kidsHistorically, the celebration of Children’s Day, a special day designated especially for children, dates from the 1860s in America. A current revival of Children’s Day is now recognized in the United States on the second Sunday in June, and is dedicated to giving love, hope faith and commitment to our children and their future.

Children in the United States

Based on the data from the U.S. Census Bureau, there were upwards of an estimated 74 million children under the age of 18 in 2010 in the United States. Of those children across the nation, 18 percent, or 13 million of them, were living in families officially considered as poor. (National Center for Children in Poverty)

According to NIDA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the children and youth of today face the risks of drug abuse and violence, and one of the goals of NIDA is to raise public awareness as to the causes of abuse, and in preventing its onset.

NIDA presents some basic principles of drug prevention intended to help parents, educators and leaders in the community plan for and deliver drug prevention programs at a community level. It is noted that prevention programs need to address all forms of substance abuse; the use of illegal drugs; the misuse of legally obtained chemical substances; OTC (over-the-counter drugs) and prescription drugs.

Also noted is that substance-abuse prevention programs should be age and audience appropriate in order to increase their effectiveness; and recognizes the importance of parental and family influence on substance-abuse prevention.

In observation of and support of National Children’s Day, and in alignment with the goal of preventing substance abuse in our children and youth, Narconon Arrowhead, an Oklahoma-based long-term residential drug rehabilitation center, is releasing new tips to help stop addiction in children and youth before it starts.

Tips to Stop Addiction

The most important factor in stopping addiction is preventing drug use and abuse before it starts.

While drug rehabilitation treatment is vital to restoring the addict to sobriety and the ability to once again live a healthy and drug-free life; preventing substance abuse in the first place is even more vital to the health, wellbeing and future of our children and youth.

  • Ensure you, as the parent, guardian, caregiver, educator or community leader, are well informed as to the drugs and drug- use facing children in today’s society.
  • Set a good example for your children by being temperate (not going to extremes, not overdoing things), or better yet–not using drugs or alcohol at all.
  • Start early in your child’s life, presenting the information at a level which is appropriate to your child’s age and understanding.
  • Share drug education information with your children on a regular, one-to-one basis.
  • Ensure your child’s questions about drugs and drug-use are answered and understood.
  • Ensure any situations involving drugs or drug-use your child or teen is faced with at school, in the neighborhood, or with peers is fully addressed and resolved.
  • Address any educational difficulties at school early-on; helping your child study and learn about the subject, or get help from a good tutor.
  • Do not use medication or drugs as a solution to educational or behavioral difficulties at school, or at home. It is the wrong message about drugs to give your children—that drugs are a solution to problems in life.

The executives and staff of Narconon Arrowhead know that children are our future, and that every effort made in drug education prevention is valuable and important in safeguarding our children and youth. If you need help with drug prevention information or materials, please contact the center at www.narcononarrowhead.org

Sources:

http://www.nationalchildrensday.us/

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/preventing-drug-abuse-among-children-adolescents/acknowledgments