Getting the message through to teenagers about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, and other risky behaviour, is tricky at best. They certainly don’t like being lectured, and issuing edicts could well have the exact opposite effect—encouraging them to do things whether out of spite or curiosity.
Compounding the problem, of course, is teens seeing parents not practise what they preach.
For its part, the Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team is distributing a pamphlet entitled “Families Rule” this fall, which encourages individual families to set their own policy about alcohol, tobacco, and drug use in the home.
The key is that both the kids and parents are subject to these “rules.”
Meanwhile, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada has taken the right approach with its multi-media presentation, “Friday Night,” which was shown to district students in Grades 7-12 last week. Rather than simply telling kids not to drink and drive, for instance, the show depicted a typical Friday night party that local teens could identify with—and then the subsequent consequences of various behaviour.
By all accounts, the message hit home. Now let’s hope it truly sinks in.
Risky behaviour among teens certainly isn’t anything new, and it will never be eliminated completely. Still, every effort must be made to teach our teens how to plan ahead, and react in different situations, before their judgement may become impaired.
It just might save their life some day.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
