Partnership for a Drug-Free America
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Many Parents, however, still struggle with what to say; One in three parents doubt they're getting through

More parents are talking with their children about drugs more often, and they appear to be having an impact, according to a national study released by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA).

"Parents are, in no small measure, one of the reasons why adolescent drug use is finally stabilizing and, in some measures, declining," said Richard D. Bonnette, president & CEO of the Partnership. "With teenagers, many things go in one ear and out the other. But what parents are saying about drugs appears to be sticking."

Released today via the Internet, the 1999 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) surveyed 800 parents across the country (margin of error = +/- 4.6 percent). The nationally-projectable study, conducted by Audits & Surveys Worldwide Inc. for PDFA, found the following:

• More than half (57 percent) of all parents now say they spoke with their children about drugs at least four times in the past year, up significantly from 1998 (44 percent), an increase of 30 percent.
  
• Parents are more likely to say they"ve covered drugs "thoroughly" (64 percent agreed in 1999, up significantly from 52 percent in 1998, for an increase of 23 percent).
• Parents are more likely to talk with their children about specific risks associated with drugs. For example, more parents are talking about how drugs can: mess us their child's mind (73 percent in 1999, up significantly from 61 percent in 1998); adversely affect a child's education (68 percent in 1999, up significantly from 58 percent in 1998); and adversely affect a child's life (74 percent in 1999, up significantly from 63 percent in 1998).

And parents appear to be having an impact. According to a national survey of 6,529 teenagers released by the Partnership in late November, teen attitudes about drugs are now changing for the better and teen drug use is leveling off and/or declining. Teenagers' use of marijuana - the most widely used illicit drug - has stabilized, while inhalant, methamphetamine, cocaine/crack and LSD use have all declined. Teen drug use increased steadily from 1992 to 1997. The study also found significant, positive changes in drug-related attitudes among teens, which may signal the beginning of a longer trend away from drug use. (See www.drugfreeamerica.org/newscenter/pressreleaseses/ pats99_page1.htmlr for further details of the teen study.)

Despite their more active role, many parents are overwhelmed by the scope of the drug problem. This, according to the research, appears to be extracting a price on parents' confidence in their own ability to safeguard children from drugs:

• Fully 75 percent of parents now think "most people will try marijuana sometimes," up significantly from 65 percent in 1995.
• One-third (33 percent) of parents now see marijuana as "very easy" for their children to get, also up significantly from 1995 (24 percent).
• One out of every three parents (32 percent) believes "what I say will have will have little influence on whether my child tries marijuana." The numbers are even higher for African-American and Hispanic parents (40 and 43 percent, respectively).

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1Although this measure did increase from last year, it did not do so at statistically significant levels. In 1998, 28 percent of parents believed "what I say will have little influence on whether my child tries marijuana." Then, as now, this measure was higher among African-American and Hispanic parents, with 36 and 40 percent, respectively, agreeing in 1998.
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Bonnette noted that significant increases in teen marijuana use from 1992 to 1997, and particularly pronounced increases in marijuana use among African-American teens during the same time, may have convinced some parents that keeping children away from drugs is simply too difficult. For example, the data released today show that 30 percent of parents - up from 23 percent in 1998 - believe there's "nothing I can really do to help the drug problem." Again, the numbers are even higher for African-American and Hispanic parents (43 and 37 percent, respectively) who responded similarly.

More than half of all parents (56 percent) - and three out of four (76 percent) Hispanic parents - say they "wish they knew better what to say" to their kids about drugs. Parents of all backgrounds say they want additional information on a variety of topics so they can talk more effectively with their kids about drugs.

"Our greatest challenge is helping all parents understand that they are a tremendous influence on their children's decisions," Bonnette said. "Children who learn a lot about the risks of drugs at home are significantly less likely to try drugs - up to 50 percent less likely, according to our data. While parents may be overwhelmed by the enormity of the drug problem, we've got to help them understand that the fight against drugs isn't one massive battle - it's thousands of little ones."

Drug-Experienced Parents, Moms and Dads Show Differences

Nearly six in ten (57 percent) parents have tried marijuana at some point in their lives, but relatively few parents - except among the 13 percent who have used marijuana in the past year - say they feel hypocritical telling their kids not to use drugs. Differences also can be found between mothers and fathers. While they have similar anti-drug attitudes, mothers are more likely to take the lead in educating their children about the risks of drugs and to discuss the specific risks of drug use with their children:

• 81 percent of mothers said they frequently talked with their children about how drugs can mess up their lives, compared to 63 percent of fathers.
• 81 percent of mothers said they frequently talked with their children about how drugs can mess up their minds, compared to 63 percent of fathers.
• 77 percent of mothers said they frequently talked with their children about how drugs can mess up their education, compared to 57 percent of fathers.

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2According to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study, past year marijuana use climbed from 6 to 18 percent - up 200 percent - from 1992 to 1997 among white 8th graders, from 4 to 15 percent - up 275 percent - among African-American 8th graders and from 12 to 22 percent - up 83 percent - among Hispanic 8th graders. Among white 10th graders, past year marijuana use increased from 17 to 35 percent - up 106 percent - from 1992 to 1997 while climbing from 8 to 28 percent - up 250 percent - among African-America 10th graders and from 19 to 37 percent - up 95 percent - among Hispanic 10th graders. Among white 12th graders, past year marijuana use increased from 25 to 39 percent - up 56 percent - from 1992 to 1997 while climbing from 12 to 30 percent - up 150 percent - among African-American 12th graders and from 25 to 36 percent - up 44 percent - among Hispanic 12th graders.
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However, even those mothers and fathers who believe they can reach their children effectively remain largely unsure if they're delivering the right message.

"When teens are asked what risks they associate with drugs, year after year they rank 'disappointing their parents' at the top," Bonnette said. "This underscores the influence many parents have with their children, but some have a hard time believing this."

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign

In explaining reasons for the increases in parent-child communication about drugs, researchers pointed to an unprecedented paid advertising campaign as one factor: "The changes in the data are concurrent with the launch of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign," Bonnette said, referring to the federally-funded effort, backed by an appropriation of $185 million from Congress. Most of the funding is used to purchase media exposure for anti-drug advertising produced by PDFA. The campaign, coordinated through the Office of National Drug Control Policy under the direction of Barry McCaffrey in cooperation with PDFA, has been running nationally since July 1998.

In 1999, about half (52 percent) of all parents reported seeing an anti-drug ad at least once a week; about a quarter (26 percent) say they're seeing those ads at least once a day. Among those parents seeing the ads daily, 3 out of 4 say they talked to their kids about drugs at least four times in the past year; among parents seeing the ads less often 1 out of 2 say they talked to their kids about drugs at least four times in the past year.

Numerous advertising agencies create broadcast and print ads pro bono for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, best known for its national ad campaign that began in 1987. The Partnership, in turn, donates this advertising to the federally-funded media campaign. PDFA receives no federal funding for its role in the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. The Partnership is a privately-funded non-profit organization with roots in the communications industry, and is not part of any federal agency.

For parents interested in free guide on preventing drug use among children, call toll-free 1 (877) 4-ED-PUBS. The guide, created by the Partnership and the U.S. Department of Education, is also available on the World Wide Web at www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS.