Networking.
I am sure I am like so many others. But this is a new discovery. I thought I was the only woman who totally submerges herself in her daughter’s life, her own career, and her own marriage to the detriment of every other aspect of a social life. When I was trying to find my way through a divorce, I had no support system. When my daughter went away to college, I muddled through those emotions. I am a high school teacher and for so many days I would hardly see any person over the age of 18. Because I moved into the district where I teach, many of the teachers had already formed their own support groups and memories of many years. Again, for the most part I was going it alone.
A year ago, I decided I was not going to go into retirement or the next phase of my life alone. I decided to look into other groups outside of my workplace where I might find some new colleagues. I first ventured nervously into a group called The Transition Network (TTN). I like the mission statement they had set up for the group.
The Transition Network is a community of women over 50, who join forces as they navigate the transition from one career to another -- or whatever is next.
This is not a red hat organization, not that this not a good organization, but it is a group of women who are looking to do something meaningful and have the social aspect along with it. We seem to be in a new phase of life where golfing all day every day is not an option. We have careers and are looking to do something new, explore, and perhaps conquer our fears of what being fifty and older means. I remember what fifty looked like for my mother and my grandmother. For my mom, she took up golf. She became good at golf; she had two holes-in-one plaques to prove it. She continued with her other crafts and gardening. My grandmother had been a nurse. But that was early on. I only remember her playing cards with friends and cooking. But for us, who have defined ourselves by what we have accomplished in our careers and for what our children have become, it’s different. I hear so many times, “I don’t want to play golf a lot.”
I have also joined another group called “Dames Bond”. The slogan for this group is “When dames bond, dames thrive.” The synergy whenever I go to a function is amazing. These women are in private practice or business owners and entrepenuers of a plethora of business themes. When I need something done, I just look in the directory for the service I need.
It was hard to reach out at first. It was really uncomfortable to stand or sit in a room where I didn’t know anyone. But I don’t feel that way any more. I certainly do not feel I am the only one about anything.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Relationships
Boy what a loaded word. I guess due to my writing relationships have really been on my radar lately. I have discussed relationships and observed people as they discuss them. Short-term marriages (under 10 years), long term marriages, relationships between parents and teenagers, and relationships between women.
So far I've decided they are all really tricky especially in times where money is scarce, and people are just on edge add the extra amount of heat, I'll take bets domestic violence is up. On the news this morning the anchors seemed amused when they relayed a news story about alcohol consumption being up especially vodka.
It would be fun to hear from people who are coping with the important relationships in their lives. How do you deal with maybe a spouse who says there is not enough money but goes out and plays a round of golf, or grown up mean girls, wanting to buy new clothes for your teen but realize that would shatter the budget.
So far I've decided they are all really tricky especially in times where money is scarce, and people are just on edge add the extra amount of heat, I'll take bets domestic violence is up. On the news this morning the anchors seemed amused when they relayed a news story about alcohol consumption being up especially vodka.
It would be fun to hear from people who are coping with the important relationships in their lives. How do you deal with maybe a spouse who says there is not enough money but goes out and plays a round of golf, or grown up mean girls, wanting to buy new clothes for your teen but realize that would shatter the budget.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Graduation Ceremony
High School Commencement
According to Dictionary.com, it is the ceremony of conferring degrees or granting diplomas at the end of the academic year. The statement is so simplified in the dictionary. For some students, it is that simple. These students are the academically blessed students. Or they are the students who are strong in one area and have managed with Bs in others. They have had successes in school starting in kindergarten through high school. In the senior year of high school, they have been accepted to a college or university that will launch them to further success in their field. Now they have maybe had a disappointment or two or three at this point, but nothing that they will remember in six months. Commencement, for all, will symbolize the pull and tug of values, which have occurred for all during the school experience.
For some parents and students, the definition is not so simple. Students with special needs such as aspergers, autism, ADHD, hearing difficulties, dyslexia, and behavioral problems, it is a day of relief and celebration. At this point of the educational process, it does not matter why the difficulties occurred. It has been a journey for the soon-to-be graduate and his or her family. Even in great school systems, there have been road bumps. The diagnosis path could have been an uphill climb for some, convincing the educational system the student had difficulties could have been an issue. There could have been parents or teachers who have fought the diagnosis or the process for a multitude of reasons. Some how the student has come through it all. A lot of learning has occurred for everyone involved. The student has touched many people and has learned from even more. And now, the student will complete thirteen years of schooling and be handed a diploma.
Some parents and students will acknowledge and accept the ceremony as solemn and dignified. They will celebrate after the Board of Education accepts the graduates and their collective accomplishments. Others will whoop and holler and start celebrating when they hear their student’s name – causing the next set of parents not to hear their student’s name. Some soon-to-be graduates will interrupt the ceremony with beach balls and silly string because they have mixed this up with another opportunity to pull a belated senior prank, spoiling the ceremony for others and their families. Some families will boo at the professionals who have the job to stop the beach balls; some families will applaud those same professionals.
The definition of commencement is simple. But the process to get to and complete the commencement of schooling is anything but.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Is it about dancing or self respect
Self-esteem among teens is always tenuous at best. Every minute of every day brings a multitude of risks to a modern teen’s ego. A teacher can say something that a teen takes to heart, a boy can laugh as he walks by a girl; she thinks he is laughing at her. A parent may be upset about an issue at work and spout off about how the teen thinks everything is just handed to him or her, or facing a blemish in the morning can spell complete disaster. Chaperoning the prom this year was a telling event. The dancing style from year to year changes, but the trend of “grinding” makes me overwhelming concerned for the self-esteem and respect of our high school teens.
The new way of dancing for someone who does not know is the girl faces out while the boy faces her back. Their hips sway and sway together. Some teens are taking it to the extreme and to save everyone the specifics, it takes on the impression of a standing lap dance.
In the news many schools are trying different methods to stop the new “grinding” trend. In Brunswick, Ohio, a principal is asking students to sign a pledge to not grind on the dance floor. The enforcement is difficult at best. In January Menonmonee Falls, Minnesota, administrators and staff tried to ban the dancing. Students reportedly boycotted the dance and supporting parents decided to hold an alternative dance a few weeks later. In Springfield, Ohio, last night Chris Shaffer, campus director at Springfield High, says students must now sign a consent form of “Dance expectations” each time they go to a dance. This includes this year’s prom May 15. Shaffer even offered ballroom dancing lessons during lunch periods to teach students alternative types of dancing.
The real issue isn’t about dancing; it might be about respect. Respecting yourself and respecting your date might be a more effective of way to look at the issue than signing a pledge. With teen pregnancy rates being up for the first time since 1991 according to the National Institutes of Health, something has to be done to help these kids realize their culture is not healthy. Parents, coaches, advisors, and teachers have to send the same collective message to assist teens in knowing that the decisions they are making now can affect their health and well being for the next 20 – 40 years.
The new way of dancing for someone who does not know is the girl faces out while the boy faces her back. Their hips sway and sway together. Some teens are taking it to the extreme and to save everyone the specifics, it takes on the impression of a standing lap dance.
In the news many schools are trying different methods to stop the new “grinding” trend. In Brunswick, Ohio, a principal is asking students to sign a pledge to not grind on the dance floor. The enforcement is difficult at best. In January Menonmonee Falls, Minnesota, administrators and staff tried to ban the dancing. Students reportedly boycotted the dance and supporting parents decided to hold an alternative dance a few weeks later. In Springfield, Ohio, last night Chris Shaffer, campus director at Springfield High, says students must now sign a consent form of “Dance expectations” each time they go to a dance. This includes this year’s prom May 15. Shaffer even offered ballroom dancing lessons during lunch periods to teach students alternative types of dancing.
The real issue isn’t about dancing; it might be about respect. Respecting yourself and respecting your date might be a more effective of way to look at the issue than signing a pledge. With teen pregnancy rates being up for the first time since 1991 according to the National Institutes of Health, something has to be done to help these kids realize their culture is not healthy. Parents, coaches, advisors, and teachers have to send the same collective message to assist teens in knowing that the decisions they are making now can affect their health and well being for the next 20 – 40 years.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Suburban drug threat
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Powell mother for allegedly trafficking heroine out of her home April 29, 2010. In some neighborhoods, it would not have even raised an eyebrow. But on the north side of Columbus in an area that would be considered the affluent section of a housing development, it is astounding. How could this be? People move to the suburbs and believe that their kids are safe from this type of influence. This is no surprise for the officers who work in drug enforcement. They are not surprised that there are drugs in the suburbs, but are surprised that people would think their kids are safe from drug influence in the suburbs. Street Smart program officers who work in tandem with the Dare program and the Franklin County Sheriff Special Investigation Unit tell in their 4-hour program that drug pushers are entrepreneurs. They simply go where the money is. Why would they go to the urban streets and sell a bag of brown heroine for five bucks when they can sell it to the kids who have more money in the suburbs for twenty-five? Any organization can see this presentation by emailing StreetSmart. Find more information about this program on the Franklin County Sheriff Department website http://www.sheriff.franklin.oh.us/
Every parent should acquaint themselves with the website of Drugfree.org. It will tell a parent what the growing trends are. The parent that goes to this website will learn heroine is the growing trend in the Northeast. Most likely it is not just growing in the cities of the Northeast.
Every parent should acquaint themselves with the website of Drugfree.org. It will tell a parent what the growing trends are. The parent that goes to this website will learn heroine is the growing trend in the Northeast. Most likely it is not just growing in the cities of the Northeast.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Prama
Prama
If you have not experienced it, you may have consoled someone or seen someone experiencing it. It starts out about a month before the big last dance of a senior’s year.
The signs are streaked mascara, huddled ladies hugging, an ecstatic smile, a boy carrying a rose in school looking a tad nervous, or a car with a painted Will you go to prom with me? in the high school parking lot.
Marking my twentieth prom this year, I do have to admit girls are so much smarter than when I was in high school. If a girl really wants to go to prom, she can find girl friends that have decided not to suffer through the night alone. They prep together. They look beautiful. They go out to dinner. They enter the prom and dance, giggle and laugh. From what I have noticed, a girl who goes with her girl friends does not end up in the ladies room crying. They go to After Prom. Days later, they are still laughing and pouring over the pictures they took of the evening.
I commented on the girl in the ladies room crying. This young lady has sometime decided this was going to be the best night of her life. Her expectation of this night most likely was unreachable in the area of romance and fun. All this depended on a high school boy who somehow was supposed to know how to act sophisticated and romantic over night. As the young lady has spent her day getting ready, he most likely started getting dressed an hour before he was supposed to pick her up. There is a good chance his mother ordered the flowers for the evening. He did; however, with friends make arrangements for dinner and bought the prom tickets at school. But still, while she was expecting the bachelor with the rose, she has in reality Scott or Jimmy whose mom just helped him with his tie.
I wish I could tell every girl to lighten up and just go and have fun. To wear shoes they can really dance in and not have to take them off every time they get a chance. To look for ways to save and not spend so much because it adds pressure to have fun. But in the meantime, I will carry tissue for the little girl in the ladies room.
If you have not experienced it, you may have consoled someone or seen someone experiencing it. It starts out about a month before the big last dance of a senior’s year.
The signs are streaked mascara, huddled ladies hugging, an ecstatic smile, a boy carrying a rose in school looking a tad nervous, or a car with a painted Will you go to prom with me? in the high school parking lot.
Marking my twentieth prom this year, I do have to admit girls are so much smarter than when I was in high school. If a girl really wants to go to prom, she can find girl friends that have decided not to suffer through the night alone. They prep together. They look beautiful. They go out to dinner. They enter the prom and dance, giggle and laugh. From what I have noticed, a girl who goes with her girl friends does not end up in the ladies room crying. They go to After Prom. Days later, they are still laughing and pouring over the pictures they took of the evening.
I commented on the girl in the ladies room crying. This young lady has sometime decided this was going to be the best night of her life. Her expectation of this night most likely was unreachable in the area of romance and fun. All this depended on a high school boy who somehow was supposed to know how to act sophisticated and romantic over night. As the young lady has spent her day getting ready, he most likely started getting dressed an hour before he was supposed to pick her up. There is a good chance his mother ordered the flowers for the evening. He did; however, with friends make arrangements for dinner and bought the prom tickets at school. But still, while she was expecting the bachelor with the rose, she has in reality Scott or Jimmy whose mom just helped him with his tie.
I wish I could tell every girl to lighten up and just go and have fun. To wear shoes they can really dance in and not have to take them off every time they get a chance. To look for ways to save and not spend so much because it adds pressure to have fun. But in the meantime, I will carry tissue for the little girl in the ladies room.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Partnership for a Drug-Free America Latest Study
From all over the United States, it is being reported that prescription drugs and teens are mixing more and more. A news station in South Bend, Indiana reported on March 9, 2010, fourteen percent of the seniors in St. Joseph county had admitted to using prescription drugs prescribed for someone else. Police sargeant Bill Redman said teens think prescribed drugs are automatically safe.
In Oregon's Mid-Williamette Valley, teens are pilfering the prescriptions (from the medicine cabinets belonging to their parents and grandparents) to get high. It is counted as one of the most important reasons to find a way to deal with left-over drugs.
Partnership for a Drug-Free American released their latest study to let us all know that 63 percent of America's teenagers in grades nine through twelve believe prescription drugs are easy to find and is as close as their parents' medicine cabinet. This percent is up from 56 percent last year.
Since the year 2000, this same study has shown in the same age group, 20 percent of the kids have abused prescription medication at least once. This trend is mostly occurring in the middle class segment because these relatively comfortable young people feel they can find relief from stress or score a cheap high without the risk of going to a drug dealer.
Pharm parties, the new generations answer to the "hairy buffalo" of the past has yet to be blamed for enough deaths to cause statistics to be available, but the Center for Disease Control is acknowledging in a recent report that deaths blamed on opiate-based prescription painkillers like Oxycontin have increased up to three times as many in the years from 1999-2006.
In Oregon's Mid-Williamette Valley, teens are pilfering the prescriptions (from the medicine cabinets belonging to their parents and grandparents) to get high. It is counted as one of the most important reasons to find a way to deal with left-over drugs.
Partnership for a Drug-Free American released their latest study to let us all know that 63 percent of America's teenagers in grades nine through twelve believe prescription drugs are easy to find and is as close as their parents' medicine cabinet. This percent is up from 56 percent last year.
Since the year 2000, this same study has shown in the same age group, 20 percent of the kids have abused prescription medication at least once. This trend is mostly occurring in the middle class segment because these relatively comfortable young people feel they can find relief from stress or score a cheap high without the risk of going to a drug dealer.
Pharm parties, the new generations answer to the "hairy buffalo" of the past has yet to be blamed for enough deaths to cause statistics to be available, but the Center for Disease Control is acknowledging in a recent report that deaths blamed on opiate-based prescription painkillers like Oxycontin have increased up to three times as many in the years from 1999-2006.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Reverse in Decade-Long Declines in Teen Abuse of Drug and Alcohol
Cause for Concern: National Study Shows Reverse in Decade-Long Declines in Teen Abuse of Drugs and Alcohol
2/25/2010 10:17:03 AM
More Teens Using Alcohol, Ecstasy and Marijuana Makes Early Parental Action Even More Critical
New York, NY, March 2, 2010 – After a decade of consistent declines in teen drug abuse, a new national study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America® and MetLife Foundation points to marked upswings in use of drugs that teens are likely to encounter at parties and in other social situations.
According to the 2009 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study, sponsored by MetLife Foundation, the number of teens in grades 9-12 that used alcohol in the past month has grown by 11 percent, (from 35 percent in 2008 to 39 percent in 2009), past year Ecstasy use shows a 67 percent increase (from 6 percent in 2008 to 10 percent in 2009) and past year marijuana use shows a 19 percent increase (from 32 percent in 2008 to 38 percent in 2009). The PATS data mark a reverse in the remarkable, sustained declines in several drugs of abuse among teens: methamphetamine (meth) was down by over 60 percent and past month alcohol and marijuana use had decreased a full 30 percent over the past decade from 1998-2008.
Underlying these increases are negative shifts in teen attitudes, particularly a growing belief in the benefits and acceptability of drug use and drinking. The percentage of teens agreeing that “being high feels good” increased significantly from 45 percent in 2008 to 51 percent in 2009, while those saying that “friends usually get high at parties” increased from 69 percent to 75 percent over the same time period. The Partnership/ MetLife Foundation Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) also found a significant drop in the number of teens agreeing strongly that they “don’t want to hang around drug users” – from 35 percent in 2008 to 30 percent in 2009.
“These new PATS data should put all parents on notice that they have to pay closer attention to their kids’ behavior – especially their social interactions – and they must take action just as soon as they think their child may be using drugs or drinking,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Partnership.
Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation added that “the earlier parents take steps to address a child’s drug or alcohol use, the greater the chance they’ll be effective in preventing a serious problem. We need to be sure parents know when it’s time to act, and how to act when confronted with a substance abuse situation.”
Parents Not Acting Early Enough, Need to Take Immediate Action
The resurgence in teen drug and alcohol use comes at a time when pro-drug cues in popular culture – in film, television and online – abound, and when funding for federal prevention programs has been declining for several years.
This places an even greater burden on parents. Among the parents surveyed for the PATS study, 20 percent say their child (ages 10-19) has already used drugs or alcohol beyond an “experimental” level. Among parents of teens ages 14-19, that percentage jumps to 31 percent, nearly one third.
Disturbingly, among those parents of teens who have used, nearly half (47 percent) either waited to take action or took no action at all – which studies show put those children at greater risk of continued use and negative consequences.
“We’re very troubled by this upswing that has implications not just for parents, who are the main focus of the Partnership’s efforts, but for the country as a whole,” said Partnership Chairman Patricia Russo. “The United States simply can’t afford to let millions of kids struggle through their academic and professional lives hindered by substance abuse. Parents and caregivers need to play a more active role in protecting their families, trust their instincts and take immediate action as soon as they sense a problem.”
Time To Act: Resource to Help Parents Take Immediate Action, Safeguarding Kids From Drugs and Alcohol
Discovering that a teen is using drugs or drinking is often a frightening experience for parents – many feel alone, ashamed, and confused about what to do next. The Partnership encourages parents of children who are using drugs or alcohol to take action as soon as they suspect or know their child is using and provides parents with free, anonymous access, to the most current, research-based information on how to help their child and their family take the next steps. Developed in collaboration with scientists from the Treatment Research Institute, Time To Act, offers step-by-step advice and compassionate guidance from substance abuse experts, family therapists, scientists and fellow parents to help guide families through the process of understanding drug and alcohol use, confronting a child, setting boundaries, and seeking outside help.
Because research tells us that kids in grades 7-12 who learn a lot about the dangers of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to ever use, parents are encouraged to have frequent ongoing conversations with their children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and take early action if they suspect their child is using or might have a problem. Parent visitors to drugfree.org can learn to talk with their kids about drugs and alcohol and take charge of the conversation with their kids.
No Improvement in Teen Abuse of Rx and OTC Medicines, Cigarettes, Inhalants, Steroids, Heroin
According to the PATS survey, teen abuse of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines has remained stable with about 1 in 5 teens in grades 9-12 (20 percent) or 3.2 million reporting abuse of a prescription medication at least once in their lives, and 1 in 7 teens (15 percent) or 2.4 million teens reporting abuse of a prescription pain reliever in the past year. Eight percent or 1.3 million teens have reported OTC cough medicine abuse in the past year.
PATS shows more than half or 56 percent of teens in grades 9-12 believe Rx drugs are easier to get than illegal drugs. Also, 62 percent believe most teens get Rx drugs from their own family’s medicine cabinets and 63 percent believe Rx drugs are easy to get from their parent’s medicine cabinet, up significantly from 56 percent just last year.
Teen smoking rates have remained stable with 25 percent of teens reporting smoking cigarettes in the past month. Teen inhalant use remains steady at 10 percent for past year use, yet only 66 percent of teens report that “sniffing or huffing things to get high can kill you,” significantly less than the 70 percent of teens who agreed just last year. Inhalant abuse merits careful monitoring – as attitudes towards inhalant abuse weaken, abuse is more likely to increase. Steroid and heroin use among teens remains low at 5 percent for lifetime use.
The 21st annual national study of 3,287 teens in grades 9-12 and 804 parents is nationally projectable with a +/- 2.3 percent margin of error for the teen sample and +/- 3.5 percent for the parent sample. Conducted for the Partnership and MetLife Foundation by the Roper Public Affairs Division of GfK Custom Research, the 2009 PATS teen study was administered in private, public and parochial schools, while the parents study was conducted through in-home interviews by deKadt Marketing and Research, Inc. For more information or to view the full PATS Report, please visit drugfree.org.
About the Partnership
The Partnership at drugfree.org is a nonprofit organization that helps parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children. Bringing together renowned scientists, parent experts, and communications professionals, the Partnership translates current research on teen behavior, addiction, and treatment into easy to understand resources at drugfree.org. For parents who need help talking with their kids about drugs, alcohol and other risky behaviors, TimeToTalk.org offers tips and tools promoting parent/child communication. Time To Act is a step-by-step guide for parents who believe or are sure that their teens are drinking or using drugs and need to know what to do. Through its “360” suite of community programs, the Partnership educates parents and concerned citizens at the grassroots level on the risks of methamphetamine, non-medical prescription drug use and other emerging drug threats, and promotes parenting and community practices designed to prevent teen substance abuse. The Partnership depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and government. The Partnership thanks SAG/AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity.
About MetLife Foundation
For over 20 years, MetLife Foundation has provided support for initiatives focusing on substance abuse prevention and education. Since 1999, the Foundation has collaborated with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America on a national public awareness campaign to help parents and caregivers communicate with children about the risks of drug use. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.
2/25/2010 10:17:03 AM
More Teens Using Alcohol, Ecstasy and Marijuana Makes Early Parental Action Even More Critical
New York, NY, March 2, 2010 – After a decade of consistent declines in teen drug abuse, a new national study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America® and MetLife Foundation points to marked upswings in use of drugs that teens are likely to encounter at parties and in other social situations.
According to the 2009 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study, sponsored by MetLife Foundation, the number of teens in grades 9-12 that used alcohol in the past month has grown by 11 percent, (from 35 percent in 2008 to 39 percent in 2009), past year Ecstasy use shows a 67 percent increase (from 6 percent in 2008 to 10 percent in 2009) and past year marijuana use shows a 19 percent increase (from 32 percent in 2008 to 38 percent in 2009). The PATS data mark a reverse in the remarkable, sustained declines in several drugs of abuse among teens: methamphetamine (meth) was down by over 60 percent and past month alcohol and marijuana use had decreased a full 30 percent over the past decade from 1998-2008.
Underlying these increases are negative shifts in teen attitudes, particularly a growing belief in the benefits and acceptability of drug use and drinking. The percentage of teens agreeing that “being high feels good” increased significantly from 45 percent in 2008 to 51 percent in 2009, while those saying that “friends usually get high at parties” increased from 69 percent to 75 percent over the same time period. The Partnership/ MetLife Foundation Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) also found a significant drop in the number of teens agreeing strongly that they “don’t want to hang around drug users” – from 35 percent in 2008 to 30 percent in 2009.
“These new PATS data should put all parents on notice that they have to pay closer attention to their kids’ behavior – especially their social interactions – and they must take action just as soon as they think their child may be using drugs or drinking,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Partnership.
Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation added that “the earlier parents take steps to address a child’s drug or alcohol use, the greater the chance they’ll be effective in preventing a serious problem. We need to be sure parents know when it’s time to act, and how to act when confronted with a substance abuse situation.”
Parents Not Acting Early Enough, Need to Take Immediate Action
The resurgence in teen drug and alcohol use comes at a time when pro-drug cues in popular culture – in film, television and online – abound, and when funding for federal prevention programs has been declining for several years.
This places an even greater burden on parents. Among the parents surveyed for the PATS study, 20 percent say their child (ages 10-19) has already used drugs or alcohol beyond an “experimental” level. Among parents of teens ages 14-19, that percentage jumps to 31 percent, nearly one third.
Disturbingly, among those parents of teens who have used, nearly half (47 percent) either waited to take action or took no action at all – which studies show put those children at greater risk of continued use and negative consequences.
“We’re very troubled by this upswing that has implications not just for parents, who are the main focus of the Partnership’s efforts, but for the country as a whole,” said Partnership Chairman Patricia Russo. “The United States simply can’t afford to let millions of kids struggle through their academic and professional lives hindered by substance abuse. Parents and caregivers need to play a more active role in protecting their families, trust their instincts and take immediate action as soon as they sense a problem.”
Time To Act: Resource to Help Parents Take Immediate Action, Safeguarding Kids From Drugs and Alcohol
Discovering that a teen is using drugs or drinking is often a frightening experience for parents – many feel alone, ashamed, and confused about what to do next. The Partnership encourages parents of children who are using drugs or alcohol to take action as soon as they suspect or know their child is using and provides parents with free, anonymous access, to the most current, research-based information on how to help their child and their family take the next steps. Developed in collaboration with scientists from the Treatment Research Institute, Time To Act, offers step-by-step advice and compassionate guidance from substance abuse experts, family therapists, scientists and fellow parents to help guide families through the process of understanding drug and alcohol use, confronting a child, setting boundaries, and seeking outside help.
Because research tells us that kids in grades 7-12 who learn a lot about the dangers of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to ever use, parents are encouraged to have frequent ongoing conversations with their children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and take early action if they suspect their child is using or might have a problem. Parent visitors to drugfree.org can learn to talk with their kids about drugs and alcohol and take charge of the conversation with their kids.
No Improvement in Teen Abuse of Rx and OTC Medicines, Cigarettes, Inhalants, Steroids, Heroin
According to the PATS survey, teen abuse of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines has remained stable with about 1 in 5 teens in grades 9-12 (20 percent) or 3.2 million reporting abuse of a prescription medication at least once in their lives, and 1 in 7 teens (15 percent) or 2.4 million teens reporting abuse of a prescription pain reliever in the past year. Eight percent or 1.3 million teens have reported OTC cough medicine abuse in the past year.
PATS shows more than half or 56 percent of teens in grades 9-12 believe Rx drugs are easier to get than illegal drugs. Also, 62 percent believe most teens get Rx drugs from their own family’s medicine cabinets and 63 percent believe Rx drugs are easy to get from their parent’s medicine cabinet, up significantly from 56 percent just last year.
Teen smoking rates have remained stable with 25 percent of teens reporting smoking cigarettes in the past month. Teen inhalant use remains steady at 10 percent for past year use, yet only 66 percent of teens report that “sniffing or huffing things to get high can kill you,” significantly less than the 70 percent of teens who agreed just last year. Inhalant abuse merits careful monitoring – as attitudes towards inhalant abuse weaken, abuse is more likely to increase. Steroid and heroin use among teens remains low at 5 percent for lifetime use.
The 21st annual national study of 3,287 teens in grades 9-12 and 804 parents is nationally projectable with a +/- 2.3 percent margin of error for the teen sample and +/- 3.5 percent for the parent sample. Conducted for the Partnership and MetLife Foundation by the Roper Public Affairs Division of GfK Custom Research, the 2009 PATS teen study was administered in private, public and parochial schools, while the parents study was conducted through in-home interviews by deKadt Marketing and Research, Inc. For more information or to view the full PATS Report, please visit drugfree.org.
About the Partnership
The Partnership at drugfree.org is a nonprofit organization that helps parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children. Bringing together renowned scientists, parent experts, and communications professionals, the Partnership translates current research on teen behavior, addiction, and treatment into easy to understand resources at drugfree.org. For parents who need help talking with their kids about drugs, alcohol and other risky behaviors, TimeToTalk.org offers tips and tools promoting parent/child communication. Time To Act is a step-by-step guide for parents who believe or are sure that their teens are drinking or using drugs and need to know what to do. Through its “360” suite of community programs, the Partnership educates parents and concerned citizens at the grassroots level on the risks of methamphetamine, non-medical prescription drug use and other emerging drug threats, and promotes parenting and community practices designed to prevent teen substance abuse. The Partnership depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and government. The Partnership thanks SAG/AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity.
About MetLife Foundation
For over 20 years, MetLife Foundation has provided support for initiatives focusing on substance abuse prevention and education. Since 1999, the Foundation has collaborated with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America on a national public awareness campaign to help parents and caregivers communicate with children about the risks of drug use. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.
Being a dedicated teacher
I am confused. I have been a teacher for almost 20 years. Okay, not in a single stretch as some of my colleagues. But still.
I spend hours planning lessons that are on different levels, meet different needs, audio, visual, and kinesthetic in nature, and then assess the products of those lessons.I read professional education magazines and research on line for more ideas. I call parents when kids are not doing well, and sometimes when they are improving greatly. I attend events at the school to applaud my kids. Obviously leaving no child behind has always been my intention and it is the same for most of my teacher friends. Now we are talking about IB classes (labor intensive) and designing classes for the web. The legislators have decided students can take on-line courses that are not under our control and obtain credit for classes and we are forced to put the name of our school and system on these classes. When I first heard and found classes on line that I teach our curriculum, I thought okay leave no child behind teach him/her how to circumvent the system. Duh.
Lately I have had the good fortune to meet ladies in business and outside of the education field. I have already learned so much from them. I have also found out there are many opportunities for my female students that I can't wait to be able to suggest these opportunities to them. I have been reinvigorated by these dynamic women. I listen to their conversations and realize I do not know all their vocabulary in the businesses they do. Their organization tactics are mind boggling. I plug into this energy and want more. When time allows, I discuss with them books they are reading and books their children are reading in their classes. Or what they read (when appropriate) when they were in high school. I realize how far behind I am and how much more I can do for my students if I am out and about and not submerged at the one school.
How do you find the time? It is a balancing act isn't it.
I spend hours planning lessons that are on different levels, meet different needs, audio, visual, and kinesthetic in nature, and then assess the products of those lessons.I read professional education magazines and research on line for more ideas. I call parents when kids are not doing well, and sometimes when they are improving greatly. I attend events at the school to applaud my kids. Obviously leaving no child behind has always been my intention and it is the same for most of my teacher friends. Now we are talking about IB classes (labor intensive) and designing classes for the web. The legislators have decided students can take on-line courses that are not under our control and obtain credit for classes and we are forced to put the name of our school and system on these classes. When I first heard and found classes on line that I teach our curriculum, I thought okay leave no child behind teach him/her how to circumvent the system. Duh.
Lately I have had the good fortune to meet ladies in business and outside of the education field. I have already learned so much from them. I have also found out there are many opportunities for my female students that I can't wait to be able to suggest these opportunities to them. I have been reinvigorated by these dynamic women. I listen to their conversations and realize I do not know all their vocabulary in the businesses they do. Their organization tactics are mind boggling. I plug into this energy and want more. When time allows, I discuss with them books they are reading and books their children are reading in their classes. Or what they read (when appropriate) when they were in high school. I realize how far behind I am and how much more I can do for my students if I am out and about and not submerged at the one school.
How do you find the time? It is a balancing act isn't it.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Life-long Learning
I am shifting some of my blogs away from prescription drugs and teens now that I am writing another novel. After the Tears Dry is a new adventure for me and I will cover that at another time. Right now, it is fun to shift to other things that
I am learning from my students and new women friends.
I am in the middle of my twenty-first year of teaching. I smile when I realize how much I learn from my students. Or better yet when I give advice to students that I still don’t follow myself. Just last week I said to a young woman, “Katy (not her real name), why are you here?” The dark circles under her eyes and the pallor of her skin coupled with a hoarse voice and runny nose told how miserable she was feeling. She looked at me and half smiled and said, “I have so much to do. I didn’t want to have to make up stuff too.” I offered that if she really could not cope anymore during the period she was in class with me to let me know and I would send her down to the nurse. She smiled and nodded her head.
I started to come down with the current cold or flu that is making its way through Kilbourne (where I work) last Saturday. This is the week of interims, parent conferences, the student-faculty game, and Annual Pancake Breakfast. Most high school weeks seem to be like this. I dragged myself to school yesterday when Katy looked at me and said, “K-Horn, why are you here?” I smiled and told her. I needed to make lesson plans and schedule things so I could take off tomorrow to sleep and get well myself. She nodded at me and said, ”Good.”
In years past I would tough it out. It usually would result in an upper respiratory infection, a horrible exhausting cough, laryngitis, and/or a few lectures from my husband. But this year brings another first. I am following my own advice. I am home during school hours. After sleeping 12 hours, going through at least one box of Puffs©, and letting a wonderful qualified substitute cover my classes for a day, I am feeling better. The result will be I will make all my parent conferences without spreading the Kilbourne Kold; I will not have been sharp with a class or kid, and I will still have been able to keep my classes on schedule or at least be able to bring them back on schedule if they miss something today. One thing though I will miss. I really love watching my colleagues play and usually beat the basketball intramural champs.
I am learning from my students and new women friends.
I am in the middle of my twenty-first year of teaching. I smile when I realize how much I learn from my students. Or better yet when I give advice to students that I still don’t follow myself. Just last week I said to a young woman, “Katy (not her real name), why are you here?” The dark circles under her eyes and the pallor of her skin coupled with a hoarse voice and runny nose told how miserable she was feeling. She looked at me and half smiled and said, “I have so much to do. I didn’t want to have to make up stuff too.” I offered that if she really could not cope anymore during the period she was in class with me to let me know and I would send her down to the nurse. She smiled and nodded her head.
I started to come down with the current cold or flu that is making its way through Kilbourne (where I work) last Saturday. This is the week of interims, parent conferences, the student-faculty game, and Annual Pancake Breakfast. Most high school weeks seem to be like this. I dragged myself to school yesterday when Katy looked at me and said, “K-Horn, why are you here?” I smiled and told her. I needed to make lesson plans and schedule things so I could take off tomorrow to sleep and get well myself. She nodded at me and said, ”Good.”
In years past I would tough it out. It usually would result in an upper respiratory infection, a horrible exhausting cough, laryngitis, and/or a few lectures from my husband. But this year brings another first. I am following my own advice. I am home during school hours. After sleeping 12 hours, going through at least one box of Puffs©, and letting a wonderful qualified substitute cover my classes for a day, I am feeling better. The result will be I will make all my parent conferences without spreading the Kilbourne Kold; I will not have been sharp with a class or kid, and I will still have been able to keep my classes on schedule or at least be able to bring them back on schedule if they miss something today. One thing though I will miss. I really love watching my colleagues play and usually beat the basketball intramural champs.
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