Blog 7: Preventing Youth Drug Use

          
       Informing children about the dangers of drug abuse is an essential part of their rite of passage toward adulthood. For me personally I had 2 talks with my parents, one about the risks of sexual activity and the other about the dangers of drug abuse. Now that I'm older I really appreciate them taking time to honestly inform me and answer any questions that were on my mind. If I learned anything about drugs from my D.A.R.E. program in elementary school I wouldn't hesitate to ask my parents because they made me feel very comfortable speaking about the subject. When I do have children in the future I'll most likely do the same for them as my parents did for me. I'd create a caring and comforting atmosphere so they won't have any fear or hesitation of asking questions that they're having trouble understanding. I'd clear their confusion at an early age so they can perceive that substances, such as alcohol, can negatively effect a persons life and their goals. I'd also expose them to documentaries, books, and magazines that show what can actually happen if you become dependent on a substance. We are all exposed at least once in our life to drug use, whether its from friends, school, or a party. I believe its better to be informed than to know nothing about the consequences or what drugs actually are.