You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.
As heartbreaking as it might be, I know you want to share your knowledge, experience, etc., with others to help them avoid some of the heartache - but sometimes, they don't want to hear it.
Hugs.

Yeah - they don't want to hear it because it's probably hitting close to home!! Superintendent's get elected right? Why rock the boat? They let constituents supersede the need. Bet he has his priorities with the Mayor too. Somewhere along the line the "word" has gotten out to let this happen and it'll "go away". Sorry.
You did your damndest and if you reached 50 people this time, you have begun!

Wow, you didn't know that some people out there have perfect kids? Although I haven't met any, I have heard several coworkers brag about their perfect kids. They certainly didn't take after their parents. Maybe they were adopted. Sorry....... that was mean.

How about putting up a Web Site, or running it by the Voice... Oprah. You just need a little P and R to get it started especially in schools.
Just my thoughts.
I said it before... I think people just don't realize and don't even give drugs a thought when they have kids who look and act normal. I was guilty of that, drugs were for scum of the earth not my daughter....Boy was I wrong. Get yourself on Tv and your off......it is easy today to do with a good program.

Oprah is a great idea. Actually thought of taping into something bigger. Maybe I can suggest it as a topic "NOT MY CHILD" and maybe some other parent is further ahead (child much older) willing to come forward. I cannot, however, put our name out there because our son is still young. Already he's upset with us because the principal at the high school (we presented at the middle school) included our name on the advertisement I sent him to send to the parents of the high school. I'm angry with him (he doesn't know it and never will) and myself for not telling him to keep our names off of it. The parents who attended found out it was us but we never mentioned which son of ours and we told them our son is in recovery. Guess one always takes a risk when they come forward.

Get the word out. Just read an article today in the paper about a family who lost BOTH daughters college age to HEROIN. Affluent family, high achieving daughters caught in a terrible web of a drug ring. They are now visiting their beautiful, smart daughters in a graveyard. Breaks your heart.

I would not and have not resented it. We have been attending mandatory meetings like this for the past six years. Our children attend parochial schools and the high school has mandatory meetings like this for parents and our children every six months. We are required to sign in at the door. The incentive is that our children are not allowed to participate in ANY extra curricular or sports activities if they do not attend or have to participate in a drug awareness
Saturday school.
The saddest thing for me has been that my two oldest sons are both recovering opiate addicts. Not sad that they are recovering, but sad that the problem is so prevalent that with all that is offered, they still found addiction.
Dont stop fighting for what you know to be right. It is very important to our children and their future.

The last meeting that was held at the high school, our second son actually spoke at and was recieved well by the students with lots of questions.

I wish you the best in your endeavor......xo

Personally, I wouldn't have resented it either but when I asked the question to some of my friends in my journal, there was one that told me that she would resent it. Of course, her child did not suffer through any addiction issues. Her opinion was very important to know because I know that there would be some opposition to this issue by some - especially by some who have kids who they know "for sure" that their child won't have a problem.

Question: Is the high school parochial Catholic? Also - did the programs address to the parents about what signs to look for, who to call, and how to respond? Even though your son's developed addictions, did the programs help you recognize what to do sooner?

I've been writing the superintendent and sending him articles on what other public school districts are doing in other states - requiring high school parents to attend drug education drug programs. They also included the extra-curricular activities to be taken away if parents don't attend. That didn't sit well with him because the school already does breathalyzer testing, thinking that that is already too invasive. I guess parents complained. So what?

Yes, it is Catholic school. The programs are very informative and last about two hours or more. They address communication skills between parent and child, what to watch for, signs and symptoms, what to do, where to go etc. There is also a speaker at every meeting who has had personal experience as a parent or student with drugs or alcohol and how it has adversely affected their lives. We also have an in-school drug councellor who is a parent volunteer. In our case, he is a retired juvenile drug councellor. If any child is caught on or off school premisis having anything to do with drugs, they are required to attend classes for eight to ten weeks every Friday if it does not warrant expulsion.

I personally think the program is very beneficial and most helpful to those parents who have their heads in the sand and believe that their child will NEVER be affected by drugs. The program also addresses how important it is to address the issues if they have a friend involved in drugs or alcohol.

My two oldest sons who are both recovering opiate addicts have other issues involved in their use. One suffers with bipolar disorder and self medicates and the other was in with a very wrong group of people. If there is anything I would add to the program it would be some info on mitigating factors and how to deal with those. However, the program is long enough as it is.

The school also sends out info several times a year reminding us of the facts that are spoken of at the meeting and that there is a drug councellor available at the school if needed.

I hope this info helped and if you have any other questions, I would be glad to help. Blessings for the success of your program. xo

WOW!!!!!!! How impressive and proactive that school is!! I'm blown away! They certainly have their act together. My husband and I presented to two schools in our community - one public (middle school) and the other a Catholic School for parents 6th through 8th grade. I tried (and still trying) to point out to our parents and community that this is just not a child or family issue but it is also a community one, as well. To make that point I had the same panel at both events - advertising them together.

Honestly, I was starting to lose my momentum and almost decided not to do the PART 2 portion that I announced we would do. That part would focus more on the prevention end - giving parents ways on how to communicate and constant reminders from the "school" about the facts. In fact - I met with the D.A.R.E. Officer a few times, wrote letters asking him if we could work together to see if we could share more information (as well as reminders) the information the children are learning to bring the gap together. He was not receptive in the least bit. First of all, they have a set program and I guess cannot deviate from that and two he's new and inexperienced. Mind you - I am not a D.A.R.E. fan (since my son said this program taught him about all the drugs he shouldn't be doing) but I understand the program is now science based and maybe this will help parents to know what their kid is learning. Maybe they don't want the parents to know?

Anyway, thank you so very much for your input! It was very helpful!

Part of the problem with getting cooperation is lack of funding in an already overburdened educational system. They have to stay within their strict funding for events like this or the cost of sending out literature. In our school the cost is covered by donations from concerned parents who sponsor the program.

If people only realized how cost effective these kind of programs are overall and how beneficial they can be to our society, maybe they would cooperate more. We like to put bandaids on things in our society rather than invest money in prevention. Overall these bandaids are costing us a great deal more than prevention does.

Parochial schools are not exempt from all of the same problems that public schools face. We have just as much drug and alcohol use in our schools. I have to believe that part of the reason that we can be successful in implementing these programs is our value system and the close parent involvement. Please dont get me wrong, I am in no way speaking against public schools. I just think there is an air of seperation where communication is concerned. It becomes very difficult to fight administration and the powers that be.

I wish you the best with your endeavor as I believe it can save the lives of our children and make parents aware. This is a very different world that we live in. xo

I am not a fan of D.A.RE. either. My kids grew up with that program. It was not the least bit beneficial. I wish to goodness there had been a program like Shelly mentioned at the school when Gary was there. I had no help and no clue what to do.

I just got an ear full from a parent who was very involved in her children's lives (who had mental health issues) and I asked her about her thoughts on a mandatory parent drug program and she said that she would be very much against it. Her rights, as a parent, she thinks would be violated. She said already our government is taking away our freedoms and that is not what our country was based on.

Having said that, I value her opinion because I'm finding that many others feel the same way and, in a way, she makes a valid point. In addition, I need to hear "the other side" before I would consider pushing something like this because I have a better idea as to what I'm up against.

I, personally, would not object to it because this is about our children's safety. Just like it's the law to have your children buckled up in a car.

I still don't believe that people think that a total of 100 people (two presentations) is a good turn out considering this program was directed to about 500 families..... (actually more because the high school received the advertisements, too). Don't understand it.

Hit next page

I am not sure what rights she thinks are being taken away.....this should be an informative and supportive kind of meeting where parents are working together along with school administration to protect our children. One of the biggest problems is our children will not always listen to us or dont want to talk to us about drugs and alcohol. Having an informative meeting like this one opens doors for kids to talk to their parents. If anything the source should enforce the rights of parents with their children.

Maybe parents who are more naive to the situation in our world with addictions just dont get it and their focus is more on "rights being taken away" or "insecurities about relationships" etc. I think once you have experienced addiction with your children you can see the hard reality of it. If more people were open to the experiences of others, we could learn alot.