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So glad you can join me today, everybody. I still can't believe the unofficial end of summer is upon us with Labor Day weekend.
Well at least there is college football to look forward to. It is also a time of year when our kids face new pressures because they are
heading back to class. They are facing peer pressure, all things that can lead to bigger problems like drugs and alcohol abuse.
Our expert is here with advice for parents as they help their children navigate these adolescent challenges.
Also today, a Central Ohio Hospital is receiving top honors for being wired, how this technology is providing better patient
care. And this is your last chance to register for this week's daytime give away. Details ahead in the show.
But first this afternoon, schools are in full swing and your kids are already juggling assignments, homework, sports or
activities. When you add the social pressures in the mix, it can be a tough time for teens. Parents need to know
this is the time when kids can be exposed to drugs and alcohol. Ed O' Reilly of the Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic
in Dublin is back with us today with advice to parents. Ed, nice to see you. Good morning, Gail.
Sadly this is one of those things that all parents have to think about as their kids are adolescents.
At the Neil Kennedy Center in Dublin, you get an idea of how many kids are out there abusing drugs and alcohol.
What are you seeing? Well in terms of numbers, we saw about a hundred in the last, well twelve, 2012.
There is a far amount, even in the more affluent parts of town. Which surprises people, but it shouldn't.
It surprises people, but it shouldn't, yes. That is well said. There is no escaping it, really.
Now it is true, that it sometimes takes different forms depending upon the neighborhood.
But it is pretty much everywhere. How really are you seeing some these problems start?
Not just for the kids you see at your center, but in general. Usually, one thing about adolescence is it does take
they do develop a problem faster, but by the time we see them they are usually 14 or 15.
Sometimes there are some experimentation an earlier age, but not very common. At least not in the kids we have been seeing.
One of the interesting things you told me was that parental influence is showing to really have a positive influence
on kids. Much to what we as parents think, it is you know, has fallen on deaf ears our advice.
Explain this phenomenon. Well, it is interesting. It is one of those cases, in which really it is a good idea to do some
science because what all the studies show is if you talk to kids actually about what the main influences are on whether they
drink or do drugs. What we find out is the most significant influence is the parents.
The position of the parents and the family on alcohol and drugs. Now this sort of flies in the face of what many parents would say.
I agree. They are not listening. Yeah, they don't pay any attention to me. But, they do.
Now I will admit they may sometimes tell you they don't. Sometimes to your face actually.
What you find out it's not the case. They actually do. I believe it must be in the job description for teenagers.
They have to tell their parents they don't pay attention to them, when in fact it turns out that they do.
That is good news actually. And know parents if you are doing it, keep on doing it because it has not fallen
on deaf ears, as they say. Right. So at the Neil Kennedy Center in Dublin, you see many kids with addictive substances maybe we
as parents don't know about. What are you seeing that is out there that you want to make sure parents
know about? Well, I will say the most of what we see are what you might call the tried and true.
Okay. What has been around. What parents do know about, like alcohol, and marijuana . We do see the unfortunately
an increasing amount of the *** based pain killers. Even a little bit of ***, which is what is extremely scary
to many parents. It is. But it is increasingly out there in the upper middle class and the suburbs.
So there is a wide variety of what most people think as more exotic things, like spice and bath salts. Some drug that has
a new name for an old drug, Molly. Which is basically usually ecstasy, which is known as a club drug. It is out there and popular.
Kids will use that somewhat, but they do actually tend to stay on the tried and true shall we say.
What should parents look for and when should they seek help for a child?
Well, I would say the most important thing to start with is to have the conversation with your kids
about what your position is, as parents and as a family. We except that you will not be doing any underage
drinking and you will not be using an illicit drugs. For example, it is important to be clear. Okay. Mmuhmm.
Because what a lot of parents will do is they will say, "well my kids have been exhibiting fairly good judgement, okay.
I think they have a decent head on their shoulders and I think they will be okay." Well they might.
What helps a lot is this clear description. Over and above that, it does admittedly become difficult because many of the
characteristics of someone who is getting into drugs also mimic things like a little bit of depression, a little bit of adjustment
to a new school. But parents see these things. Fights with boyfriends. They know them as signs.
So whatever it is, they should take this clue that something is going on. Absolutely. It's one of those.
It is a good point Gail. I know one of those things can be drug abuse. We've had your information up there
but I know you want folks to go to your website. Where they can find more information and see if they should
check with someone like you. Yes. I would say that is a very good point. You know your children.
If they are exhibiting behaviors or emotions that are at variance with what you would normally except
there is a reason. It might not always be drugs and alcohol, but it is a good time for a conversation. Ed, thank you for the
good conversation we had by us too. So I appreciate it.