Contact: Deb Schnellman, DASA, 360-725-3763 or cell 360-701-5480 , schneda@dshs.wa.gov
Contact: Michael Langer, DASA, 360-725-3740 , LangeME@dshs.wa.gov
June 20, 2005
Fathers Less Likely Than Mothers To Talk Often With Kids About Dangers Of Drugs
OLYMPIA– Young people are more likely to get information about drugs from mothers than fathers, a new survey has found.
The study was done by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, which is a national, non-profit drug abuse prevention research and education organization.
The data, released yesterday, which was Father’s Day, found that only 37 percent of fathers have talked with their kids “four or more times” in the past year about drugs, compared to 45 percent of mothers. Research has shown drug use is lower among teens who report learning a lot about the risks of drugs at home.
“We fathers have to step up to the plate and start talking with our kids about the dangers of drug use and other risky behaviors,” said Ken Stark, director of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA).
“The ever-changing drug landscape facing our kids today presents new drug threats, like teens’ abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Not enough young people are getting a clear message about substance abuse, and research shows parents talking with kids early and often can make all the difference. We simply can’t rely on mothers to do all of the heavy lifting,” Stark added.
The survey also found fathers were less likely to see negative consequences in their children’s use of some drugs. Less than half of the fathers report believing children who smoke marijuana will face consequences such as lower achievement in school and an inability to get along with other family members.
The partnership’s survey also indicates:
• Fathers are somewhat less likely to think that adolescent misuse of prescription medicine and over-the-counter medications to get high is a growing trend among teens. (38 percent of fathers agree strongly versus 44 percent of mothers)
• Fathers are significantly more likely to think it would be difficult for their child to get prescription medicines without a doctor’s prescription. (54 percent of fathers versus 47 percent of mothers)
• Fathers were less likely to use “parenting skills” such as monitoring their child’s activities, making and enforcing rules and asking about their child’s day and who they were with.
• Fathers were more likely to say they would handle their children’s drug and alcohol problems themselves. Mothers were more likely to first look outside for help. (28 percent of fathers would handle problems themselves versus 17 percent mothers).
Research has shown that kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to half as likely to use; however only one-third of teens say they learn a lot about drugs from their parents. Helpful resources, information and tips about how to talk to kids about drugs are available free of charge from the Washington State Alcohol/Drug Prevention Clearinghouse at 800-662-9111 or online at http://clearinghouse.adhl.org.
In Washington, a recent student survey co-sponsored by DASA revealed that marijuana use among high school seniors dropped by more than five percent in the last two years, and that fewer kids are experimenting with alcohol and tobacco.
“The progress we’re making in reducing teen drug use tells us that alcohol and other drugs don’t have to be considered a teenage right of passage,” said Stark. “Attitudes are everything. When it comes to our kids, parents – as well as grandparents, mentors and other adults – are much more powerful in shaping their opinions about drugs than we often realize.”
The 2004 PATS study, conducted for the Partnership by Roper Public Affairs and Media of NOP World, under grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, interviewed 1,228 parents nationwide. Data can be projected nationally with a +/-2.8 percent margin of error for the total sample.
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