Daily HealthBeat Tip

Teens listen

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Teens might not like to admit it, but they listen. And a survey on drug abuse shows they listen.

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says young people were somewhat less likely to report using alcohol or illicit drugs if they had gotten prevention messages in the media.

But parents don't have to rely on the media. The agency's survey also found kids who talked with parents were similarly less likely to use drugs or alcohol.

So the director of SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Beverly Watts Davis says parents should think about what they want to say:

"The least we can do is talk about the harm that it causes and the consequences of their illegal drug use. And that's what's so important for young people to hear from a parent." (seven seconds)

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September 28, 2005

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