Parents/Community Members Main Page
When looking at the challenges in our communities, adults commonly focus on youth. Many believe today’s youth are making poor decisions – but who is teaching them to make these choices?
Parents and community members set the expectations for healthy behaviors in the community through the choices they make and how they live their lives. Their behaviors are critical in shaping youth attitudes and beliefs. Research shows that one of the most powerful protective factors that influences youth to make healthy choices is the presence of caring and supportive relationships with consistent positive adults in their lives (Bernard, 1996).
Many parents believe they do not have an impact on their children's decision to use drugs, but recent studies disagree. According to surveys conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), 25% of parents felt they had little influence over their child's choice to abuse substances, yet almost half of the teens surveyed who had not tried marijuana credited their parents with the decision. Almost all of the teens (96%) reported they learned something about the risks of illegal drugs from their parents, more than half noting they had learned "a lot" (1999, 2001).
The links on the left offer information and resources about how to be a positive role model. Although most of the links are focused on parents, they are also suitable for community members.
References
Benard, B. (1996).
Resilience research: A foundation for youth development. New Designs for Youth Development, 12 (3), 4-10.
CASA. (1999).
Back to school 1999: National survey of American attitudes on substance abuse V: teens and their parents. New York: Author.
CASA. (2001).
National survey of American attitudes
on substance abuse VI: Teens. New York: Author.