Opinion: Parents, children and substance abuse

BOSTON - Unusual signs began popping up in Des Moines, Iowa, during graduation and prom nights with a message that should resonate throughout the summer and teen years, "Parents Who Host Lose the Most." The signs were to encourage parents hosting parties to be wary of alcohol use.

Many educators point to parents as a problem in the world of underage alcohol and drug abuse. Too many parents who frequently consume alcohol or who are addicted to legal or illegal drugs nonetheless preach, "Do as I say and not as I do."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that 18 percent of males and 14 percent of females ages 12 to17 reported drinking before age 13. The CDC also reports that about 90 percent of alcohol consumed by the under-21 set is binge drinking. Defined as four or five drinks an hour, binge drinking accounts for 75 percent of all the alcohol consumed in the U.S.

Joseph A. Califano Jr. is on a mission to help parents. He is founder and chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University (co-founded with Herbert D. Kleber, M.D.). Califano was secretary of health, education and welfare from 1977 until 1979.

Today he is talking about his new book, "How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents," published by Simon and Schuster. He told me that all proceeds go directly to support CASA. With regard to parents, Califano said, "Interestingly, I've been to at least 25 different organizations and the thing that comes through is that many parents are a big part of the problem. Parents tell me that they experience a lot of pressure from other parents regarding this."

Many parents do not wish to deny their children even if it means giving them too much freedom to be alone and letting them go to too many parties, supervised and unsupervised. Califano often tells parents, "You are a parent -- not a pal. If your teenager doesn't say 'I hate you, Mom,' or 'I hate you, Dad,' when you are behaving as a parent, then you are not doing your job."

CASA's teen-drinking survey in August 2009 queried 1,000 teens, ages 12 to 17 (509 boys, 491 girls), and 452 of the parents of these teens. They determined, "If your teen drinks, odds are your teen is getting drunk. Two-thirds of teens who drink at least once a month get drunk at least once a month." Also, "Teens who get drunk at least once a month are 18 times likelier to use marijuana and likelier to associate with teens who abuse other illegal and prescription drugs."

To counter the drug problem, the National Institute on Drug Abuse produces information for grades 5 through 9 regarding anabolic steroids, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, marijuana, methamphetamine, opiates, prescription-drug abuse and tobacco addiction.

What Califano's group determined from its study was the importance of parents in preventing and enabling their teens' smoking, drinking and drug use. Califano's book lists nine tips for parents to help them raise a drug-free child. One of the most interesting is one of the most obvious -- "Eat meals together, it makes a difference." Califano says, "The more often children have dinner with parents, the less likely they will smoke, drink or use drugs."

The Columbia group has instituted CASA Family Day -- A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Kids, to be celebrated on Monday, Sept. 27. For more information, visit www.CASAFamilyDay.org.

As a health advocate, Califano was ahead of his time when he warned about tobacco addiction and passive smoke inhalation. "Back in 1978 when I declared our offices a drug-free building, I arrived at work the next day and was met with picket signs. Today we see a dramatic change in attitudes, and we can do the same thing with alcohol and drugs."

Change comes, albeit slowly. Some 30 years later, May 31 was declared "World No Tobacco Day.