Wheeling Township Parents Encouraged to Have Conversations About Substance Use
Parents may not know it, but they are a big influence on their children when it comes to substance use, or non-use, in relation to alcohol and marijuana. Studies show that roughly 75-percent of middle and high school students report their parents influence these decisions.
At the same time, less than half of Wheeling Township teens report their parents have either not talked to them - or they do not remember having a conversation with their parents - about alcohol or drug usage.
Northwest suburban based nonprofit, Link Together Coalition is promoting the "Talk. They Hear You." campaign, which was developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA).
Link Together works with Wheeling Township middle and high schools to encourage adolescents to abstain from using alcohol and marijuana. The organization provides education, advocacy, access to community resources, and evidence-based prevention programs for both students, and their parents.
Surveys have shown that alcohol and marijuana usage amongst Wheeling Township teens has decreased over the last couple of years, and Link Together Coalition is working to continue this positive trend.
As part of the plan for this year's campaign, banners and yard signs advocating for parent/teen conversations relating to substance use will be displayed outside a majority of Wheeling Township middle and high schools.
"Talk. They Hear You." encourages parents to have brief, but frequent discussions with their children as early as the age of nine, when it comes to the issues around substance use.
"Our advice is to keep conversations low-key; the holidays are a perfect time to speak with children when you're out shopping and spending time together," said Danielle Brengel, Link Together Coalition Prevention Specialist. "The conversation will go a lot better if you're working with your kids and reinforcing that the goal is to encourage them to make positive choices for themselves."
Parents should discuss why using alcohol and marijuana is not acceptable, and that they would be disappointed if their children made the decision to use either of the substances.
Link Together Coalition has found that these types of conversations help to make it clear to young people how their parents feel about usage, and reinforce that their child's happiness and well-being is their main concern.
There is an app available to parents about the campaign, so that they can practice conversations first with a virtual coach. The app is available at http://www.samhsa.gov/underage-drinking/mobile-application for Android and Apple devices, through SAMHSA. Brochures with conversation tips are also available in English, Spanish, Polish and Russian.
For more information about Link Together Coalition, please visit http://www.linktogethercoalition.org/.
ABOUT LINK TOGETHER COALITION:
Link Together Coalition empowers youth to be drug and alcohol free, and serves Wheeling Township middle and high school students and parents. These populations are provided with education, advocacy, access to community resources, and policy awareness. The organization's prevention programming is made possible by grants from the Illinois Department of Human Services and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). Link Together Coalition promotes the "Talk. They Hear You." Campaign, which was created by SAHMSA. Visit www.linktogethercoalition.org for more information.