COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Participate in a candid discussion involving teenagers and parents about the current drug culture.
2. Understand the myths and realities of drugs — how peers are misinforming your children about drugs.
3. Recognize what international drug surveys of teenagers reveal, including the motivating factors in teen drug usage.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
When most parents discuss drugs, they reveal some of their greatest fears and concerns. Their apprehensions are understandable. Usage among children is again on the rise. In the 1980s, the number of children using drugs actually declined by half, a result of concentrated efforts by governments, the media, community and parents’ groups to send this important message: drug addiction can destroy your relationships and family life; it can harm or kill you. Unfortunately, these efforts lessened as the public began to feel the problem had abated.

During the 1990s, cocaine and marijuana re-emerged as popular drugs. Agents also saw a dramatic increase in heroin, LSD, and drugs used to facilitate sexual assaults. These trends continue today. If you grew up during the first wave of drug experimentation, you knew more about drugs than your parents did. Now, your kids know more about drugs than you do. Our children’s world is not only more complex and stressful than the world of our youth; it also exhibits a drug culture that never before existed.

YPO families are often surprised by what is happening at their children’s schools and in their youth community. Agent McManus gets to the heart of this in a revealing two-part session.

The first part, a confidential forum discussion between Agent McManus and teens, encourages a candid discussion about what is going on specifically in their lives. Agent McManus is expert at talking with youth about drugs in their schools and their community. He gives practical, helpful advice on how to handle drugs, avoid drugs, deal with peer pressure, and how to be aware of new drugs such as date rape chemicals and ecstasy/rave parties.

The second half is an adults-only debriefing of part one and an education on what parents need to hear about their children’s world. Agent McManus suggests when and how to talk to your child about drugs and how to deal with difficult situations with parents, teachers, and other children.  This session is frightening, informative, and invaluable to parents and teens. contact us