Troubled Teens Resources

Maybe there would be far less need for teen crisis intervention if parents would just sit down and talk to their kids on a regular basis. Parents had no trouble talking to their teens when they were five and six about the dangers of strangers. It has been proven that parents who are just as adamant about warning their teens about the dangers of drugs exert a good deal of influence on their teens behavior.

“Jill Spineti, the president and chief executive officer of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, said in the release, “Numerous studies reveal that parents’ attitudes and beliefs are a factor in a teenager’s decision making. Parents who talk to their teens often about the threats of substance abuse are less likely to use than those who don’t. There’s no minimizing the importance of parents staying informed about existing and new threats and relaying their expectations in a clear, forthright manner. For parents, the risk isn’t in speaking up; it’s in staying silent.

The most recent partnership survey also showed that parents are looking for guidance. Nearly one-third say they have a need for more information about drugs; 30 percent say they need tips on how to start a discussion about drugs; and 37 percent report they want information on how to tell if a child is using drugs.”

(Source)

Other important influences are parents who demand to know where their teens are at all times. Teens at risk need to know the rules and the consequences of breaking them. Another important factor is having those family dinners together at least twice a week.