Anti-drug campaign offers digital resources for parents who have troubled teens

By Staff Writer

The Partnership at Drugfree.org has launched a website to provide parents of teens who abuse drugs and alcohol with potentially lifesaving information.

According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 2 million teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 require treatment for substance abuse addictions, but about 90 percent of those adolescents receive the help they need. A Partnership Attitude Tracking Study found that parents of troubled teens are more likely to go to the Internet to seek help, but they often struggle to find effective treatment information.

The Partnership at DrugFree.org has created Time to Get Help, a website that can answer important questions about a child's drug and alcohol addiction. The president of the campaign said that the search 'teen drug problem' leads to more than 300,000 results on the Internet, which can overwhelm a concerned parent. Time to Get Help is designed to provide an easy-to-use, non-judgemental environment with science-based data and parent testimonials.

The online community also offers downloadable e-Books that contain the most current information and advice from addiction experts. The digital material includes important tips, such as the right questions to ask a treatment or detox center before admitting a child.

Children who have self-destructive behaviors may benefit from an alternative boot camp, which aims to instill positive behavior patterns in adolescents.