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