This year’s National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) takes place March 20-26, 2023. NDAFW is an annual, week-long, health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth.This is also a national health observance to “Shatter The Myths” about drugs. Teens often get conflicting or inaccurate information about drugs and alcohol from friends, family, and the media. By getting informed and educating , we can increase the prevention of substance abuse in our community and ensure the safety of our youth.

• If you don’t, someone else will. If you don’t talk to your children about drugs and alcohol, they will learn about it from their friends and the media.
  
• We are in the middle of a crisis, we have higher rates of addiction than ever before, and thousands of children are growing up without their parents.
• Street drugs are more dangerous than ever before, with the increasing amounts of illicit fentanyl that are continually flooding into the United States, it has become even more dangerous to experiment with drugs.

• Parents need to give their children enough knowledge so that they won’t be caught in a risky situation with no way out.
• Parents have a strong influence on their children: Parents lay the foundation for their children’s emotional, physical and mental well-being.

It's a moment many parents dread — sitting down to talk with their kid about drugs. Will the conversation have any effect?

Setting clear rules about substance use helps give teens the structure they need to stay safe. Let’s be realistic: You can’t guarantee that your rules won’t be broken. But research shows that kids who have clear rules are less likely to get into serious trouble than kids who don’t. Even when the rules are broken, teens whose parents have clearly outlined what is and isn’t acceptable are less likely to run to extremes and more likely to make safer choices

5 Conversation Goals:

1. Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse.
2. Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success.
3. Show you’re a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs.
4. Show you’re paying attention and you’ll discourage risky behaviors.
5. Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use.

For further information about 5 conversation goals visit SAMHSA website

https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/talk_to_your_kids_5_conversation_goals.pdf

• Give guidance. Preteens and teens sometimes use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco to cope with strong emotions or feelings. Talk with your teen about other ways that he or she can manage emotional pain, stress, or loneliness.

• Be involved. Children are less likely to choose drugs when they have a healthy attachment to loving, caring adults.
  

• Listen. Pay attention to what your child says.

• Explain the message. Talk with your teen about the messages in vaping and alcohol advertising. Explain how companies use marketing to sell their products.

• Control access to prescription medicines and alcohol. Keep drugs and alcohol in secure locations.

• Make it OK for your child to talk about sadness and depression.Substance abuse and depression, often occur together. Let your child know that if they feel depressed, have thoughts of harming themselves, or if one of their friends expresses self-harm ideas, they can and must talk to you right away.

• Be a role model. If you smoke or use alcohol or drugs, chances are your teen will, too. If you smoke or have a problem with alcohol or drugs, get help.

• Ask for help. Raising children is complicated, and you may need help. Think about talking with a counselor.

Test your knowledge about drugs and drug use.

https://play.kahoot.it/v2/?quizId=0c339ba3-618a-4fae-a89d-c02a917e33d2

safeschools@durantisd.org 580-924-1276

The mission of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program is to help ensure that children are mentally and physically ready to learn and have healthy and supportive families, and to promote a safe community by equipping individuals with skills, knowledge, standards, and resources to live healthy lives.