Be honest about the drug problems (Plano: elementary schools, place, kids)

[MaryS80]

Rowlett mom is spot on drugs and alcohol can be found in the city, country, or suburbs, and at any income level. A big part of the problem is clueless parents who assume because they live in an upper middle class suburb with top rated schools that there is no drug problem. Worse yet, parents who provide their kids with drugs and alcohol.

Yes peer pressure exists, but nothing can replace being an active and aware parent. Know your kids friends, know where they are going, know the signs of drug use. It sounds simple, but far too many parents are grossly unaware.

GISD has a couple anti drug and alcohol clubs for its students, SADD, and Light Brigade. I imagine other districts have similar groups.

Right now cheese heroin is problem, and it really seems to be younger teens getting caught up in it.

[FarNorthDallas]

I have a mom friend whose 8th grader has recently been found with prescription drugs and dope. She was floored. She's very involved with her 3 kids. He had attended a magnet elementary in his district but then went on to a middle school that none of the other magnet kids went to and he had no friends and never developed any. First time the parents found his stash carefully hidden in his room, the boy said he never actually took anything just collected the stuff. The parents believed him! Then he got caught again by the school. The boy says he gets his stash from a dealer in the parking lot of a private religious school nearby. This is the most current drug/alcohol incident I have heard.

I think it's pretty much everywhere. In Highland Park the police decided to crack down on all of the underage drinking going on there (often parent-sponsored). Park Cities People newspaper has been following this story. I think the crack down started last year.

Plano has had recent issues with steroids. That's been in the newspaper too - Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Observer. Rural areas seem to get meth problems. I don't know if we can escape it, we just have to get our kids to not participate in it. And you know there is just as much drugs, alcohol and steroids at the university level as well.

[imanativetx]

I am a Mom with a 22 yr old son in N. Dallas/Lewisville area and I am also a counselor in a rehab. Yes, there is a drug problem in Plano/Denton area among teens and young adults and I agree it affects all families; even affluent families. Impacts some families of faith and parents who thought they were involved with their kids. Best thing you can do is stay involved; know your kids' friends and schedules and get them active in something they are very proud of. And if you suspect anything, intervene EARLY, better to be wrong and them angry at you than be late and having regrets. If you didn't seen the article in the papers recently, "Meanest Mom in the World" about the Mom who sold her son's car after finding alcohol in it--sounds tough but that may be the approach to take. Someone told me they wished their Mom had done that for them......

[DeeRoma]

I am very shocked at the drug problem here. My husband has a younger brother and sister and they both went to Marcus and they said they saw drugs all the time. I dont know why neither developed a serious problem.
But I work at a hospital and I see at least 2 a night of drug overdoses. I had never seen more than 20 in my career (7 years). I was shocked. I was told it was because of the money in the area.

[Grainraiser]

There are drugs regardless were you live. The only difference is the type of drugs your kids are exposed to. Don't be a clueless parent who thinks it could never happen to you. There are always signs but you must see them instead of putting your head in the sand. Don't ever think the neighborhood you live in will protect your kids.

[**NoodLes**]

Most kids get their alcohol from their own parents. I've met some pretty bad parents over here in DFW.

[malamute]

I think it's important to know why kids take drugs, and it usually comes down to either peer pressure, they feel a strong need to fit in socially, be the life of the party, or emotional pain of some kind, an emptiness.

Instead of pushing kids too much, making them think they must live up to some standard or high expectation, it's better to accept them as they are, encourage them to make their own decisions but as far as drugs, they are out of the question. If they are loners but happy then let them be, don't push them into group activities.

Just work to have happy well-adjusted kids.

[FarNorthDallas]

I was chatting up a recent Highland Park High grad and I asked him if everyone drank and he said, "Oh yes, everyone." I asked him where they got the alcohol and he said it starts out with stealing from the parents, but mostly they pay people to buy it for them. They drink because it is fun, but all the kids knew full well that they needed to shut it down sometime in college in order to be successful and make lots of money. He also said cheating was very very common as well. He said he planned to keep drinking when he went off to college and quit sometime towards the end of college. I didn't get a chance to ask him about drugs.

[Rakin]

Most people want their kids in a great school district which is usually a wealthier part of DFW.

I would speculate that there are more drugs in Southlake, Highland Park, Plano West than many middle income areas. Those kids have much more free time and surplus cash.

Just my speculation, I could be wrong.

[PlanoGirl]

Originally Posted by Rakin

Most people want their kids in a great school district which is usually a wealthier part of DFW.

I would speculate that there are more drugs in Southlake, Highland Park, Plano West than many middle income areas. Those kids have much more free time and surplus cash.

Just my speculation, I could be wrong.

I would agree with that. Plus, sometimes to afford those "lifestyles", both parents are working long hours during the week, i.e. have less time/energy to find out what their kids are actually up to.