Drug prevention expert urges parents to combat adolescent substance abuse

By Staff Writer

In an effort to curb underage drinking, experts are targeting parents, urging them to talk to their children about not using alcohol. Adults may be the front line soldiers in combating substance abuse, however many do not have the tools or knowledge to be effective.

As a result, Jeff Wolfsburg, a national expert on teen alcohol and drug abuse prevention recently sat down with a group of parents at the North Star High School in Nebraska, the Lincoln Journal Star reports.

He iterated that parents need to be consistent and supportive and maintain proper boundaries. Showing tough love and not being the child's best friend can be great tools in showing them that drug and alcohol use are not permitted in their homes. Furthermore, adults must be role models who demonstrate good behavior, which may rub off on teens.

However, for those teens who have difficulties with drug and alcohol abuse, parents may want to enroll them into therapeutic boarding as a way to help them overcome their addiction and regain control of their lives.

According to a 2009 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 42 percent of high school students consumed alcohol in the 30 days leading up to the survey.