| The drug called Ecstasy/MDMA is just one | | | | Techniques of how to get to know your |
| of several that children as young as 8th | | | | childrens friends; |
| graders are abusing. Ecstasy is a | | | | Techniques of how to understand your |
| human-made drug taken orally as a | | | | childrens problems and concerns; |
| capsule or tablet. The short-term | | | | And becoming involved in their learning. |
| effects include feelings of mental | | | | The importance of this parent-child |
| stimulation, emotional warmth, enhanced | | | | relationship continues through |
| sensory perception, and increased | | | | adolescence and beyond. |
| physical energy. Adverse health effects | | | | Below are some resources to help you |
| can include nausea, chills, sweating, | | | | find drug prevention programs: |
| teeth clenching, muscle cramping, and | | | | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) |
| blurred vision. | | | | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| If you suspect or find out your child is | | | | U.S. Department of Health and Human |
| actually abusing this drug or is | | | | Services (DHHS) |
| involved in any kind of drug abuse what | | | | Center for Substance Abuse Prevention |
| steps can you take to help them overcome | | | | (CSAP) |
| the addictions? | | | | Substance Abuse and Mental Health |
| A family-based prevention program should | | | | Services Administration (SAMHSA), DHHS |
| include: | | | | Phone: 301-443-9110 |
| 1. Enhanced family bonding and | | | | Centers for Disease Control and |
| relationships; | | | | Prevention (CDC), DHHS |
| 2. Education for parents to learn | | | | Phone: 404-639-3534 |
| parenting skills; | | | | Phone: 800-311-3435 (toll-free) |
| 3. Developing, discussing and enforcing | | | | Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program |
| family policies on substance abuse; | | | | U.S. Department of Education (DoE) |
| 4. Training in drug education and | | | | Phone: 800-872-5327 (toll-free) |
| information. | | | | Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) |
| What is family bonding? | | | | U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) |
| Family bonding is the foundation of the | | | | Phone: 202-307-1000 |
| relationship between parents and | | | | Knowledge Exchange Network, SAMHSA, DHHS |
| children. You can strengthen your family | | | | Phone: 800-789-2647 (toll-free) |
| bonds through skills training on parent | | | | National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and |
| supportiveness of children, parent-child | | | | Drug Information (NCADI), SAMHSA, DHHS |
| communication, and parental involvement. | | | | Phone: 800-729-6686 (toll-free) |
| One of the cornerstones for drug abuse | | | | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and |
| prevention is parental monitoring and | | | | Alcoholism (NIAAA), NIH, DHHS |
| supervision. As a parent you can enhance | | | | Phone: 301-443-3860 |
| your parenting skills with drug | | | | National Institute of Mental Health |
| prevention program training. | | | | (NIMH), NIH, DHHS |
| Benefits of participating in a drug | | | | Phone: 301-443-4513 |
| prevention program are: | | | | As a parent you need to educate yourself |
| Being able to provide consistent rules | | | | as much as possible about drug abuse, |
| and discipline for your child; | | | | stay in touch with your childrens |
| Ability to talk to your children about | | | | activities, and listen to their problems |
| drugs; | | | | and concerns. |
| Techniques of how to monitor your | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the |
| childrens activities; | | | | resource box. |