Learn More About Teens, Addiction, and Parents
Every year, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University releases a “back to school survey” on the state of addiction, teens, and their parents in America. In August 2008, their 13th “National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse” found a number of troubling developments in the fight against addiction, including:
* One quarter of surveyed teens know a parent of a classmate or a friend who uses marijuana;
* Half of 16- and 17- year olds stated that among their peers, smoking marijuana is more common than smoking cigarettes;
* More teenagers said that prescription drugs, such as Vicodin and OxyContin, are easier to buy than beer.
Understanding the importance of involved and informed parenting can keep kids safe from drugs and alcohol. For more information, the CASA survey can be downloaded for free from their website.
Not many mothers would be brave enough to take on dangerous drug dealers - but Mitchells Plain mom Mymoena Pillay did.