Let our children stay away from drugs

Author: Fan Lili
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: A drug education book that encourages teenagers to read emotionally and think rationally. — One of the finalists for the Touching Fujian Award, Wen Guoying. A new work that combines originality, accessibility, fun, and knowledge. — Drug expert Du Xinzhong.
Words for Parents and Teachers: Love your children a little more, let them stay a little farther away from drugs. Dear parents, do you have children or daughters who have just grown up? Is your heart always, moment by moment, filled with thoughts of them? Can you answer every question below completely?
Do you understand your child’s personality?
Do you understand your child’s spiritual and psychological activities?
Do you understand your child’s circle of friends?
Do you know your child’s recent life and study situation?
Do you know your child’s recent emotions?
Do you know the various social temptations children face today?
Do you often communicate with your child?
Do you often spend weekends with your child?
Do you understand drugs?
Do you know the current situation of drug use among teenagers?
Do you know incidents where children use drugs due to family reasons?
Do you educate your child with the drug knowledge you know?
Do you know how to protect your child with love, keeping them away from drugs?
Perhaps, you cannot answer all the questions above completely; perhaps, your answers are not perfect; perhaps, you have never thought about these questions. But today, you should take action.
In 2003, the cumulative number of registered drug users in China reached 1.05 million, an increase of 5% over the previous year. Among them, 72.2% were under 35 years old, i.e., teenagers. By the end of 2004, the number of drug users in China had risen to 791,000, an increase of 6.8% year-on-year. The overall number of drug users in the country has increased, and the types of drugs abused have become more diverse. These nearly 800,000 drug users are spread across 2,102 counties (cities, districts) nationwide. Teenagers account for 70.4% of drug users.
Perhaps, busy parents are unaware of the severity of drug use in China, let alone the fact that teenagers are the "main force" of this drug army. Perhaps, some parents, even if they know these frightening facts, never connect them to their own lives or their beloved children. Perhaps, while some parents express concern about these frightening realities, they never reflect on their role as parents in the process of their children approaching drugs and destroying their youth, or how to protect and guide them away from dangerous paths.
Scientific analysis shows that the main reasons for drug use among Chinese teenagers can be summarized in four aspects: personal factors, school education, family factors, and social factors. In terms of personal factors, curiosity, ignorance, social role stress, lack of rational education, and careless social interactions can all lead to drug use. In terms of school education, the main reason is the deviation in school education management. In terms of family factors, incomplete family structures, inappropriate family education, and low social and economic living standards can all contribute to drug use among teenagers.
Dr. Li Jing from Sichuan University’s Mental Health Center explains that high-risk groups prone to social problems are also more likely to use drugs. Specifically, teenagers in the following five situations are more likely to get involved with drugs:
1. Children from families where parents are often in conflict.
2. Children from broken families due to parents’ divorce.
3. Children from families where parents are overly concerned.
4. Children with unknown health issues or those in a state of restlessness.
5. Children with behavioral problems.
A complete family is a crucial guarantee for a child’s healthy growth. Broken families often give children incomplete love. Some parents may be divorced or frequently absent, leaving children without proper education, supervision, or guidance. This makes them more susceptible to bad habits and the temptation of drugs. As parents, whose words and actions directly influence their children’s development, parents who lack self-discipline often become negative role models for their children, leading them astray. In fact, many teenagers become addicted to drugs due to the influence of their parents or other family members.
In some families with better economic conditions, even if parents do not have certain personality traits or habits associated with drug use, improper upbringing can still lead children to develop a potential inclination toward drugs. For example, excessive pampering or indulgence in childhood, where everything revolves around the child and their material needs are met without conditions, can provide children with the means to seek drugs for stimulation. Some parents adopt harsh or authoritarian parenting styles, which may lead children to develop rebellious personalities, often experimenting with drugs to seek solace.
In terms of social factors, the transformation of society has led to confusion in values, and insufficient anti-drug campaigns are also significant reasons for teenage drug use.
Given these analyses, parents, can you answer the questions raised at the beginning of this article? Are you satisfied with your performance, or do you feel ashamed or even scared about it? This is the sincere question the editor poses to you today. Dear parents, for a moment, pause your work, slow down your rushed pace, swallow the curses you are about to shout, and sit down to think: How can you love your child a little more, helping them stay a little farther away from drugs?!