As parents, we take steps to protect our children from the day they are born. We cover electrical outlets, teach them to look both ways before crossing the street, and make them to wear helmets when riding their bikes. As they get older, we tell them why drugs and alcohol are bad and keep a watch for signs of dangerous behavior. However, the sad reality is that many teens are abusing medicines found in their home, and this often goes undetected by parents.

Unfortunately, I was one of those parents. It wasn’t until I lost my son that I learned about cough medicine abuse. He passed away from a lethal mix of drugs including a prescription narcotic, marijuana, and dextromethorphan (DXM), the active ingredient in many over-the-counter cough medicines. I remember seeing empty bottles of cough medicine around the home, but I didn’t have the information or the knowledge to monitor my medications.

As we start a new year, I challenge each of you to do your part. Learn the facts about medicine abuse, both prescription and over-the-counter. Know which ingredients and brands are commonly abused by teens and then take inventory of your medicine cabinet. Monitor these medicines to make sure they’re not being used without your consent. If you have any unwanted or expired medications in the home, dispose of them properly. Trust me; these small steps can make all of the difference in the world.

When it comes to preventing drug and alcohol abuse in your community, there is no one-fits-all approach. As chairman and CEO for the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), I see firsthand how important it is for communities to have customized strategies to combat risky behaviors, like teen cough medicine abuse, that are based on a community’s unique problems and circumstances. Our goal is to provide members of the community with the information and tools they need to assess their local substance abuse-related problems and develop a comprehensive plan to address them.

Tomorrow, November 29, we’re traveling to Hialeah, Fla., to work with the local community to help raise awareness about prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicine abuse among today’s youth. We want the moms, dads, grandparents, community stakeholders and teens in attendance to walk away with a greater understanding about the dangers of prescription and OTC medicine abuse. And more importantly, we want them to take action – talking about the risks associated with prescription and OTC medicine abuse and watching for red flags.

Through this town hall conversation, the community will learn about of the key factors driving teen medicine abuse and be better equipped to take action to prevent prescription and OTC medicine abuse in their community.

You can get your community involved in preventing drug and alcohol abuse by:

• Downloading the abuse prevention toolkit
• Sharing this informational video about teen cough medicine abuse
• Educating parents, grandparents and stakeholders on medicine abuse

Remember: It’s easy to make a difference. Learn more and take action to protect our teens today.

By Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA Chairman & CEO

Learn more about Timothy at TimothyShoemaker.com.

When I first met G, he was an easy going ten-year-old boy in my 5th grade D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) class. He was one of those kids that just seemed to be happy wherever he was.

G effortlessly joined group activities. He was bright, with a passive disposition. He offended no one, and rarely expressed a forceful opinion. While his personality made him very likable, I noticed that G didn’t have any close friends. It wasn’t that people avoided him; it was just that he didn’t seem to pursue friendships the way other kids did.

G was an interesting case, and I made an effort to get to know him better. I ate lunch at his table. I stopped to talk when I saw him down town, I gave him tours of the police station, etc. We built a strong rapport, and by the time G was in the 9th grade, we were old friends.

However, when G entered high school he had picked up some poor acquaintances. We talked about his new group of friends often. G claimed to be in control. He candidly shared stories of his friends’ indiscretions and explained why he would never do the same kind of things. Not more than a few weeks after one of these discussions, G overdosed. Lying in his living room was an empty bottle of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine.

In speaking with him after his overdose, he was cavalier about his mistake. I gave him the full force of my packaged pep talk, but I knew that I had already lost him. It was a lack of motivation that brought G down – he had no goals, no passions. He wasn’t working towards anything. This left him wide-open to harmful influences.

In sports, we often say that the best defense is a good offense. The same can be true in life. Educate yourself and your teen about the dangers of all kinds of substance abuse, including OTC cough medicine abuse. Teach, warn, guide and support, but never forget to focus your children. As parents, it is crucial that we do our job to point them towards success and encourage them to own it. Children are never too young to develop a sense of purpose.

By Timothy Shoemaker

I believe the most challenging moments in parenthood revolve around the teen years. Sure, it’s a bit nerve wracking when our kids are toddlers and getting into everything, but they can be easily guided. Teens, however, are more independent and therefore present more of a challenge.

As parents, we need to be more aware of what is happening in our teens’ lives. As a mom of five children, three of which are teens, I can honestly say it’s not easy to keep track of their whereabouts and take the time to have important conversations, like those about medicine abuse. However, it is essential to keep the lines of communication open at all times.

The first step to protecting our teens from dangerous behaviors, like medicine abuse, is to get informed. Unfortunately, many parents are unaware of what their children are exposed to and it can start in their own medicine cabinets. At recommended doses, over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines containing the active ingredient dextromethorphan give you cough relief and are safe and effective. However, some teens abuse OTC cough medications to get high (sometimes referred to as “robotripping”).

It is our responsibility to make the time to sit with our teens and have them share their feelings and concerns. These times are important for not only them, but also for us as parents. The more plugged-in we are to their day-to-day lives, the more equipped we will be to help them make good decisions. At first, they may not be very open with their feelings or concerns. But, we must never give up— being available to them at all times is essential and will simply build a stronger relationship in the end.

We cannot be with our teens 24 hours a day, but guiding them and helping them make good decisions is ultimately our responsibility. Although the teen years can be challenging, and sometimes even scary, opening the lines of communication with your teen will better prepare you to guide them.

By Dr. Daisy Sutherland

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It’s important for parents to build positive relationships with their teens, and for parents to learn how to listen with what I call a “quiet mind.” When our teens are struggling or tempted to make bad decisions, what they need most is the calm, sane counsel of their loving parent. We have to make it safe for our teens to talk with us, even when what they have to say may not be easy to hear.

By building and maintaining a positive relationship with your teen, you make it possible for them to offload difficulties and upsets, making them far less vulnerable to the influence of peers who may be pressuring them to try and abuse substances like non-prescription cough medicine.

One of the best ways to talk to your teen about dangerous behaviors is to find a time when you and your teen are already in synch and in each other’s company. It might be that you’ve taken a walk, or you’re playing with the dog; make sure you’re both feeling comfortable and connected. Then open with something like: “Honey, there’s something I’ve wanted to talk with you about—don’t worry, you’re not in trouble or anything. Would now be a good time?” so your teen doesn’t feel cornered.

You should let your teen know that you are glad to see them making good decisions, and while they probably know your stance on alcohol and drugs, you’re not sure if they’ve heard about the dangers of nonprescription cough medicine abuse. Briefly explain what your concerns are, describing some of the awful consequences of other teens who thought cough medicine might be a safe and easy way to get high.

You’ve got to accept that if you’re a parent, you cannot maintain a consistent friendship with your teens, and it’s important to define and enforce clear boundaries. They are heavily influenced by their peers and the media, which often suggest that to be cool or accepted by others, you need to engage in risky behavior.

When parents stay connected and involved in their teen’s day to day life they help their kids stay safe. Don’t be intimidated by their aloofness, or back off from knowing what they’re doing if they withdraw or pull away. While it’s important to give our kids more space and freedom as they get older, teens do need their parents to help them make good choices when their own judgment may be lacking.

By Susan Stiffelman, MFT

Talking to your teen about anything other than what they want for dinner can be difficult. Topics such as sex and drugs have always been taboo and uncomfortable for both parents and their kids. However, these talks are important and shouldn’t be left to the classroom or to friends.

As a professional substance abuse counselor, I have always advised my clients to do the following when talking to their teens about alcohol, drugs, and substance abuse.

• Talk to your teen on an adult level. Treat them with respect and bring them into the conversation with a non-judgmental attitude.
• Don’t threaten, scold or berate them. Don’t tell your teen they are wrong and that they are too young to know what they are talking about. It is a sure way for them to tune you out and just agree to get you off their back. You need to listen to them and what they are saying.
• Be honest. Tell them that you trust their judgment, and that you trust they will make the right choices when it comes to dangerous behaviors. You have to trust that your teen will not indulge in irresponsible, unhealthy behavior just to fit in. But at the same time, let them know you are concerned they may get swept up with what seems like a fun, innocent, rite of passage happening. It is important to communicate the consequences of drug, alcohol, or substance abuse—including medicine abuse.
• Know your teen. What’s most important is communicating with and knowing your teen; how they are doing in school, who they are hanging around with, and how they interact with the family. If you are concerned about their friends or grades, ask them why they hang out with these friends and what they like about them. If their grades are falling, ask if there is anything you can do to help that situation get better.

As parents, you have a duty to state your concerns and the consequences that will go with your child’s poor choices and irresponsible behavior. I advise my clients to do this together so no one is confused or under a different perception of what the ramifications are.

Most importantly, stay true to the plan with no deviation or your word is like quicksand and it will not be taken seriously next time around.

By Carole Bennett, MA

I am really going to miss being one of the Five Moms, and want to thank each and every one of you for your support and kind words over the years! Even though I’m no longer one of the Five Moms, the campaign will remain very dear to my heart and cough medicine abuse will be a cause I continue to support.

I would like to congratulate the campaign as it celebrates its four year anniversary this month, and am excited to share that in conjunction with the anniversary, the campaign has launched a search for the next Five Mom! Additional information on the search will be available on the Five Moms website next week. I encourage you to nominate a Mom (or yourself!) committed to protecting our teens and spreading awareness about medicine abuse. In the meantime, we’re excited to have some great Moms share their stories, tips, and advice in an upcoming guest contributor series, so stay tuned.

Thank you again for your support over the past four years. It’s because of you that we’re able to keep our teens safe and substance-free. Being a part of the Five Moms campaign has been such a special opportunity, and I wish all the Moms nothing but the best!

Sincerely,

Hilda