Oct. 29, 2008 — ENOUGH and the Carter County Drug Task Force is offering some information and Tips To Help along with Partnership For A Drug Free America. Pastor Jim Varney who serves as president of ENOUGH says that prevention and awareness education are the most needed tools we can offer. Therefore, those who are laboring faithfully for a Drug Free Carter County have agreed to offer Tips For Help over the next few weeks. Information will be taken from an organization called Parents the Anti-Drug. You can access this resource by visiting their website (ParentingTips@TheAntiDrug.com). In addition Pastor Varney is willing to come to churches, clubs, or any interested group and offer ÒHow to Drug Proof Your KidsÓ as a seminar. The march on September 30, 2007 continues.
Millions of teens report feeling hopeless and losing interest in everyday activities for weeks at a time. And many of these teens are making a bad situation worse by using marijuana and other drugs in an effort to make themselves feel better.
Research shows that using marijuana can worsen depression and lead to more serious mental health problems. In fact, teens who used marijuana at least once a month in the past year are three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than teens who don't use marijuana.
For parents, this means it's critical to pay closer attention to your teen's behavior and mood swings, and recognize that marijuana and other drugs could be playing a dangerous role in your child's life.
Marijuana: Then and Now
So you tried pot at some point in your life and think you'll feel like a hypocrite telling your teen not to use? Get over it. Be honest and emphasize that this discussion is about your child's future and not about your past. Marijuana today is more potent than it was a generation ago and more kids are using it at a younger age, when their bodies and minds are still developing. Talk to your teens. Kids who learn about marijuana and other drugs from their parents are less likely to use them.
Tell your teens how to say no, even if you didn't.
Follow these steps to help prevent and recognize marijuana use in your home:
1. Talk to your teen -- You are the most important influence in your teen's life when it comes to drugs, so make sure your teen knows the facts about marijuana.
2. Set clear rules -- Discuss your expectations with your children, setting rules with clear consequences for breaking them, as well as praising and rewarding good behavior.
3. Recognize signs and symptoms -- There are a number of ways to identify whether your child is having psychological problems related to marijuana use. Look for signs of depression, withdrawal, hostility, etc.
4. Get help -- If you recognize any of the above signs in your child's behavior, there are many helpful organizations for families. Consult these resources for more information.
Columns
Tips to Help - Week 1
- Columns
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- Questioning proposed budget cuts
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Where do we draw the line?
A question from the audience Monday at a Commerce Lexington luncheon illustrates the philosophical conflict for some of today’s conservative right and even for the public at large.
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Bi-partisanship the key to penal code reform
Much has been made of the bi-partisan process which produced the General Assembly’s major reform of the state’s penal code.
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Senate week in review: Medicaid
This week, we saw some very good legislation and, unfortunately, some very poor legislation moving through the legislative process. Legislation I strongly opposed dealt with a proposed measure to balance the Medicaid budget. Medicaid needs to be fixed – no doubt about that -- but it needs to be fixed with Medicaid money and not by sacrificing education as well as other state programs and jobs.
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Landmark legislation revamps corrections
With little time remaining in the 2011 Regular Session, legislators used their time to amend and act on legislation.
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Legislative week in review
There was more than one “somewhat unusual coalition” on display last week in Frankfort. That was the description used by Tom Fitzgerald of the Kentucky Resource Council which advocates on environmental issues and usually represents “the little guy.”
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Legislative action picks up speed in General Assembly
With only eleven legislative days remaining in this year’s session, our time was used to act on numerous pieces of legislation this week in order to have enough time for the Senate to consider and approve these bills prior to the ten-day veto period.
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Senate week in review
Each week brings new challenges in the Kentucky State Senate and this week was no different. The 30-day "short session" we hold in odd years may not seem like enough time to discuss and approve laws that could change the lives of ordinary Kentuckians, but we have managed to pass important bills.
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Senate week in review
There was an alarming budget development in Florida that would have a huge impact on the illegal prescription drug use in Kentucky. Republican Governor Rick Scott has announced his decision to cut the $500,000 budget item for the state’s electronic prescription monitoring system, the equivalent of our KASPER tracking system.
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Jailer explains finances and “Bad Cats”
During the fiscal court meeting on Tuesday there was much talk concerning county, state, and federal inmates at the Carter County Detention Center. I do understand on the surface that people may have concerns over federal inmates.
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