We, as parents, are the most important role models in our children’s lives. What we say and do about drugs matters a lot when it comes to the choices our children make. -Department of Education”Growing Up Drug-Free: A Parent’s Guide to Prevention“ 1998 Since the beginning of our campaign, we have encouraged parents to get educated about cough medicine abuse so that they can talk to other people“including their kids“about the dangers of the habit. 83 percent of U.S. parents report feeling prepared to talk to their kids about cough medicine abuse; however, only 21 percent report having done it. In a 2006 CADCA survey, 75 percent responded that parents do not talk to their children and teens about the dangers of abusing OTC cough meds. The challenge of finding a way to bring up drug abuse with your kids may be holding you back. It is an important barrier to overcome, though. No matter what age your kids are, talking to them about abuse can make a big difference. Whether you are talking about a specific kind abuse, like cough medicine abuse, or the general dangers of drugs, your kids will never know how you feel unless you tell them. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, as the perception of risk among teens goes up, abuse goes down. As a parent, it is up to you to help communicate these risks to your kids. You can make a difference.

Teenagers whose parents talk to them on a regular basis about the dangers of drug use are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those whose parents don’t. -Teen Help at TeenDrugAbuse.us

For more teen drug use statistics click here.