As the Saratoga News reported, the Prevention Needs Assessment Survey includes an anonymous student survey and an anonymous parent survey. It was designed to assess substance abuse amongst adolescents as well as to gauge anti-social behavior and protective factors that predict problem behavior.

“The results this year are a mixed bag. We are pleased with the middle school findings but are a little concerned with eighth-grade trends,” said Robin Ambrosino, Information Specialist at the Partnership for Prevention, in the Saratoga News report.

“At this age, the most important thing to kids is acceptance by peers. If dominant peers are using alcohol or drugs, others will probably follow. We need to focus more on the transition from eighth grade to high school.”

Administrators determined that one of the main factors driving alcohol and drug use is the students’ perception of how prevalent usage is among their peers. For middle school students, they know that use is low among their peers and therefore there is less pressure to try alcohol or drugs.

This perception makes a drastic change as students enter high school. By the ninth grade, most students believe that 50 percent of their peers are using substances. This false perception has driven the actual usage rate to 25 percent. Both numbers grow larger as the students grow older, showing that perception has more of an impact on reality than reality itself.

The results of these surveys does indicate that more needs to be done at the high school level to change perceptions and try to deter actual use. This could prove to be challenging as media coverage of celebrity use plays a huge role in the perceived glamour associated with substance use. Changing the behaviors of teens may mean changing things on a broader scale.

The Statesman Journal highlights the fact that teens are not just making an error in medication or dose – this use is intentional. The drugs are not only available in home medicine cabinets, they can also be easily purchased on the Internet.

Even more alarming is the fact that teens are learning more about the possibilities associated with these drugs through television advertisements. The Internet also provides a wealth of information regarding the use and mixing of these drugs for a “personalized effect”. Unfortunately, since these drugs have a medical use, teens often believe that they are less risky than illegal drugs.

As the use and abuse of these drugs are life-threatening, the risks must be reduced. Parents can help to reduce the risks by setting clear expectations, maintaining an inventory of the prescription drugs in the home, monitoring Internet use, and keeping the line of communication open by talking to their kids about the risks of abusing prescription or OTC drugs.

The misinformation that surrounds the use and abuse of prescription drugs certainly lends to the growing problem. Whether it is parents not understanding the risk or teens assuming they cannot be hurt, the misinformation can lead to death. Proper education on both sides can go a long way to eliminating the risk for a teen within the home.

The childhood and teenage years are also prime opportunities for your child to get into trouble with alcohol and/or prescription drugs. Along with trying to fit in, be cool, to go along with the crowd, teenagers’ brains are continuing to develop well into their twenties. This may be one reason they seek out thrills, such as drinking. Experimentation with alcohol, especially when combined with driving, can have serious, even fatal consequences.

Parents, even those who have great relationships with their children, should be on the lookout for these warning signs. Remember that the signs may indicate a problem with either drugs (prescription or otherwise) or alcohol, but some may also be simply “growing pains.” According to experts in the field of alcohol and substance abuse, if you notice several of these signs in your child, especially if they occur at the same time, occur suddenly, or increase in severity, it’s time to get help for your child.

• You find alcohol (or drugs) in their room, backpack or purse.
• You notice that quantities of your prescription drugs are missing.
• Your child is obsessed with money, needing money constantly, or you see evidence that they have suddenly accumulated a quantity of money (that didn’t come from you or any after-school job they may have)
• You detect the smell of alcohol on their breath.
• Your child exhibits physical symptoms such as slurred speech, lack of coordination, bloodshot eyes, or signs of mental problems like poor concentration or memory loss.
• Your child becomes extremely rebellious, especially against family rules.
• Problems in school crop up, such as disciplinary action, poor grades, poor attendance (skipping class, tardiness)
• Changes in mood occur: defensiveness, loss of temper, being irritable.
• Your child suddenly switches friends, and/or doesn’t want you to know their friends.
• Sloppy attire, low energy, loss of interest in former interests, friends or activities, and an attitude that “nothing matters anymore” are also danger signs.

What to do if your child is in trouble

The first thing is: don’t panic! Right after you calm yourself, the next step is to act promptly to get the appropriate help for your child.

You will need to set rules and establish consequences about drinking, for example, as well as prohibitions against use of prescription drugs for anything other than as prescribed by a medical doctor for a specific condition.

Set a good example by not drinking in front of children, remove alcohol from the house, and keep all prescription medications in a locked cabinet. If there’s a family history of alcoholism and/or drug abuse, these steps are even more critical.

Monitor your child/teen’s activities, talk with them about reasons why they should not drink or do drugs (it’s illegal) and encourage family discussions about how to avoid such use in situations they may find difficult – such as peer pressure to join in.

Most of all, work at establishing a firm, but loving and trusting relationship with your child or teen. In the end, family bonds are the strongest and some of the most important curbs to alcohol and/or prescription (or other drug) use.

Stay committed, stay focused, and stay on top of the situation. You will be helping your child/teen to develop into a responsible, self-sufficient adult capable of avoiding alcohol and/or drug use.