Byzantine Catholic Family Matters

Parents, Fear Not!

One worry of parents is that their children may become involved with alcohol or drugs, particularly when they reach the teen years. Joseph A. Califano, Jr., who some may remember as the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under President Carter from 1977-1979, recently wrote that "parent power is the greatest weapon we have to curb substance abuse" (America, October 31, 2005). That is a very strong statement with important implications. One is that parents cannot rely upon law enforcement or schools to prevent their children from using drugs. Mr. Califano writes with some authority: he is chairman and president of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. His statement is the result of the tenth annual survey of twelve to seventeen year olds recently conducted by CASA. Mr. Califano went on to explain that young people are motivated to stay drug free (and that includes tobacco) when

They believe that their parents would not approve of them if they were to smoke, drink or use drugs;
They believe that it is immoral for someone their age to engage is such behaviors; and
They believe that this behavior is harmful to their health.

These beliefs ultimately come from the home; but this does not just happen. Teens are least likely to use tobacco, alcohol or drugs when

Parents are nurturing and actively involved with them. Being nurturing includes being a good role model, because parents give their children their own behaviors to learn and “try on.” Active involvement includes monitoring (and restricting) their young people’s behavior. The CASA study shows, for example, that teens who watch R-rated movies are several times more likely to smoke, drink and use drugs.
Dinner together as a family is the rule rather than the exception. So important is frequent dinner together that CASA put together a fact sheet citing ten benefits to this too often neglected practice. With regard to substance abuse teens who have frequent dinners with their family are half as likely to abuse drugs.
Attendance at religious services is weekly. The abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs is, in the end, self serving and nihilistic. A central message of the Gospel is one of self donation in the service of others. It is also one of hope.

CASA reports that two thirds of all high school students and more than one quarter of all middle school students attend schools “where drugs are used, kept or sold.” We can be tempted to blame law enforcement and school officials, but, ultimately, the drugs are there because of the demand. Take the demand away; the drugs will no longer be so readily available. It all goes back to the home, to the family. As Mr. Califano’s organization has shown, parents are the single most important influence as to whether or not their children will turn to drugs, alcohol and tobacco.