If we do the right things, chances are they'll be all right. They don't want to self-destruct. The campaign's message arrives at a time when many parents apparently question their influence, even if their kids do not. In a recent survey of parents and teens by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, almost half of the parents said they believed their children would try illegal drugs in the future. At the same time, a similar proportion of teens who had never used marijuana credited their parents for that decision.
Parents have more power than they think.
A campaign-financed, bright blue bus with eight teenagers, for example, toured shopping malls and drug rehab centers along the East Coast last month, attracting TV crews eager to show the young reporters interviewing other teens about drug abuse. They can make a huge difference and we will equip them with the skills they need to succeed. A videotape for parents is in the works, as are brochures for parents as well as teachers, coaches and chief financial officers. The campaign also solicits McCaffrey, a straight-talking father of three, to speak to groups of parents. The best anti-drug message is kicking a soccer ball with your daughter, or sitting down and eating dinner together.