Whether driving the kids to soccer
practice, enjoying family dinner, or tucking little ones into bed, it’s
important to remember that those every day activities have a lasting effect on
your children. Each of these moments offers an opportunity to connect, share
and really listen to what’s on their mind.
As children age, it is vital to
keep those lines of communication open, especially as they start feeling
increased pressure to start engaging in risky behavior including smoking,
drinking or using drugs. Adolescence is the critical period for the initiation
of risky substance use and its consequences. Nine out of 10 Americans who meet
the medical criteria for addiction started smoking, drinking, or using other
drugs before age 18. Addiction is a disease that in most cases begins in
adolescence so preventing or delaying teens from using alcohol, tobacco or
other drugs for as long as possible is crucial to their health and safety.
Family Day –
Be Involved. Stay Involved.TM is CASAColumbia’s
national initiative to promote simple acts of parental engagement as key ways
to help prevent risky substance use in children and teens. Family Day will be celebrated across the
country on September 23rd, 2013. Celebrate CASAColumbia® Family
Day – Be Involved. Stay Involved.TM on Monday, September 23rd
by joining parents all across the country in logging onto www.CASAFamilyDay.org
to take the Family Day STAR Pledge to commit to:
- Spend time with your kids
- Talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs and alcohol
- Answer their questions and listen to what they say
- Recognize that YOU have the power to keep your kids substance-free!
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