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August 2009 |
Amy Garcia
Hi there!
Most parents have experienced the back-to-school frenzy that starts at the beginning of August. From buying new backpacks, getting the “right “clothes, to making sure they have pens and pencils – parents do their best to help prepare their children for the new school year. But, the start of the school year isn’t only about equipping your children with school supplies to stock their lockers. It also means helping ease the stress kids can experience transitioning from summer vacation to going back to school.
Transition periods – like back to school, starting at a new school, divorce, and even financial trouble at home – can impact a child’s vulnerability to risky behaviors, including drugs and alcohol. A 2007 Partnership study of 6,500 teens indicated that the number one reason teens use drugs is to cope with school stress, and according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the key risk periods for adolescent drug abuse are during major transition times in their lives.
To make transition times easier and healthier for your family, the National Association of School Nurses recommends allowing your child time to adjust. Whether taking time to get comfortable within a new classroom or adapting to a different group of friends, supporting your child through these life changes can help them along the way.
As a registered nurse and a mom, I know back-to-school time can be overwhelming, but with our support, we can help keep our children healthy and happy to ensure a bright future.
Have a wonderful school year!
Sincerely,
Amy Garcia, RN, MSN
National Association of School Nurses Executive Director
Mother of 3 children
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Transitioning Teens: Change is the Only Constant
The Partnership kicks off its third annual “Time To Talk” Month with a new online guide to help parents guide their teens through tough transition times, including back to school, when added social and academic pressures make teens more vulnerable to trying drugs and alcohol.
A recent online survey of more than 2,500 moms conducted by Vocalpoint.com in collaboration with the Partnership revealed that their number-one concern about back-to-school time is that their child “might be exposed to kids who drink or use drugs” (29 percent), followed closely by worries that their teens “will feel pressure to do well academically or pressure from tests” (22 percent). A 2007 Partnership study of 6,500 teens indicated that the number one reason teens use drugs is to cope with school stress, and according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the key risk periods for adolescent drug abuse are during major transitions, such as entering middle or high school or leaving home for college.
The Partnership’s new research-based guide “Transitions & Teens: A Guide for Parents” is available as a free download at TimeToTalk.org, and was created in consultation with parenting experts, psychologists and family therapists. The guide helps parents understand how transition periods - like back to school, starting a new school, divorce, and even financial trouble at home – can impact a child’s vulnerability to risky behaviors, including drugs and alcohol.
Time To Talk continues to encourage parents and caregivers to start and maintain open, honest dialogue to help their kids make healthy decisions for themselves.
Vocalpoint has served as a key content partner for Time To Talk, helping the Partnership reach Vocalpoint moms through mom-focused online surveys, monthly newsletters and message boards where moms can share tips and advice to help protect their families.
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New Book: How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid
From recognizing the risks that make kids vulnerable, to empowering children to make safe and healthy decisions, readers of How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents, a new parenting book by CASA founder and adolescent addiction expert Joseph A. Califano, Jr., will find useful information on how to protect their families from substance abuse and addiction.
Learn more about Califano’s latest parenting resource |
Connect With Us & Get Involved!
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Amy Garcia |
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Transitioning Teens: Change is the only Constant |
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New Book: How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid |
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Connect With Us & Get Involved
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More About The Partnership:
Copyright 2009 Partnership for a Drug-Free America
405 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10174
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