Young people are often described as the leaders of tomorrow through whom today's values will be transmitted to the next generation. It is equally important to know that this "perfect kid," who just months/years ago was the master of the universe and the envy of younger schoolmates, could change to "that bad kid" in such a short period of time because of societal pressures. This pressure comes from different angles, especially from peers, which is not a bad thing in itself. After all, it helps define who we are and how we feel about various subjects in our lives. However, it is how we choose to react to peer pressure that defines who we are as individuals. Our peers can negatively and positively influence us. Peer pressure only becomes bad when we allow it to influence us negatively.
As children grow older, the parent's influence over them diminishes and the influence of the friends that surround them gains ground. A healthy part of every child's development is involvement with his peers. The worrisome aspect of the peer pressure is the negative influences and their outcomes on youth such as drug abuse, shoplifting, teen pregnancies, teen chat rooms, and alcohol abuse to mention a few. This is especially true during the adolescence period as teenagers develop a sense of independence from their parents. It is during this period in their lives that the urge to try new things or to explore the world around them is the greatest.
In such an environment, teens may be confronted daily with decisions about drug use. The truth is when kids make the leap from elementary school to junior high, their exposure to drugs increases dramatically. Recent studies reveal that 1 in 13 sixth graders have smoked marijuana. The figure jumps to an even more alarming 1 in 5 by the seventh grade. This is an increase of nearly 300 percent.
Since most teenagers have a strong desire to conform to their peer groups, parents are encouraged to control the friends that surround them. If the adolescent is hanging out with a group of teens that are involved in sports, and then meets someone who is into drugs, his opinion of that teen will most likely be "he is stupid." Why? Partly because he will embrace the opinion of the teens closest to him. The problem is that the reverse is also true. What then does this mean for parents of budding teens? While many parents have had "the talk" with their teenagers, others have yet to discuss the dangers of drugs with their teens. As a parent, you do make a difference in your child's decision about the right choices throughout the teenage years.
Here are some tips for parents who want to help their adolescent children stay drug free, courtesy of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign:
This enormous task of keeping teenagers off drugs should not be left to the parents alone. After all, it takes a whole village to raise a child. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has many youth programs in place to channel the energy and leisure time of youth into productive activities that help them build their self-esteem, develop their potential and leadership skills, and above all else, develop as good and well-informed citizens of the community, state, and nation.
References
National Institutes of Health. (January 31, 2003). High school and youth trends. National Institutes on Drug Abuse. Retrieved June 13, 2003.
Parents. The Anti-Drug. (2003). Don't let your teens go to pot: Parent tips. School's Out. Retrieved June 13, 2003.
United States Department of Health and Human Services & Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (2002). Keeping youth drug free. Alcohol and Drug Information. Retrieved June 13, 2003.