[Face it substance abuse community awareness project letter to newsletter]

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U FACt IT
A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROJECT
Dear Parent:
Today your child saw "TURNING ON-TURNING OFF," a KIDS ON THE BLOCK
program designed to encourage young people to think and talk about the issues
surrounding substance abuse, some of its causes and possible solutions.  Hopefully,
through education, our children will choose not to become involved with alcohol and
drugs.
Parental awareness and open communication with your child are major factors in
combating a problem which effects our children, our families, and cur communities.
The National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth published a list of family
strategies for prevention of adolescent drug abuse that we would like to share with
you.
* Be aware that nearly all children must make decisions about drug use and form
attitudes about drugs in their formative years.
Become educated and informed about drugs and their effects.
Be a credible source of information to your child.
* Become aware of the "do drugs" message of today's society.
* Be knowledgeable of and alert for signs of drug use.
* Take a firm anti-drug stand.  Make it clear that you will not allow your
child to use drugs.
Back up the "no drug" rule with a clear and consistent set of behavioral rules
and be willing to enforce them.
--'--  Take positive steps to strengthen family unity and communication.
■'-  Improve the quality and Che quantity of the time spent with your child.
* Establish communication with other parents, particularly the parents of your
child's peer group.  Work together for a communal set of standards and provide
reinforcement and support' for one another.
--'.-  Work with other parents to develop meaningful alternatives to drug use.  Utilize
community and parent resources.
Encourage youngsters to participate in meaningful, thoughtful and unselfish
activities and services within the community.
Encourage the community at large to adopt attitudes and policies that discourage
the use of drugs among young people'.
* Work to develop a cooperative, working relationship with the organizations and
agencies within the community that have an impact on youth and adolescent drug
abuse (civic, school, church, judiciary, mental health, law enforcement,
professional, etc . ).
* Be aware of programs and agencies working with drug abuse, and if it becomes
necessary, seek help immediately.
A Have confidence in your ability to make a difference. In working together with
other parents, you become many. In a time of powerful adolescent peer pressure,
parents need peer pressure too.
This presentation is part of FACE IT, a Junior League substance abuse community
awareness project.  We invite your participation and support.  You can call our
Headquarters and give us your name and address if you would like to be on our
mailing list or if you would like more information.
Sincerely,
Lynda  Clifford   ; ,
Carol   Davis        L *'■■'■<- *& r"-'l «'
FACE   IT   Co-Chairmen
Junior League of Greensboro, Inc.   •   220 State Street   •   Greensboro, NC 27408   •    (919) 379-8226