quote:

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That doing drugs would mean spending any bit of money you get on drugs and then tell them they'll start selling all their stuff and even their pets or something just to get that next high.

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Great thought, thanks.
 

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Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
 
What age range are the kids?

FG
 

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Posted by AmkaProblemka (Member # 6495) on :
 
Kindergarten through 6th grade
5 to 12 yr olds

I'm thinking of breaking it down to K-3 and 4-6 myself.

[ September 27, 2004, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: AmkaProblemka ]
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
Hmm...
Telling little kids drugs are bad isn't enough...
Even kindegarteners will want more detail.

Maybe writing a story would work for the younger grades, a picture book of sorts to illustrate the problem.
Then, to get the message to sink in, have them write their own stories and draw their own pictures about drugs.
Also, telling them how it's done might help.
I'm still revolted by how cocaine is done and heroin. Kids hate needles!
 

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Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
 
Pre-K

Bad Drugs/Bad Job

K-4

Candy is Dandy. Drugs are for bugs.

5+

Drugs Kill
Some of those who make them
Some of those who sell them
Some of those who take them
 

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Posted by Psycho Triad (Member # 3331) on :
 
Not quite what you're looking for, but I thought it was interesting, so I'll comment on it.

The most recent anti-drug television commercial I've seen shows a teen sitting on her bed. It talks about how drugs make you feel good, but what your brain feels is suffocation. They show this visibly in the commercial by massive waves crashing on her from out of no where. It did a very good job of quickly tranfering from the "drugs may make you feel high" to "drugs may make you die"
That particular commercial was targeting huffing (using household aerosols to get high, incase anyone isn't familiar with the term). It did a great job at conveying its point.

My keyboard is dying,so i'm gonna shut up now.

Crazy as always,
Psycho Triad
 

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Posted by Xaposert (Member # 1612) on :
 
I propose we show Requiem for a Dream to all third-graders.

All who have seen the movie will, I am sure, agree with me that this would be an effective strategy.
 

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Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
 
Maybe a strong appeal to emotions:

Drugs make you do bad things
Drugs make you sad (picture of frowny face)
Drugs make you feel bad
Drugs hurt you
 

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Posted by Allegra (Member # 6773) on :
 
Many anti-drug slogans and programs are rather cheesy, kids can tell. Most kids strive to be treated like they are grown up, and they often think that the programs are treating them like they are little kids. They are little kids but it is better not to tell them that. This was my reaction to my schools programs.
Some of the programs dramatis and try to scare the kids into staying clean. They sometimes imply things like, the use of any drug will immediately ruin your life and probably kill you. .Once a teenager figures out that s/he can smoke marijuana and not have their life immediately fall apart, it kind of discredits the messages they got when they were younger.
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
*was thinking that*
Especially since I don't see marijuana as being a bad drug...
Now speed, huffing and herion on the other hand...
An honest approach is best.
*suddenly reminded of South Park*
Tell them that yes, drugs do make you feel good when you first start taking them. You feel high, relaxed and euphoric.
But, later on, the drugs gradually drain pleasures of every day things like music and hanging out with your friends until all you think about is drugs.
Getting more drugs.
Doing more drugs.
Until it completely takes over your life and energy and gradually your friends and family members begin to take a backseat to drugs and as a result your life falls apart.
 

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Posted by AmkaProblemka (Member # 6495) on :
 
The thing that I have told my children is that drugs will immediately though temporarily inhibit their ability to make judgements so that things they would normally not do, they might do. And then they are responsible for that thing, even if they would never have done it while sober.

Then I go into how drugs can become addictive and so they lose even more control over their lives, and they could lose everything.

Then I tell them about physical side effects, and I try to be realistic. For instance, I've said that many people can responsible drink alcohol. Their father used to. But it is forbidden in our religion. But then there are people in my extended family who have become alcoholics. I want them to get a realistic picture, and understand why they are making their choices.

I also talk about growing up and how they'll want to become more independent, and that this will be a good thing. It is part of growing up. It may not feel like it is coming fast enough for them, but doing drugs just to be with people who say they are friends and to do something your parents told you not to do actually decreases your independence.

I've also told them that they should be kind and compassionate to everyone, but not everyone will be a friend. I've defined a friend as someone who they share common interests with and who has their best interests at heart.

But this is a message that I'm unsure of how to get across with my limited week of activities and slogans. I'm considering writing an article about it to be sent home to the parents with the pledge thing they get.

[ September 27, 2004, 04:47 PM: Message edited by: AmkaProblemka ]
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
Education is the single most important factor in reducing the negative effects drugs have on communities. Getting children at the right age is important; they should know what drugs are, and have the ability to absorb the information you are giving them. Lecturing children under 8 may be counterproductive. Lecturing children for the first time at 13 is too late. An appeal to emotion is a good short-term solution, but ultimately unsuccessful. Scaring straight isn't likely to work as kids become teens and become more curious and rebellious; invincibility complexes don't help either.

The solution is to build trust and give concrete reasons why kids should avoid drugs. It is for this reason that you must be very careful not to lie, or even exaggerate. This is why DARE backfires--ceterus paribus, it appears DARE graduates are more likely to have drug problems. DARE has itself admitted this and is looking for a solution; ask me if you want research. Avoid their mistakes. Do not tell kids pot will kill them, or get them hooked on their first toke. In fact, discard the whole notion of getting hooked the first time; the kids who experiment and find this isn't true will often believe that addiction in general was also a lie. Do not equate marijuana with meth, cocaine, heroin or even alcohol and tobacco; give accurate accounts of the relative dangers of various drugs. Do not use most produced anti-drug educational material with older kids; it is poorly produced and many kids will find it silly or disingenuous (God knows I did).

Ok, enough with what not to do. Here are some things you should do:

Make kids question the cost/benefit analysis of using drugs at a young age: maybe temporary pleasure at the cost of the potential of years of misery as an addict. Do not equate trying with addiction, but emphasise that the risk of becomming an addict is strongly correlated with the age at which a person first starts using drugs. Make them question the wisdom of taking such a massive risk. This strategy is effective because it makes them think, and perhaps more importantly, does not insult their inteligence. You underestimate them at their peril.

Another strategy that works well with the first is to bring in a recovering addict or someone who works with them. A first hand source will enhance your credibility and what they say will certainly have the desired emotional impact. This is more powerful than all the propaganda films in the world.

Do not overlook important drugs. Focus especially on alcohol and tobacco. These drugs ruin and exterminate exponentially more lives than all illegal drugs combined. Kids also tend to try these drugs on average much sooner than illegal ones, and they are the two biggest "gateway drugs", although that theory has been mostly discredited (I would advise against using it). Tell kids how the alcohol and tobacco industries target them, because they know that the young'uns get addicted faster and easier, and they need to replace their older patrons, who have a habit of dying. Don't overlook prescription drugs. Remind kids that just because doctors hand them out, doesn't mean they are safe. In fact, tell them that doctors have to hand them out precisely because they are so dangerous, and should only be taken under medical supervision. Give them some details to back this up, ie: sleeping pill withdrawl can kill (not even heroin withdrawl can do this), and OxyContin is little different from heroin.

Finally, don't make drug experimentation a hole with no bottom. By all means, give kids reasons not to experiment, and try your best to prevent it, but this will not stop a large portion of your students from doing just that. The fact is, ultimately what they put in them is their decision, so make turning off the road to addiction a possibility. Tell them that even if they have tried drugs, and are feeling uneasy about it, or are scared it is becoming a problem, that they can seek help from their school, parents or doctor without fear of being judged as evil or beyond redemption. Make sure parents understand this too, that they should never be visibly angry if they discover their kid has used or is using drugs. Make sure they approach the situation with compassion, concern and respect. To do otherwise can drive their child away, and put him or her in even more danger.

------------------------------------------------

Well, that's my blurb. Feel free to ask questions. While I may be opposed to prohibition, I will commend anyone seeking to make a difference through education. Amka, you are actively involved and seeking answers; if everyone was like you, drugs would hardly be a problem.
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
Oh, I know I left out alot. I figured I would make a list of common mistakes and omissions. Of course you should mention things like impaired judgement and other consequences of the use of certain drugs. Of course you should talk about impaired driving, and the cost it invokes.
 

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Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 

quote:

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they are the two biggest "gateway drugs", although that theory has been mostly discre

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quote:

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I propose we show Requiem for a Dream to all third-graders.

All who have seen the movie will, I am sure, agree with me that this would be an effective strategy.

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I suppose if your only end goal is to keep kids from doing drugs, that may be the most effective strategy ever proposed. Other consequences could mitigate it's percieved effectivness however...

Hobbes

[ September 27, 2004, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: Hobbes ]
 

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Posted by AmkaProblemka (Member # 6495) on :
 
Chaeron,

Thank you so much for the great info. Gave me a lot I hadn't thought about. I would like a link to the studies you talked about. I knew that DARE wasn't very effective, and I pretty much figured that if the slogans being given to me for use are making me roll my eyes, it would make the kids roll their eyes too.

Frustration: people don't think kids are capable of making informed decisions, and so they dumb down or scare up the information they present to the kids.
 

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Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
 
The DARE car from my town won the hotwheels competition and became a hotwheels car! How cool is that? It's the DARE corvette.
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
Amka, unfortunately, I don't have my textbooks with me, or I would quote from them. I also don't have access to e-journals here, otherwise I would look up the actual studies, but I can point to some secondary sources which are more or less reliable. The studies which are mentioned can be looked up at your local university library. They should have an e-journal catalogue search which will provide at least the abstracts online.

Here is what I can find in terms of secondary sources:
http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol-info/YouthIssues/1059145293.html
http://www.watchman.org/na/darestat.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/dare/effectiveness.html

Additionally, the only claims to the contrary I could find refered to studies on percieved effectiveness, with no statistics on actual use.
http://www.sayno.com/dgpd.html
 

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Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
 
We had DARE frequently and I have never touched alcohol, tobacco, or any other drugs. By senior year though, at least half of my classmates smoked pot regularly and at least three quarters used alcohol. I've begun to think it was money wasted.
 

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Posted by AmkaProblemka (Member # 6495) on :
 
newfoundlogic:

Do you think it was the DARE program that influenced you or other sources? Or perhaps a combination?
 

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Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
 
Well neither of my parents smoke or do illegal drugs although I recently learned what was in my uncle's pipe isn't tobacco. My other only occasionally drinks in social gatherings and even then never comes close to getting drunk. My dad is addicted to Lipton's iced tea, but that's it. I think that after thirteen years of school that contained anti-drug programs I had it so engrained into me that drugs were bad actually using them never became an issue. Also, I never became aware of how widespread the drug problem at my school was until I was a senior. Also it should be noted that for a public high school in an average economic area it had incredibly little violence, maybe a fight a month, and almost no drug use on campus.
 

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Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
 
I was traveling in Singapore and the government there had put up a poster in the subway stations that showed this heroin user who was all strung out and filthy and utterly disgusting. I think it was pretty effective.

That, and I think some countries just execute their drug users. It really works to prevent drug use.

Hmmm, which reminds me that I need to try to contact them to get a copy of that poster. It was way cool.
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
JnsBravo: If you thought that was powerful, see if you can find a copy of Heroines, it's a Vancouver photographer's book of portaits. The subjects were heroin addicted prostitutes living on the downtown eastside. There is no way to describe the emotional impact of the portraits inside, which are made all the more tragic knowing that many of the girls and women photographed were alleged victims of Robert Pickton, a man who stands accused (he's guilty as sin) of butchering at least 50 women over the course of decades while the police did nothing.
 

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Posted by Toretha (Member # 2233) on :
 
The two things I remember from DARE was a-a photo of someone slouching in a bathroom stall smoking with a sign under that says "And you think this looks COOL?"

And when they handed out straws and told us to breath through them, then connected that breathless feeling we got after a bit to...some drug. forgot which.
 

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Posted by Danzig avoiding landmarks (Member # 6792) on :
 
I thought Trainspotting was a much better anti-drug movie than Requiem for a Dream. It was much more realistic than Requiem, especially the part about the mother and the amphetamines. Trainspotting felt like a slice of life rather than an anti-drug movie.

Drugs do not alter reality, they alter the lens through which the objective reality is perceived.
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
I intensely dislike Requiem for a Dream, and Darren Aarronofski in general. That movie had great acting, superb cinematography, a brilliant soundtrack, all to give us an ultimately hysterical and redundant message. It's like a pretty Reefer Madness.

Trainspotting, on the other hand, is dead on, and entertaining to boot.

"Chemicals, why would I put that shite in ma body?"
 

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Posted by Allegra (Member # 6773) on :
 
I saw Trainspotting for the first time when I was around 11, and really liked it. I was kind of a warped little kid.
 

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Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
 
How about?

"Drugs are for college kids."
 

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Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
 
That would do a good job of making drugs more popular.
 

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Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
 
"Don't do drugs. It'll mess up your ritalin."
 

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Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
 
I am ALL for keeping all drugs out of the hands and mouths of ALL kids under 21.
 

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Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
 
What about kids who don't take ritalin?
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
21, Thor? Isn't that a little old. Why not 18, when you become a legal adult by any other indication?
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
NFL: you mean those kids who's parents are so poor they have to give them generic methyphenidate or methadrine?
 

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Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
 
Huh? I mean kids who don't take ridalin at all.
 

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Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
 
DARE has been shown to be ineffective in the long-run. It is basically a money-making marketing scheme that is a huge waste of public school resources. Many school districts are discontinuing it and it has been denounced by many government health agencies.

http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol-info/Controversies/1077650838.html

Amka, please don't give kids candy as a part of this program. I think that childhood obesity is a much bigger problem than drug use and I am completely opposed to rewarding developmentally normal kids with any kind of junk food.
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
NFL, I guess my humor is too subtle.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
My recommendation would be to have someone who is a survivor of someone who died of 'drugs' come in and talk to the kids and tell what it's like to be left alone in the world because of addiction.

Have an ex-con come in and explain how drugs caused her to land in prison. Maybe do this in conjunction with showing Scared Straight.

Do some kind of carnival that illustrates what it's like to suffer from some of the diseases associated with certain drugs. I'm thinking along the lines of those exhibits that illustrate myopia, etc.

I kind of like the first two since they rely more on showing rather than telling, but are very honest in a way that kids will understand.
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
Storm, the second option may not be such a good idea. The message seems to be "Don't do drugs or the Man will throw you in the clink." This might very well backfire.

As for close family members of people who have died from illegal drug abuse? Not going to be that easy to track down, especially compared to an ex-addict or addiction counsellor who is willing to talk. Believe it or not, the rate at which illegal drugs kills people in the US is quite low. Much easier to find someone who lost a close family member to cigarettes or alcohol. Just as important, if not more important message anyways. Focusing on illegal drugs to the exclusion of tobacco, alcohol and prescription drugs is leaving out what are by far the greater dangers to public health, especially considering the rate at which addiction to prescription drugs seems to be growing.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 

quote:

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Storm, the second option may not be such a good idea. The message seems to be "Don't do drugs or the Man will throw you in the clink." This might very well backfire.

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quote:

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As for close family members of people who have died from illegal drug abuse? Not going to be that easy to track down, especially compared to an ex-addict or addiction counsellor who is willing to talk. Believe it or not, the rate at which illegal drugs kills people in the US is quite low. Much easier to find someone who lost a close family member to cigarettes or alcohol.

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quote:

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Just as important, if not more important message anyways. Focusing on illegal drugs to the exclusion of tobacco, alcohol and prescription drugs is leaving out what are by far the greater dangers to public health, especially considering the rate at which addiction to prescription drugs seems to be growing.

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quote:

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I never said to focus exclusively on drugs. I was just responding to the request which is.

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It's the use of drugs in quotations that threw me. When I see drugs, unless there is something qualifying it, I think of everything from antibiotics to herbal sleeping pills, to crack, to LSD, etc. When talking about 'drugs of abuse', the implicit subject matter here, I think of it as an inclusive term, rather than just illegal drugs. The context of the question leaves this open, and since DARE was mentioned, which does use an inclusive definition, but chooses to focus on the illegal kind, I treated this term in the more inclusive sense and felt that this needed clarifiying.

*whew*
 

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Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
 
One thing I want to add to the excellent suggestions above is this. Don't give kids the idea that everyone who does illegal drugs is someone from whom they must run away screaming in horror. Emphasize that even if all your friends get wasted regularly, you are still wise to choose differently and just be the designated driver or whatever. That people they like and trust may offer them drugs, but all they have to say is "no thanks, none for me" without further comment or censure. That a lot of their friends are probably going to make that mistake, but they don't have to.

My other suggestion is to emphasize how very tedious and stupid people act when they're drunk or stoned or wasted. They're often like really silly or maudlin or even violent, they don't seem to hear anything you try to say to them, and wouldn't remember later on even if they did. I think the number one most important reason not to use drugs can be learned by trying to have any sort of intelligent rational conversation with someone under the influence. My suggestion to anyone trying to decide whether to stop doing drugs is to spend a few nights sober around your friends when they're not. That will convince anyone.
 

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Posted by Frisco (Member # 3765) on :
 

quote:

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My suggestion to anyone trying to decide whether to stop doing drugs is to spend a few nights sober around your friends when they're not. That will convince anyone.

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I'm not sure many people think that they're rational and intelligent while they're doing drugs. In fact, escape from having to be rational and intelligent is one of the big draws.

It really depends on the person, I think, whether they find their drunk/high friends irritating or entertaining while they themselves are sober.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
I have known lots of people that were a lot more fun to be around when they were drunk/stoned.
 

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Posted by Stark (Member # 6831) on :
 
Tell them the TRUTH above all else. When I was young I was told that pot will turn you into a homeless slob with crusty pants and no future. When I was actually exposed to pot later in life and found this to be untrue I assumed other things I'd learned about drugs were untrue. This lead to bad things.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
There's another kink in communicating with older kids as well. Our last president was someone who tried something illegal but "didn't inhale," a quote that became very popular with people who just didn't like him in general.

Older kids who check our current president's bio will find out he was an abuser of alcohol for many years, and refuses to answer questions about other drugs.

It complicates the message - and it's not really Bush's fault, since it's a common story. People do abuse alcohol and other stuff and then move on.

So what do you tell older kids?

"If you abuse alcohol, you'll only get to be a governor or president if you quit drinking."

"If you keep abusing alcohol or other stuff, the most you can hope for is a seat in Congress."
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
Interestingly enough, people who are poor get addicted easier, and find quitting harder than people who are rich. This is a demonstrated and significant effect. It seems the same also applies to social status in monkeys. The experiment was done with cocaine. The monkeys at the top of the pecking order would do sometimes as much cocaine as those on the bottom, but when it was taken away, the alpha males didn't have any noticable withdrawl, whereas the lower ones showed signs of significant withdrawl.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
Uh, Chaeron, would you mind actually giving a citation or two on that stuff about rich vs. poor addiction patterns?

Seems there are plenty of rich folks who manage to totally self-destruct on drugs and/or alcohol.
 

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Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
 
It's just a correlation. Of course some poor people can use drugs and not be raging addicts and some rich people can get out of control. If you search the Economist science and technology section, the article was about a year back. That's where I read about the studies at least.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
http://www.reason.com/0410/cr.me.open.shtml

Interesting article. What if there were *no* anti-drug initiatives at schools and people were able to decide on their own what drugs to take and when? Or, what if rather than push an agenda, educators simply assigned people to do their own research and let students argue with each other?
 

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Posted by Danzig avoiding landmarks (Member # 6792) on :
 
That would not work, because some students might decide that the demon weed sounds fun and not particularly dangerous. Perhaps if we had different laws, but currently there is no way the government is going to support an open dialogue on drugs. Especially an open dialogue with kids; they have to be indoctrinated young.
 

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Posted by Nato (Member # 1448) on :
 
Make sure you mention the financial costs of drugs. I know somebody who worked all the way through high school part time. He probably made $5000 total, but by the end he had nothing to show for it because he smoked so much weed.

Also, another friend who was trying to save up for a trip to Europe next summer probably won't be able to go because she spent several hundred dollars on marijuana.
 

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Posted by Nato (Member # 1448) on :
 
Also, don't mention just the extreme cases of addicts whose entire lives are centered around drugs. Talk about how some people use alcohol and other drugs recreationally and eventually quit, but really all they have to show for it is a much emptier wallet and maybe a couple memories of fun times at parties.

Never imply that everybody who does drugs will end up a hobo, because kids will see that it is obviously not true. You need to be honest with them, and impress on them how nice it is to be happy with yourself without any chemical help and how nice it is to be able to solve your problems/depression/whatever without getting messed up.

Also, this has already been mentioned, but stress how they can turn down using drugs when their friends offer and not be judged for it, and how important it is to not pressure other people into doing something they feel uncomfortable about.
 

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Posted by Mazer (Member # 192) on :
 
One of the big problems with DARE is that once kids get a little older they begin to see how manipulative and false so many of its messages are. I remember thinking it was especially ironic for some stuffed shirt to ramble off messages about the evils of drugs, and then go smoke a cigarette. That brings up the TRUTH campaign for tobacco use. What a horrible, manipulative, dishonest campaign that it. I don't smoke, but every TRUTH add I see makes me want to light up in defiance of the brainwashing propaghanda.

For those of you that think Requiem for a Dream is an anti-drug movie, you missed the point. I think it is not really a good movie to show people that you want to indoctrinate with the idea that illegal drugs are bad. One of the points of RfaDm (At least according to the DVD commentary,) is that addiction is not limited to "illicit" drugs. RfaD attempting to expose the lie that DARE promotes, that some addictive substances are okay, while others are bad.

Another problem with early drug education programs is that the kids become desensitized to it. Hearing "just say no" ad infinitum, causes the message to go in one ear and out the other. I know in the Marine Corps I have had so many DUI briefs that by the 20th time I see some mom tell me about how she lost her honor student angel daughter, I really don't care.

quote:

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Also, this has already been mentioned, but stress how they can turn down using drugs when their friends offer and not be judged for it, and how important it is to not pressure other people into doing something they feel uncomfortable about.

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quote:

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I remember thinking it was especially ironic for some stuffed shirt to ramble off messages about the evils of drugs, and then go smoke a cigarette.

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Last year my daughters DARE program included cigarettes and any form of tobacco in the drug category.

Yes, hypocrisy runs deep. To me the advantage of children getting publicly educated on these things, far out weighs the hypocrisy of those spreading the message. They’ll be able to sort these matters out for themselves when they're older, as you have done.

I agree, honesty is always the best policy when teaching a child.
 

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Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :
 
Was I really that much of a dork in high school?

No one ever offered me any drugs whatsoever, except when I was a Governor's Scholar at NKU, and I was offered a cigarette. Perhaps I was lucky that so many of my father's family smoked and I found it disgusting; my doctors later told me I was especially vulnerable and my throat would probably have swollen up and choked me to death.

The closest I ever got was rumors of pot smoking in the bathroom.
 

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Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
 

quote:

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This is why DARE backfires--ceterus paribus, it appears DARE graduates are more likely to have drug problems. DARE has itself admitted this and is looking for a solution; ask me if you want research.

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quote:

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Tell kids how the alcohol and tobacco industries target them, because they know that the young'uns get addicted faster and easier, and they need to replace their older patrons, who have a habit of dying.

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quote:

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For those of you that think Requiem for a Dream is an anti-drug movie, you missed the point. I think it is not really a good movie to show people that you want to indoctrinate with the idea that illegal drugs are bad. One of the points of RfaDm (At least according to the DVD commentary,) is that addiction is not limited to "illicit" drugs. RfaD attempting to expose the lie that DARE promotes, that some addictive substances are okay, while others are bad.

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Actually, I think RfaD is an anti-addiction movie, not even substance addiction in particular, but the strongest message in it is about drugs (to most people anyways) so using it as an anti-drug would work, except of course it's rated NC-17 (for pretty good reason) and I'm not sure most parents of grade-schoolers would really want that to be shown in their kid's assembly ...

Hobbes
 

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Posted by AmkaProblemka (Member # 6495) on :
 
Thanks all for the input.

I basically decided that in my capacity, there isn't much I can do. I scheduled the assembly they told me to schedule. The DARE program works directly with the school and I have no control over it.

Last year Red Ribbon Week was about dressing up and getting small handouts with candy on them. If you were wearing your red bracelet, you got in a drawing. A few kids everyday got a cool prize. It bugged me to death, because all that happened was my kids got disappointed because they didn't get a prize.

You know, they called me to do this, probably because of all the hours I've logged in at the school. I have never joined the PTA. But I won't get started there, maybe another thread...

So THIS is the note I'm sending out to parents:

quote:

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Dear Parents,

When my children were first born, it was fairly easy to know how to interact with them. When they cried, they might be hungry, uncomfortable, or bored. So I fed them, changed them, or played with them. Such things were simple, but extremely important.

It is harder now, with a child's inquisitive mind and influences you can't control, but it is just as necessary. When you talk with your young kids, you are not just talking to the 5 year old, you are speaking to the teenager and adult they will become. They remember your words. It is important that you speak to them honestly, in a manner appropriate to their age. You are giving them the tools now that they will need to cope with life tomorrow. Once they hit puberty, that time when they so desperately want to be independent, your job at instilling values should already have been accomplished. If you have established their trust by consistent, honest, and coherent parenting; and if you have established that you trust them by letting them make their own decisions as they come to understand their choices, then your teenager will come to respect and even seek your input as they move out into the world.

During the next week at school, your child will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week, a drug prevention program sponsored by the PTA. The children will be involved in activities, get to dress up, and we will be sending home activities to help initiate thought and discussion in families about drugs. But I hope you will not stop there. Think of your communication with your little ones now as immunizing them for later exposure to temptations. A one time shot won't do it. They need boosters.

Whenever you see an appropriate teaching moment, take the time to talk. Listen to your child and answer them truthfully. If the answer is "I don't know" don't be afraid to say that, and then follow up by saying "Lets go find out together". By being up front with them, and listening to their concerns and thoughts with consideration you are building a safe haven where they will feel comfortable communicating. Parent-child communication is one of the best defenses against illegal drug use that there is, and there is no better time than now to initiate it.

Our schedule for the week is as follows.

... [things about what will be happening and other technical details.]

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When you talk with your young kids, you are not just talking to the 5 year old, you are speaking to the teenager and adult they will become.

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They need boosters.

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If the answer is "I don't know" don't be afraid to say that, and then follow up by saying "Lets go find out together".

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The last day of the week will be a "healthy alternatives" day where the kids dress up in fitness clothes and we will provide a healthy snack for them as well as give them all a certificate. No candy or material reward for 'completing the program'. I think motivations should come from within, not in pavlovian anticipation of a reward.

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