When I thought about the topic of my first blog post of 2019, I initially had a totally different subject to address.  However, this morning as I sipped on my second cup of coffee and flipped through an old family album, I discovered a Dear Abby entry from The Washington Post.  I am not sure of the exact date; however, because of its placement in the album, I believe it was in the summer months  of 1991.

At the time of this Dear Abby article, my children were approaching their teens and the D.A.R.E. program was in full swing.  For those of you who may not remember this program . . . The letters stand for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.  Police officers were trained to address 5^th, 6^th and 7^th graders to help them avoid drug temptation and peer pressure.  Often, high school students who had avoided the downward spiral from drug use came to the classrooms to help the younger students find ways to stay away from drugs and still be “cool.”

Being a mother of two children in the “vulnerable” age, I found the program to be a fantastic ally in the war against drugs.  But the more I heard on the news and read in the paper, the more apprehensive I became for the safety and success of my children and their friends.  I kept my eyes, ears and the lines of communication open.  Not only did I talk with my children at a very early age, I also used more subtle tactics including the insertion of this Dear Abby article in our family photo album.  I was very aware of the fact that my kids loved looking at those pictures, and I hoped they would read the article – and learn from this young man’s mistakes.

More than two and one half decades have passed. I am saddened to write that the drug problems in America are not getting better.  In fact, they are much worse and spiraling rapidly out of control.  We — as parents — are our children’s first line of defense.  We must not overlook our responsibility to educate our children – instill in them the confidence to avoid drugs and to stay away from those peers who will tempt them.  This is not a problem to start addressing when they are teenagers.  We must start earlier – before they are double digits and drifting away – becoming more independent and resourceful – and less likely to hear or retain any of our sagacious advice.

I do not pretend to have the answers – I wish I did.  However, maybe – if you so desire – you can print this tattered, yellowed Dear Abby article and place it somewhere conspicuous in your home.  Talk to your child about it!  With a little luck, this young man’s poor choices may inspire your child not to make his mistakes.

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