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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(NAPSI)-Parents who think their teens' online conversations are innocent may want to take a look at a new study, commissioned by Caron Treatment Centers and conducted by Nielsen BuzzMetrics. It found that one in 10 messages analyzed involved teens seeking advice from peers on how to take illicit drugs without getting caught.
As the father of teenagers, I understand the concerns parents face every day about preventing underage drinking and drug abuse. Fortunately, there are steps parents can take to keep their own youngsters out of such statistics:
Keep the Computer Where You Can See It: It's easier to casually keep an eye on your teens' online use when the computer is in a common area rather than a private bedroom.
Web-Surfing Is a Privilege: Define the rules, concerns and expectations for online activities, and alert them that you'll regularly ask them to walk you through their recent online activity.
Keep Checking In: Have regular conversations about what they do online. Discuss their screen name(s) and any sites where they regularly visit or post. Let them know you're always available to talk.
Explain That the Virtual World Lives On: It is becoming common for employers and colleges to research the online behavior of prospects, so let your teen know that whatever they say or do online will likely have a long virtual shelf life.
Teach Them to Deal With Peer Pressure: Explain that just like in real life, "virtual" conversations can become uncomfortable or inappropriate. Discuss how kids can respond to a conversation or posting that turns to drugs or alcohol.
Be Aware of Danger Signs: Signs your child could be engaging in inappropriate or dangerous behavior online include closing a screen quickly when you walk by, becoming distressed if you remove computer privileges and having difficulty waking up for school because of late night online activity.
Consider Monitoring or Filtering: There's software that can monitor every keystroke and give you regular reports about their virtual behavior. Filtering programs let you block sites that aren't appropriate. Caron's Student Assistance Professionals suggest Spector Pro 5.0 for monitoring and Net Nanny 5.1 for filtering.
For more resources on preventing and treating adolescent alcohol or other drug abuse, visit www.caron.org/info.
• Mr. Lawford, who has been sober for 20 years, authored The New York Times best-selling memoir "Symptoms of Withdrawal: A Memoir of Snapshots and Redemption." He is the Public Advocacy Consultant to Caron Treatment Centers.
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