Parents' Panel

I want you to know how much I love your "Send Your Child a Text" this is a great tool for me as a foster parent to use with my foster children who are teenagers in a cell phone world they love getting a text from me each day about drinking and what my expectations are. My thoughts are that smoking is a harmful drug as well and I would love to see some stop smoking texts because my foster kids are asked about 10 times per day to smoke.

I just found out my 16 year old boy is drinking and smoking pot. What would you suggest now? He is basically out of control and will not listen to me.  Please help.

Message:

1: What do you think the ratio is of kids who get alcohol from strangers versus a parent?
2: Do you think it's ok for kids to drink at home with their parent's supervision?
3: Does learning the "proper technique" at home make teenagers less likely to abuse alcohol?
4: What would you say to a parent who lets their child drink at home?

Do you have any information on what to do if your child is already drinking alcohol? Also, do you have any resources to help family members deal with the actions and consequences of an underage drinker?

Hi! I am writing an article about underage drinking in Utah for a summer school class. I have a few questions I would like you to answer if possible. (also my brother has had trouble with underage drinking and your information would be great for me to give him some tips)

1. Why is underage drinking increasing in Utah? Is it just Utah or the nation at wide?

2. Do you provide help for underage drinkers individually if they do not want to talk to their parents about drinking?

3. From the information you have, what makes a child or teen want to drink?

 4. Any other interesting facts/statistics that would be helpful?

 If possible it would be greatly appreicated if you could answer these  questions a.s.a.p. Thank you very much!

I have a 21-year-old son who is a heavy user of drugs and alcohol. We tried to do everything right with him - sat with him for homework, family dinners, Cub Scouts, tee-ball, soccer (I was the den leader, team mom). I blame myself every day for his drug usage, it weighs very heavily on me. He tells me that it's not my fault, that I've always been a good mom and he has made very bad choices.

Today I was in St. George, Utah, at the strip mall with the Old Navy where there was a Parents Empowered activity going on. Imagine my distress upon seeing numerous posters and banners that said "Blame my parents.  Parents are the number one reason why kids choose not to drink".

I approached a man who was at a booth and calmly told him (with tears in my eyes) that I didn't appreciate the motto.

I've been crying for the past 5 hours. I guess I can just continue to blame myself for my son's substance abuse problems.