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According to a new national survey, a significant percentage of dads would rather leave drug education to moms and schools. The survey, conducted by the non-profit Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the MetLife Foundation, found that 34 percent of fathers felt that drug education should take place in schools, compared to 10 percent of mothers.

Shelly Mowry, director of programs and communication for the Arizona affiliate of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, commented on the findings: "Moms really do take the lead when it comes to talking to kids about drugs. ... Parents need to have a united front in this effort. I think a lot of times dads just kind of think, 'She's going to take care of it.' Sometimes they're afraid of the delicate subjects like sex and drugs."

The study, which included responses from 1,004 parents of children in fourth grade through high school, identified one reason that dads may prefer to let mom or the school talk to kids about drugs: dads participating in the study placed a higher value on being friends with their children than did mothers (59 percent of dads versus 51 percent of mothers). In addition, 18 percent of fathers reported difficulty enforcing rules about substance use, compared with only 10 percent of mothers.

Ms. Mowry's advice to parents: "Be the parent, not the pal. ... Especially in those preteen years - 11, 12, 13 - kids need clear and consistent boundaries."

(Source: www.azcentral.com)

Labels: drugs, alcohol, communication, dads, talking, fathers

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A new report, Growing Up with Dad: Fathers and their Impact on Substance Use, discusses the extent to which drugs are used by children and youth in Wales, and the impact of paternal relationships on substance use. The research was conducted by two Welsh organizations, Children in Wales and Catch22. Researchers collected data from approximately 18,000 young people. The young people completed a questionnaire which asked about their relationships with their father and whether this relationship has any effect on whether they drink, smoke or use marijuana.

Pat Dunmore, director of CtC in Wales for Catch22, comments: "We know the importance of good parenting in children's lives but for a long time that was seen as the mother's role. It's clear from this research that it's not enough for dads just to be around. What makes the difference is having a good relationship between dads and their children."

(Source: cypnow.co.uk)

Labels: substance use, dads

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments