Parents of a Study in Buffalo Underestimate the Need for Drug Rehab

The University of Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions recently published a new study in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse.  The findings state that most parents are aware of and can accurately evaluate the extent of their teenager's cigarette smoking, marijuana use, drinking and overall substance abuse.  This study was special in that it was the first one completed with families where the teenager was not already in an effective drug rehab program, but where the parents were stressed and concerned about their teen's potential drug use anyway.  The researchers found that parent's weren't as oblivious as they thought.

The details of the study state that 86% of the parents accurately evaluated the presence of teen alcohol use and 86% accurately evaluated marijuana use.  Additionally, 72% accurately reported the presence of illicit drug use.  Though the study didn't specifically state, it appears that zero percent of the parents could effectively communicate with their teen about alcohol and drugs to the result of the child either not participating or the parent getting the child the help he or she needed to break what may become an addiction.  High marks were given for being right about their suspicion, but low marks were given for effective prevention and help given as a result of those suspicions.

The researchers state that there were some instances where the parent's suspicions were not exactly accurate.  For example, parents seemed to underestimate the quantity of alcohol used by their teens - their predictions came in far lower than what the teens were actually drinking.  Similarly, the parents also underestimated the frequency with which their kids were using marijuana.  They knew their teens were smoking pot and getting high, but just didn't realize how much.  The common denominator to these discrepancies were parents not monitoring their kid's after school or weekend activities and also parents who themselves had alcohol or drug issues.

Inane research aside, the fact of parents knowing what their teens are up to and seemingly not taking steps to address the issues is a dangerous game at best.  If something isn't done about the problem early on, it gets harder to face and control.  For information about effective drug rehab programs, contact a counselor at drug rehab referral.  Get your questions answered and help your children.