A new report from the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University chides parents for failing to be in touch about their children's alcohol and other drug use, the Chicago Tribune reported Aug. 17.

CASA head Joseph Califano Jr. said "parental palookas" are often unaware that alcohol or other drugs are being used in parties held in their own homes, while they are home -- a scenario described by one-third of teens (and half of 17-year-olds) surveyed by CASA.

"Where are they?" asked Califano. "Why aren't they walking in and out of the party? Don't they smell the pot or the booze? There's just a tremendous disconnect."

The CASA Teen Survey also found that while 98 percent of parents say they are usually around when kids are having parties, one-third of kids say that parents are rarely around.

"Parents are living in a fool's paradise," Califano said. "They've got to take the blinders off and pay attention. If asbestos were in the ceiling, they'd raise hell. But their schools are riddled with drugs. If they'd say, 'Get the drugs out' with the same energy, we'd get somewhere. This is a wake-up call."

CASA's report noted that youths are especially vulnerable to starting alcohol and other drug use as they transition from age 13 to 14, with access to drugs rising sharply at this age.