Drugs and Alcohol - News in the Black Community

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JUDGES & PHYSICIANS URGE PARENTS TO TAKE EARLY ACTION AGAINST TEEN DRUG USE

Effort Coincides with Release of New Television Ads and National Drug Court Awareness Month

Washington, DC - (4/22/04) The nation's drug court judges and emergency department physicians today issued a plea to parents to stop their teens' drug use before it lands them in the court room or the emergency room. This collaborative effort - between the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign - is a component of the Media Campaign's "Early Intervention" initiative, which encourages parents and peers to take early action - when they first suspect that their child or friend is using drugs or alcohol - to help them avoid serious consequences that can jeopardize their future.

"Teenagers who use drugs place themselves in harm's way, all too often winding up in trouble with the law or in the emergency room. By gaining the support of the judges and doctors who see these troubled teens on a daily basis, we can encourage parents to take early action against their teen's drug use by illustrating where their teen could end up if they don't do something," said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy.

In a survey of juveniles entering drug court programs, nearly half said their drug use began with marijuana (47 percent), and 40 percent reported using alcohol first. Marijuana is the most frequently reported drug in emergency department visits related to drug abuse in youth age 12 to 19. In fact, the rate of marijuana-related emergency department visits for youth age 12 to 17 rose 126 percent between 1994 and 2001.

"If your child is using illicit drugs, nip it in the bud. Don't ignore the problem and hope it will go away," said Judge Karen Freeman-Wilson (ret.), CEO, National Association of Drug Court Professionals. "Parents need to let their children know that drug or alcohol use is unacceptable, and they should set clear rules that can be strictly enforced."

"Teen drug use is not a rite of passage. Marijuana and other illicit drugs put teenagers at risk," added Dr. J. Brian Hancock, President, American College of Emergency Physicians. "Parents can be one of the most important factors in the prevention of drug-related emergencies. Marijuana impairs judgment and often leads to risky decision making, such as driving while high or engaging in delinquent behavior."

Teens using marijuana can damage their physical and mental health and put their futures at risk. Research shows that the earlier teens try marijuana, the more likely they are to become addicted to drugs later in life. More than 100,000 young people enter drug treatment programs each year for dependence on marijuana and other illicit drugs. In addition, according to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 2 million young people have a diagnosable dependence on illegal drugs or alcohol.

New advertising will be released this week as part of the Media Campaign's ongoing Early Intervention effort, launched in January 2004. The latest installments, "Rolling Paper" and "Rough Night," were created by Foote Cone & Belding through the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The ads are aimed at parents to encourage them to address their teen's drug use.

The ads are part of an integrated media campaign that includes outreach to target audiences through the news media, entertainment industry, employers and non-profit partners. It also features resources and information on www.freevibe.com (for teens) and www.TheAntiDrug.com (for parents and other adults). Materials such as brochures, posters and postcards, are available free of charge online or through the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-788-2800.

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals will also use these materials to highlight the importance of early intervention in May throughout National Drug Court Awareness month with outreach to drug court professionals and community leaders. A drug court is a special court given the responsibility to handle cases involving substance-abusing offenders through comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services and immediate sanctions and incentives. With more than 1,500 drug courts nationwide, drug courts provide communities across the country with an unmatched opportunity to substantially reduce drug abuse and drug-related crimes and are committed to increasing public safety, preventing crime, reducing recidivism and supporting the fair administration of justice.

For more information on the ONDCP National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign visit www.mediacampaign.org, www.freevibe.com, or www.TheAntiDrug.com

[distributed through BlackPR.com/BlackNews.com]