Bowling means more than just pins & strikes

OXFORD, Ohio - Students heading back to school could encounter a lot more than new classmates.

As they get older, there's the risk of being introduced to drugs and alcohol, among other things.

A program being used in Butler County is hoping to help students and parents address those issues face-to-face.

While parents want their children to "Just Say No," the local program is asking the adults to say KNOW as well, as in KNOW what they're talking about.

"Do you remember what the one example was, and I came home and asked you the question 'What do you think bowling is?' Do you remember that one?" Holli Morrish of Oxford asked the question to her 12-year-old son Luke, as he nods in agreement. She was surprised to learn that bowling had nothing to do with pins and strikes.

"I guess it's like you go to parties or somethin and everybody puts like drugs they get out of a medicine cabinet in a bowl and they take 'em or somethin,'" explained Luke Morrish, who is going to the seventh grade at Talawanda Middle School.

Holli and her husband were able to talk to Luke about bowling thanks to a KNOW tip.

"All of our Talawanda Middle School students receive the tip cards via e-mail," said Amy Macechko, the Health & Wellness Coordinator for Talawanda Middle School. "In looking at our local data we were seeing that there were some changes happening in terms of student-use happening at an early age, which is happening across the nation as well."

The e-mails go straight to parents, and include a variety of topics such as drugs, alcohol, smoking, bullying, peer pressure, and much more.

"It provides a wonderful tool for parents. It truly is a parent program to educate parents and increase their awareness about the dangers associated with substance use," said Macechko.

Holli Morrish agreed, and recommended it for other parents because it "Gives you a way to start the conversation with your kids. It's hard sometimes. Some of those subjects are hard."

The dinner time discussions have kept Luke aware of what he may face in school. In fact, his parents didn't think sexting was an issue to discuss with a 12 year old, until Luke brought up an incident at school where students were passing around an inappropriate image/message from Facebook. Mom & Dad grabbing the tip card and immediately talked about it with their son.

"I didn't know what they were. Mom and Dad just talking to me. I didn't know they were using tip cards," said Luke, and that's the goal.

The Talawanda School District uses the program in association with Butler County and the Drug-Free Action Alliance.

"We know that the conversations are happening which is key in terms of protecting our students from the risky behavior of substance use," said Macechko.

"You're letting your kids know that you care; that you're interested in what's going on in their life," expressed Holli.

She and her husband pick and choose which topics could apply to their family and then talk about them with the kids at dinner time.

Other parents can take advantage of the KNOW tips, even if they are not in the Talawanda School District.

Simply click here to go to the KNOW website and sign-up for e-mail alerts.