Kids & drug use: parents don't have a clue

WASHINGTON – 28 percent of teens cite drugs as the biggest problem they face, compared to only 17 percent of parents who see drugs as the top teen concern. A recent study by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University explores the use and abuse of illegal substances, Some startling findings from the survey include: Ease of Acquisition Sorry, beer, you lose. According to the survey, more teens said prescription drugs were easier to buy than beer (19 vs. 15 percent) and marijuana tops the list with 23 percent of teens finding it easiest to buy. Sources 46 percent of teens say painkillers are the most commonly abused prescription drug among teens. According to teens who know prescription drug abusers, they get them from… - 31% said friends or classmates; - 34% said home, parents or the medicine cabinet; - 16% said other; - 9% said from a drug dealer. Mary Jane - 25% know a parent of a classmate or friend who uses marijuana - 10% say this parent smokes marijuana with people the teen's age - 42% of 12- to 17-year olds can buy marijuana in a day or less - 23% can buy it in an hour or less - 50% of 16- and 17-year olds say that among their age group smoking marijuana is more common than smoking cigarettes What the kids are drinking: One-third of teens who drink say they like the taste of alcohol. In unofficial taste tests, alcohol preferences were as follows: - 29% said liquor mixed with cola or something sweet - 16% said wine - 16% said beer - 13% said straight liquor Do you know where your children are? The later teens are out of the house hanging out with friends on school nights (Monday through Thursday), the likelier alcohol and drug use will be going on among them. But the real shocker is most parents don’t have a clue whether their kids are even home. - 46% of 12- to 17-year olds report leaving their house to hang out with friends on school nights - 14% of parents say their teens usually leave the house to hang out with friends on school nights. Are schools safe? - 63% of high schoolers say drugs are used, kept or sold on their school grounds - 21% of middle schoolers say drugs are used, kept or sold on their school grounds - 44% of high school students know a place near school, but off school grounds, where kids go to get high - 16% of middle school students know a place near school, but off school grounds, where kids go to get high More "This year's survey reveals that too many mothers and fathers are problem parents who fail to take essential steps to prevent their kids from smoking, drinking or using drugs," said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA's chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Basically "preventing substance abuse among teens is primarily a Mom and Pop operation." For more information on the survey, visit CASA’s website.