CASA takes on parents

CASA takes an interesting approach in their new report. It seems to shame parents who are not monitoring their children's activities by characterizing them as "problem parents". It will interesting to see how this plays.

Problem parents -- those who fail to monitor their children's school night activities, safeguard their prescription drugs, address the problem of drugs in their children's schools, and set good examples -- increase the risk that their 12- to 17-year-old children will smoke, drink, and use illegal and prescription drugs, according to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XIII: Teens and Parents, the 13th annual back-to-school survey conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

"This year's survey reveals that too many mothers and fathers are problem parents who fail to take essential steps to prevent their kids from smoking, drinking or using drugs. By their actions -- and inactions -- by failing to become part of the solution, these parents become part of the problem of teen alcohol and drug abuse," said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA's chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. "Indeed, these problem parents enable -- some even encourage -- their 12- to 17-year-olds to use and abuse tobacco, alcohol, and illegal and prescription drugs."

Another point of interest is the fact that only 9% of kids who misused prescription drugs reported getting them from a drug dealer--challenging the notion of many parents that predatory "pushers" get kids hooked on drugs. Most kids get drugs and alcohol at home or from another fresh-faced kid in their community.