO/s1600/teendruguse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcyd6mxmMKy7cqv0Q7WiyBEfT6JIqkz5xuo3r29WCopDbo6WsQSTmKfZimFkHLHJoEybydeQm-yGpAZ10ohCfGd3UWxpRGHvWEssYZylmLqT1aTPxGYwAlxVOtKtOz78jX-eurZTE7xZO/s200/teendruguse.jpg" width="200" /></a>Whether or not part of any particular subset of youth culture, young people like to be exclusive, own something that is personal to themselves and consciously or unconsciously drug use may act as a means of defiance to provoke adults into a reaction. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Promotion and availability </u></strong></div><br />There is considerable pressure to use legal substances alcohol and pain-relieving drugs are regularly advertised on television. The advertising of tobacco products is now banned on television, but recent research from Strathclyde University published by the Cancer Research Campaign concluded that cigarette advertising does encourage young people to start smoking and reinforces the habit among existing smokers. <br /><br />Despite legislation, children and teenagers have no problems obtaining alcohol and tobacco from any number of retail outlets; breweries refurbish pubs with young people in mind, bringing in music, games, more sophisticated decor and so on while the general acceptance of these drugs is maintained through sports sponsorship, promotions and other marketing strategies. Obviously, the illicit market is more discreet, but those determined to experiment appear to have little trouble obtaining drugs. <br /><br /><strong><u>Cost </u></strong><br /><br />Value for money is often a factor as to which drug to use. Cannabis sufficient for a few joints would cost about $20, while an LSD trip would be around $3-$10. In terms of how long the effects last, this compares very favourably with an average price for a glass of beer is around $1.80. By the same token, ecstasy of highly variable quality is still selling for up to $1 a tablet and many drug users have been voting with their wallet and turning to cheaper drugs such as LSD and amphetamine.<br /><br /><strong><u>What Can Parents Do?</u></strong><br /><br />What, if the answer is "yes," your child is using drugs? What do you do? In a small percentage of cases, parents can work with their own kids to get them to stop using drugs. This might be easiest when the young person is just using drugs occasionally to have a good time. And, of course, the earlier you start talking to your children about drugs, the better the chances are they won't become involved with them. If a child reaches the age of 20 without using alcohol, tobacco or marijuana, the probability is almost zero he or she will ever develop a serious drug problem.<br /><br />But if you suspect your child is really trying to self-medicate, or if you suspect your child is using regularly or even is addicted, you need to get help right away from the professionals. These are not, problems the typical parents can handle alone. And help is available. There are many professional social workers, nurses, drug counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists well trained to deal with both mental disorders and drug use problems. Your child's school, your family doctor, or community health center can help get you a referral. Do not assume Sally or Johnny's drug use is just a passing phase or something every kid must go through. It isn't. It may well be the beginning of a lifetime of problems that could be prevented with early intervention.

Parent Tips - Part 1: Why do young people experiment with drugs?

Understanding why a youth might start using drugs is paramount into formulating a proper response to their involvement. Current research has...

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Parents: Drug Awareness Series

As part of our ongoing effort to educate and raise awareness to the public and parents about the dangers of drugs we will be running a multi-part series on abused drugs over the next several months.  In light of the report released in December 2010 <a href="http://monitoringthefuture.org/">Monitoring the Future</a> public perceptions are changing in regards to risk and harm of particular drugs.<br /><br />There is also much in fact and myth surrounding many drugs that the teens, parents and the public are not aware.  It is through this series that we will be putting the spot light upon drugs that are available and out there and the risks to them. <br /><br />Look for information to come forward about<br /><ul><li>Alcohol</li><li>Marijuana</li><li>Cocaine & Crack</li><li>Heroin</li><li>Prescription Medications</li><li>Methamphetamine</li><li>Ecstasy MDMA</li><li>Ketamine</li><li>LSD</li><li>K2 (Spice)</li><li>Salvi</li><li>and much more</li></ul>Each series will provide information about patterns and trends as well as about common pathways to use of each particular of drug. In addition, resources will be provide to allow teens, educators and parents on where to turn to get help in addressing this issue.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: red;">Part 1: Why young people try Illegal Drugs?</span></strong>

Parents: Drug Awareness Series

As part of our ongoing effort to educate and raise awareness to the public and parents about the dangers of drugs we will be running a multi...

Read more »

Rites of Passage – Into manhood or a jail cell

<div>  </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">How many times have you heard the following story or a similar one to it? ABC News reports that a fifteen-year-old male lead police on a car chase through the city streets today. The teen struck multiple cars and exceeded 100 miles per hour during the chase. The teen crashed the car, which was stolen into a building and was caught after a brief foot chase with police. Witnesses at the scene stated the teen was smiling almost gleefully as he commented, “Now I am a man, I got my first felony!” Although his actions are target and his attitude reprehensible, it is not uncommon of many of today’s youths. The lack of rites-of-passage available to today’s youths contributes to at-risk behaviors as youths grow from childhood to adult hood. Rites of passage are steps, rituals, cultural or possible religious procedure or ceremony, which marks the passage from on stage of life to the next.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">In the early 1980’s criminal justice experts stated that as youths mature in today’s society a new era of crime would be unleashed upon society. The so called experts believed that with overcrowded prison systems, inadequate schools, lack of social services and the increased availability of firearms would be a melting pot waiting to boil over as the juveniles grew into adulthood. It would appear true with the events that unfolded in the 1990s, if they were closely examined.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">In short, a wave of gang-related drive by shootings terrorized inner city neighborhoods all over the country. These gang-related events became commonplace, almost daily occurrences on the television news with younger and younger offenders and victims appearing. In Chicago, in the mid - 1990s a almost horrifically unbelievable act of human deprivation could be shown when two brothers dropped to his death a boy from 15 story low income housing project in the Chicago Housing Authority. The youths were attempting to rob the young boy of his candy. When he did not turn it over, they dropped him out of the window. The victim’s younger brother witnessed this and ran down the steps in the futile attempt to catch his brother.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">In the later part of the 1990s, we as society saw a new phenomenon appear in rural suburban America. Commonplace in the city, but in the heartland it began to resound the bell of death, school shootings. From the 1993 shooting at a Luby’s restaurant in suburban Texas, to rural American youth’s with “problems”, picking up guns and shooting their classmates, friends and even their teachers. The depravity continued across the nation, the names ingrained into our memories of Paducah, Kentucky; Jonesboro, Arkansas. In Jonesboro, two boys ages 11 and 13 opened fire in military fashion on their classmates killing five people, including a teacher, injuring scores of others. The coup-de-grace was the military precision assault of a high school in Littleton Colorado, where 12 students and one teacher were killed before the offenders, students as well committed suicide. One would think that America’s youth are all obsessed with death. Some may simply as some experts believe, obsessed with bullying. Some may even view bullying as one of their rites-of-passage.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">However, it is the belief that the vast majority of these events and the ones that have not been mentioned may be the very result of youths lacking certain rituals, procedures or events that bring youths into adulthood without harming others. In every culture, religion and race across the world rites of passage for their people exist. These rites-of-passage, some of which are universal across all cultures, others are culturally specific. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWsVwfZqU3Flzp4UcUpJcHbemfMHL8_bcKwvT22lp-UkKTXBxfSsc_oTIEhnW_p7KV0taFQmQOnqpmvjO8RY6S4XX_OugI5xSYoGhwhEDLM89ryHpXVlSGzZBYp30JBROXzGJg73cRpQl/s1600/ritesofpassage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWsVwfZqU3Flzp4UcUpJcHbemfMHL8_bcKwvT22lp-UkKTXBxfSsc_oTIEhnW_p7KV0taFQmQOnqpmvjO8RY6S4XX_OugI5xSYoGhwhEDLM89ryHpXVlSGzZBYp30JBROXzGJg73cRpQl/s320/ritesofpassage.jpg" width="320" /></a>Rites-of-passage could be extremely simple in small display or painfully time consuming, detailed and intricate. The value is not in the event itself, but in how the participants partake upon the rite-of-passage. Many adults automatically view teenagers as rude, obnoxious, and discourteous. Of noted interest, the same people are also repeatedly heard that “children live what they learn,” but they never apply it to their own attitudes towards teenagers. For example, an eight year old who proudly pays for his purchase with money he has saved, only to have that change handed to his father. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">An example of an extremely intricate rite-of-passage is the Japanese Tea Ceremony. This tradition passed down from one family member to another over centuries is so intricate that they very observance of the ceremony is more pleasurable than the actual sipping of the tea.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrn28H7Ci2myI6v5tacfvNvy3lPdbVxTokxEWAJlfbDnzMvm1SUhR6BzD7hNoOy6vroVEXceAI0J7uaIsU9g0DShDbVztHEc46ITo0yyD_fAYQDuhfAx2PTdF1KF4AEEx8xSQasJ8Y530/s1600/japanese-tea-ceremony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrn28H7Ci2myI6v5tacfvNvy3lPdbVxTokxEWAJlfbDnzMvm1SUhR6BzD7hNoOy6vroVEXceAI0J7uaIsU9g0DShDbVztHEc46ITo0yyD_fAYQDuhfAx2PTdF1KF4AEEx8xSQasJ8Y530/s200/japanese-tea-ceremony.jpg" width="200" /></a>Other examples of rites of passage, less refined as the Japanese Tea Ceremony, would be learning to play catch, or taking time alone with your father or mother to learn to catch a ball. Many would say how is that a rite-of-passage? It is a rite-of-passage in its simplest form. It is a young person going through trial and error guided by a trusted adult, sometimes frustrated, upset, and angry and mad, only to know triumph, pleasure, confidence and pride when the mastery of the catch is made. To observe the pride and joy in their mother or father’s eyes, reminding them that their child is growing up.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2zVghUXPGuZBEQh8ChqmtTURaoeT_RcA7y7nB8LPgFJaYwMkrhPy-BUY9Grh3fYj4leUiso1SumieOt2AxVs6eOjf6lo1QMcjZi0oX06EaFT-zIEQVZmTTjDUR8i1_ksr95X47fp3QJJ/s1600/bike+ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2zVghUXPGuZBEQh8ChqmtTURaoeT_RcA7y7nB8LPgFJaYwMkrhPy-BUY9Grh3fYj4leUiso1SumieOt2AxVs6eOjf6lo1QMcjZi0oX06EaFT-zIEQVZmTTjDUR8i1_ksr95X47fp3QJJ/s200/bike+ride.jpg" width="200" /></a>A story comes to mind; children’s story from the Franklin the Turtle Series. In the story, Franklin’s bicycle has training wheels, along with all of his friends. To Franklin’s amazement, his friends all begin to learn to ride their bicycles without their training wheels. Franklin decides to try himself and fails. So upset is Franklin that instead of asking for help, Franklin becomes, angry, withdrawn and makes every excuse not to ride his bicycle with the training wheels out of embarrassment. However, Franklin’s mother notices this and tells Franklin that not everything is as easy as it appears to some people. Franklin’s mother reminds Franklin that he can swim very well, but Fox cannot. She reminds him that Fox, can hit a baseball very far, but Bear cannot. Therefore, Franklin with coaxing form his mother gets upon his bicycle and with his mothers, help begins to pedal. After each fall, he gets right back up and eventually he rides without his training wheels. He feels triumph, jubilant and proud over his new found skills. Franklin learned this particularly simple rite-of-passage taught him many lessons. It taught him to rely on his parents for guidance and help. It taught him never to give up. It also taught him that by facing his fears he could overcome them.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Yet, many youths do not have those simple rites-of-passage in their lives. It could be that their parents are all too busy and have little time for simple interactions and life-lessons like the ones previously mentioned. It may possibly be that today’s youth have learned through their immediate access world are those things that they value, regardless if the perceived value and the real value of that rite-of-passage are not the same.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uYx8Mcx8G3d5F9M4FCVwjvuQv1vrwODU4yrMni9zZI3pgbzTy2YI5NRAowi7xV0W9He23QnU05rtKwQAfTEXTqEI59Iw4G9WBXPSEc0lTVX4coZsK6lEY0RR0oOpIBIXZ7lSaqcyP_jX/s1600/baithook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uYx8Mcx8G3d5F9M4FCVwjvuQv1vrwODU4yrMni9zZI3pgbzTy2YI5NRAowi7xV0W9He23QnU05rtKwQAfTEXTqEI59Iw4G9WBXPSEc0lTVX4coZsK6lEY0RR0oOpIBIXZ7lSaqcyP_jX/s200/baithook.jpg" width="200" /></a>Many years ago during wartime, military recruits would get tattoos as a sign of their manhood and entry into adult society. Today’s youth may also view tattoos in a similar light without the toughening of war or death to guide them. Body modifications, piercing or tattooing is becoming increasingly common and accepted in society. Carrol has found that thirteen percent of adolescents age 12 to 18 have tattoos. According to present research, possession of amateur tattoos seems to be associated with increases in dissatisfaction with the tattoo, problem behavior and lower academic performance. What was discovered was that those youths who had tattoos or piercing at an earlier age were a much greater risk of rising drug or other types of at-risk behavior than those without tattoos.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Adolescents, who had tattoos, were 32% higher on the Gateway Drug Index, if they had a tattoo before 16 years of age. [ Carrol ] As their research delved deeper, it found that in areas such as suicide, violence, risky sexual behavior were all increased dramatically because of the receipt of a tattoo or piercing at an early age. To further hammer the argument home, Carrol’s research also found that the later in life some received a tattoo or piercing the lower the risk level for Gateway Drugs, Suicide, Violence and risky sexual behavior. This would seem to indicate that because youth may be using tattoos as a rite-of-passage instead of ones that might be more substance based, and as a result placing them at increased risk for other behaviors that can be detrimental to their health.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">The family has always been toted around as a sure sign of the future health of a child. If they family is dysfunctional, or perhaps distracted in some way, today’s youths are more likely to become involved in damaging behaviors particularly those associated with alcohol, drugs, sexual activity and pregnancy. The debate these points may encompass a completely new direction for this article.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">However, it is known that along with these pressures, young people lack guidance and support. Their path into adulthood can be described as one of isolation. How often have we heard parents of a way-word child say, “He hasn’t found his path…” “…Maybe it just not his thing.” During these times of isolated behavior emerges that is risk taking. The need to develop self-esteem and inquiring minds among youths is necessary. Martin & Martin related five characteristics of an effective adolescent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><ol><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Effective adolescents are intellectually reflective persons who have developing thinking skills. They are able to express themselves in persuasive, coherent writing as well as verbally; they know the basic vocabulary of the arts, math and sciences and have learned to appreciate a variety of cultures and languages.</div></li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Meaningful work. Work is an integral part of a person’s identity. The youths must be knowledgeable about career options. High school graduation is a prerequisite, as well as post-secondary education.</div></li><li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Adolescents will be good citizens. Taking responsibility for shaping our world. We need to develop children who are doers, not just sub servers – those that can demonstrate their commitment to their own character, their community and their schools. It is hope that they will understand the basic values of our nation and have appreciation for both the western and non-western worlds.</div></li><li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Adolescents will be caring individuals who are able to think clearly and critically, and act ethically. Our youth must recognize that there is a difference between right and wrong, and must have the courage to act on their convictions. They will model values that have been associated with good family development – including integrity, tolerance and appreciation of others.</div></li><li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Our youth will understand the correlation between exercise, diet and health. These provide a sense of competence and strength. We must help our youth become proficient because success is directly related to self-image. The effective adolescent will appreciate personal strengths and work to overcome weaknesses.</div></li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">In today’s society, adolescents are growing into adulthood alienated from others and with low expectations of themselves. In the troubling times of today’s world, there is a greater likelihood that they will become unhealthy, addicted, violent or chronically poor. Of more important note, youth from more affluent communities are displaying similar problems. Students are dropping out of school, or participating at minimal levels, in staggering numbers. If these youths graduate, they have few marketable skills and equally dismaying is that their parents are not demanding that they acquire these skills.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">In recent years the affluent have seen their children delivery into at-risk type behavior in greater numbers. Parents in affluent homes send mixed messages, their lives are too demanding and at the same time because of their affluence, the parents do not see the need of their troubled teenagers. When these problems do hit home, parent’s reaction is often shock or dismay.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Consequently, families that are less advantaged in struggling to make a living do not have the time to build family relationships. In a time of great change, many parents are confused about their roles and relationships and are less aware of the new temptations faced by their adolescents.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Further research into the rites-of-passage in traditional cultures that as children grow up and pass through adolescents to adulthood, that the spiritual side of their life is highly important. Virtually every re-industrialize culture provides rites of initiation, led by adults, who help young people, navigate the dangerous waters between childhood and adulthood. Without such rites, today’s teenagers have created their own badges of adulthood – from driver’s licenses, proms, and graduation ceremonies to the dangerous rituals of binge drinking, first baby or first jail sentence [Kessler].<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">What has been found that as youth violence spreads across lines of geography, class and race and as society witnesses each devastating school yard massacre, educators are asking urgent questions about what could be the underlying cause in the development of conscience in our students? The bonds that transmit basic human values from elders to the young are unraveling and rending, when children are not bonded to caring adults, conscience fails to develop and the transmission of values is distorted or aborted [Kessler].<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Because there are such a variety of meaningful rituals or rites-of-passage, such as confirmations, bar mitzvah, La Quinceaera ceremonies in the Mexican community or initiation journeys offered by Buddhist and African American communities, most of our youth today have no opportunity to be guided by responsible adults through the adolescent journey. Kessler warns that the consequences are significant: Because of the unhappy loss of this kind of initiatory experience, the modern world suffers a kind of spiritual poverty and a lack of community. Young people are feared for their world and dangerous energy, which is really an unending longing for initiation.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Young people as they grow into adult hood have “raging hormones”, although dismissed by many experts, these powerful feeling if improperly directed might result in depression or violence. If however, adolescents are guided by, caring responsible adults, young people can develop with character, compassion and the capacity to make decisions that serve their own growth and the health of the community.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Looking at the principles and practices that are common to initiation in many cultures, we see that a rite of passage is a structured process, guided by adults, in which young people learn the following:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">become conscious about the irrevocable transition that they are undergoing;</div></li><li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Are given tools for making transitions and separations;</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Are initiated into the new capacities required for their next step; and.</div></li><li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Are acknowledged by the community of adults, as well as by their peers, for their courage and strength in taking that step. [Kessler]</div></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">In the African American culture the homicide rate for black youths ages 15 to 25 jumped from 96.2 per 100,000 in 1984 to 14.8 in 1989, the rate for white youths the same age rose from 11.2 per 100,000 in 1984 to 12.8 in 1989 [National Center for Health Statistics, 1994]. In comparison to the risk factors that contribute to these dramatic differences in rates for black and white youths, African American youths in general use alcohol and drugs far less than white youths, although substance abuse is epidemic in poor black neighborhoods [Harvey & Rauch]. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">As research continued into why youths had such dramatic statistical increases in violence, suicide and risky sexual behavior among the African American community, it was believed that the inability to engage or even successfully complete a rite-of-passage could be a contributor to at-risk behavior. As a way to address problems within the African American culture, social workers began looking into ways to address the health issues, found that in order to address the problems, it was found that cultural incapability, biased by the dominant group is superior and is paternalistic toward populations perceived as inferior. [Harvey & Rauch].<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">It was found that the African concept of life is transitional. Among the African community rites of passage are used to show transition and provide a guide to adulthood. The African community guided youths over periods of times to provide them with the necessary skills to adulthood. In the African American culture, these skills were lost among their culture, leaving whole groups of youths without any guidance towards adulthood. A program called MAAT, which is a play on the Egyptian word Ma at, which means ethical way of life, uses a nine-month rites-of-passage for African American youth to transition from childhood to adulthood. The program stresses parent and caretaker involvement. This is an attempt to bring back the “it takes a village to raise a child” concept so popularized in the 1990’s. The results of this program are not yet known as it is still too early to tell long term benefits, but the very attempt of such strength based program must surely illicit positive results.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">In conclusion, within every culture there are rites-of-passage to be performed. Without these rites-of-passage many young people lose sight of their culture, their background and their own identity. This lack of identity, which builds self-esteem, character, values, morals based on the particular young person’s own culture is paramount to their very development. In the last several decades, we have seen a blending or a neutering of many cultures to the point where it is almost impossible to tell for some young people that the loss of this is a contributing factor. The lack of rites-of-passage available to today’s youths, contribute to at-risk behaviors as youths grow from childhood to adulthood. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>

Rites of Passage – Into manhood or a jail cell

   How many times have you heard the following story or a similar one to it? ABC News reports that a fifteen-year-old male lead police on a ...

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Parent Tips: 10 Tips to Protect Your Child from Bullying!

<ol><li>The child who is bullying others wants social success, but doesn't know how to attain it. He's grabbing for it, instead of being kind, interested in others, and empathetic. </li><li>Your child doesn't need your rejection or anger, he's getting more than enough of that at school. He needs your support, and your skills. </li><li>Kids who bully are hypersensitive, and often feel a bit paranoid, as though people are out to “get” them. They aren't skilled at reading social situations, and they often register unintentional slights or accidents as direct attacks. </li><li>Kids tend to initially like a child who bullies; they try to please him, follow his lead, and want to be his friend. This doesn't last—as kids become more frightened of him, he loses clout. </li><li>Your child may need help understanding social structure. He doesn't know how to contribute to others, or to share. </li><li>“Boys will be boys” is not a valid excuse for bullying behavior. </li><li>The kid who is bullying others often gets into trouble, but always has a scapegoat. </li><li>Don't label or let others label him a bully. People can change, and aggressive tendencies can be channeled. </li><li>Consider that chronic aggression may be a sign of a learning disability or other problems. </li><li>Don't pity your child, but take action to improve his communication skills. Let him know why is having trouble making friends, “Joe, kids aren't friends with people who hit them and are angry all the time.” </li></ol><br /><div></div>

Parent Tips: 10 Tips to Protect Your Child from Bullying!

The child who is bullying others wants social success, but doesn't know how to attain it. He's grabbing for it, instead of being kin...

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Resilency: What Every Parent Should Teach A Child!

<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqch-lyozRvOixI37ho5rmSfcv2p9LzvzCZulqoNG4Gni9oWt8ttyxGUs5k7xSsliOf2SXvnCOE7VLWH_wjzVK6OcxDdnJe0wODbSafkAVjafMkKjzZ7QtZCbfEjyLCJQQWWFUy_vP4D48/s1600/resilience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqch-lyozRvOixI37ho5rmSfcv2p9LzvzCZulqoNG4Gni9oWt8ttyxGUs5k7xSsliOf2SXvnCOE7VLWH_wjzVK6OcxDdnJe0wODbSafkAVjafMkKjzZ7QtZCbfEjyLCJQQWWFUy_vP4D48/s320/resilience.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Dr. Kristy Hager a child psychologist at Children’s Medical Center Dallas says it is important to nurture a child’s resiliency so the stress, pressure and adversity he or she experiences during childhood does not have a negative impact later in life. <rect fillcolor="white [7]" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1027" insetpen="t" o:cliptowrap="t" o:preferrelative="t" strokecolor="black [0]" stroked="f" style="height: 85.5pt; left: 643.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 2.88pt; position: absolute; top: 528.75pt; width: 76.7pt; z-index: 1;"><fill color2="black [0]"></fill><stroke color2="white [7]"><left color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" insetpen="t" joinstyle="miter" v:ext="view"></left><top color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" insetpen="t" joinstyle="miter" v:ext="view"></top><right color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" insetpen="t" joinstyle="miter" v:ext="view"></right><bottom color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" insetpen="t" joinstyle="miter" v:ext="view"></bottom><column color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></column></stroke><imagedata o:title="family-crop" src="file:///C:\Users\Bob\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><shadow color="#ccc [4]"></shadow><path o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></rect></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>“Resilient children posses a view of the world that enables them to meet challenges and pressures. Resilience conveys a sense of optimism, ownership and personal control,” she explains in her book Seven Steps to Improve Your Child’s Social Skills, “Resilient children can translate this view into effective action. “<br /><br />Too often a news story details an adult with a troubled childhood that influenced his/her actions decades later. According to Dr. Hagar resilience is not acquired from a pill or a class, but rather is taught and nurtured by parents. <br /><br />“Parents who possess an understanding of important principles, ideas and actions contribute to the formation of a resilient mindset in their children.”<br /><br />Dr. Hager offers the following tips for nurturing resiliency in kids.<br /><ul><li>Make your child feel special and appreciated.</li><li>Love unconditionally.</li><li>Celebrate your child's skills and competences.</li><li>Teach your child how to learn from mistakes.</li><li>Cultivate your child’s sense of responsibility, compassion and social conscience.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=gateamerica&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1600374840&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></li></ul>

Resilency: What Every Parent Should Teach A Child!

Dr. Kristy Hager a child psychologist at Children’s Medical Center Dallas says it is important to nurture a child’s resiliency so the stress...

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7 Tips For Parents On Teen drug Use!

<div align="right" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEZATKEU282VnXU_BNVGXb_BsN-1SOhZNTDa8zCLVXBzC-0YAa5RCuoFApVrysKcofFmnq77jZBUJO6ZfVHUam3dU7NkdcPqWQDkClKTAS9iXosHYYe7mLKvdPhKijQoTeIdlgvo6upCn/s1600/teens201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 200px;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEZATKEU282VnXU_BNVGXb_BsN-1SOhZNTDa8zCLVXBzC-0YAa5RCuoFApVrysKcofFmnq77jZBUJO6ZfVHUam3dU7NkdcPqWQDkClKTAS9iXosHYYe7mLKvdPhKijQoTeIdlgvo6upCn/s200/teens201.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Having an open caring relationship with an adult role model is a critical piece of preventing drug abuse in children. <br /><br /><div></div>Parents and primary care givers have a critical role in preventing children’s in involvement with drugs and alcohol. It is a virtual dead certainty that your child will come in contact with drugs and alcohol sooner rather than later. How they handle it can be largely determined by parental involvement and preparation. Please do not ignore this problem and hope it will simply go away. Here is why. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Some facts on child drug use. (Office of National Drug Control Policy)</strong> <br /><ul><li>The single leading cause of death among youth is driving under the influence. </li><li>The second leading cause is suicide. Drugs are present 60% of the time. </li><li>The average age of first use of alcohol is 11 years old. ?Of children who use alcohol or drugs before age 15, 40% are later classified with an addiction. No parent wants to see their child involved with drugs. The likelihood of a child associating with drug-using friends is reduced by a close relationship with their parents There are some specific steps you can take to help your child be properly prepared to meet the challenge of drugs and alcohol. Here they are: </li></ul><ol><li> Give clear messages and expectations that using drugs is not OK. Don’t assume your child knows your views, state them and make them clear as a bell. </li><li>Be a good, active listener. Be alert to both spoken and implied messages when you or your child is speaking about drugs. Have discussions not arguments. </li><li>Help with your child deal with peer pressure to use drugs. Review possible scenarios or listen to what has happened. Work out the possibilities both the pros and the cons of the situation as well as expected or potential outcomes. Help to plan appropriate actions and empower your child to act. </li><li>Get familiar with your child’s friends and parents. Meeting your children’s friends will give you a sense of their personalities, what they are “into”,” and their family situations. Don’t be too quick to judge a child’s friends, though. Radical styles and unconventional appearances may be nothing more than a badge of identity. </li><li>Know your child’s whereabouts. Children who had the least amount of monitoring or ‘latchkey’ kids are at greater risk of drug use and at earlier ages. Check up on your child’s whereabouts. </li><li>Supervise activities. Unsupervised parties or activities are an open invitation to drug use. </li><li>Have open, honest and sincere conversations with your child about using drugs and alcohol and the consequences. </li></ol><br /><div>These tips are just the tip of the iceberg on proactive steps you can take as parents in protecting and preparing your child for exposure to drugs and alcohol use. More information and resources are freely available.</div>

7 Tips For Parents On Teen drug Use!

Having an open caring relationship with an adult role model is a critical piece of preventing drug abuse in children. Parents and primary ca...

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