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by Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications
Drug abuse. It’s one of the big white elephants in the room no one wants to talk about, especially when it may involve our children.
But drug abuse is a real problem, especially among teenagers. And it’s one we can’t pretend isn’t happening. Consider these statistics from the website, teendrug.com:
Alcohol and marijuana are just the tip of the iceberg. Increasingly, hard-core drugs, like ecstasy, are making front-page news. Recently, police arrested an 18 year-old woman from Columbus, Georgia for transporting more than 79,000 ecstacy pills –about 33 pounds — in a duffel bag. The woman was charged with drug trafficking and possession of cocaine. The pills were worth more than $1.5 million.
Methamphetamine use a growing problem in Georgia
Perhaps even more addictive and deadly than ecstasy is methamphetamine, or meth, for short. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Atlanta is a hub for methamphetamine trafficking, mostly by Mexican drug cartels.
Meth abuse costs Georgia an estimated $1.3 billion annually. An astonishing forty-two percent of child endangerment cases in Georgia involve meth, and 43 percent of federal convictions in Georgia are meth-related.
Concerned that your child or teenager might be using drugs? Here are some warning signs:
Secrecy
We all need our personal space, but if your teenager becomes secretive about his or her whereabouts, possessions, or friends, get involved. Ask questions. If your teenager begins to disappear for hours at time, something is wrong. Find out where he or she goes and have an open, honest discussion about drug abuse.
Declining academic performance
It’s normal for students to find certain school subjects challenging, but if a drop in academic performance coincides with other suspicious behavior, such as extreme secrecy or disappearing for hours on end, you need to get involved. Declining academic performance in conjunction with these behaviors could indicate a drug problem.
Change in appearance
Has your teenager lost interest in grooming or personal hygiene? A disheveled appearance or red or glazed eyes is another warning sign of drug use.
Disappearance of money
Has money begun to disappear unexpectedly from your household? If so, question your teenager about the money. He or she could be using money to buy drugs or settle debts.
Withdrawing from family
Teenagers are notoriously moody and often withdrawn, but an unexplained, sudden withdrawal from family relationships may indicate a bigger problem. Pay particular attention to how your teenager treats his or her siblings and other family members. If they become suddenly disengaged, ask if they’re having any personal problems and ask, flat out, if they are using — or feel pressure to — use drugs.
Trust your gut, always
Always, always, always trust your gut. If you sense that something is wrong, it probably is. Do not ignore unusual, suspicious behavior from your teenager. Question his or her whereabouts and get to know their friends.
Drug use may be the big white elephant in the corner of the room that no one wants to talk about, but we must. If you find out that your teenager has a problem with substance abuse, help is available. Click here to find drug treatment centers in your area.
And remember to subscribe to this blog for regular, timely safety-related tips and updates just like this.
By Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications
The recent death of an 18 year-old Rutgers University freshman after two classmates posted an intimate video of him on the internet has generated a lot of talk about cyber bullying. In fact, according to the website, wiredsafety.org, an astonishing 36 suicides in the past four years have been attributed to cyberbullying.
What is cyberbullying?
According to the website, Stopcyberbullying.org, cyberbullying is any type of online or digital torment which is instigated or perpetrated by one minor against another. In cyberbullying, a child, preteen, or teen uses the internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, embarass, or otherwise target another minor.
Examples of cyberbullying include the following:
Why do children cyberbully?
As with regular, schoolyard bullying, reasons and motives for cyberbullying differ from child to child. Some children bully out of anger; others are coerced into bullying as a result of peer pressure. Whatever the case, bullying should always be taken seriously.
Isn’t cyberbullying against the law?
According to wiredsafety.org, 45 states do have anti-cyberbullying laws. Cyberbullying can result in misdemeanor or cyber harassment charges, or if the child is very young, charges of juvenile delinquency.
However, if torment or harassment escalates to cyberstalking–harassment which is instigated by adults–or overt threats, don’t wait. Call law enforcement immediately! And, if your child’s personal contact information is posted online, contact the authorities.
Be sure to print out all instances of cyberbullying, and take with you any live, electronic evidence of cyberbullying (harmful or hurtful videos posted online, etc.).
How can I protect my child against cyberbullying?
Keeping the lines of communication open with your child is the best way to stay on top of what’s happening in his or her life. Talk openly and honestly with your child about what is appropriate or inappropriate online behavior. Here are just a few tips to help you along:
For more information about cyberbullying, visit wiredsafety.org or stopcyberbullying.org.
And for regular, timely safety tips and updates, be sure to subscribe to this blog.
By Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications
The school year is well underway, and the initial excitement about new adventures has given way to routine. But it’s far too early in the year to fall into a slump.
Here are five ways to keep your family charged and make sure your children continue to succeed during the school year:
1. Make sure your children get enough sleep.
Sleep deprivation is a big problem for children, as well as adults. Not getting enough sleep can cause irritability, problems focusing, memory impairment, and even health problems, such as obesity.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, preschool age children need 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night, on average. School age children need about 10 to 11 hours. Adolescents need between nine and 10 hours.
2. Limit technology.
Limit television viewing and computer usage on school nights, making sure all homework and chores are completed before turning on technology. And don’t be afraid to institute a “lights out” policy, a time when all electronics are powered down for the night.
3. Eat meals together.
Dinnertime is a wonderful time to catch up on everyone’s day. It’s a great time to check in with your children to find out what’s really going on in their lives. Ask about school, teachers, and friends, and even their hopes and plans for the future.
4. Get to know your children’s friends.
Peer pressure is more than a catchphrase for school age children and adolescents. It’s a very real, often big, problem for most children.
Get to know your children’s friends and their parents and take steps to make your home inviting for your children’s pals. If your house is the ‘house of choice’ for your children and their friends, you’ll find it much easier to keep up with what they’re doing and find out about potential problems before it’s too late.
5. Keep everything in perspective.
Parenting is about more than keeping schedules and making deadlines. It’s about helping to form character and morals and building responsible, socially conscious, hard-working, and morally sound adults.
Focus on doing these things and remember to have fun in the process, and you’ll have more than enough energy and excitement to carry yourself and your children through not only the rest of the schoolyear, but the rest of your journey together.
Did you find this post helpful? If so, be sure to subscribe to this blog for regular, timely tips and updates.
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