Parent Corps to help curb drug use

The Bush administration announced a program yesterday to get parents involved in curbing drug use among the nation's youth.

The start of Parent Corps marks a new step to mobilize parents against youth drug abuse by organizing trained parent leaders to educate fellow moms and dads on how to keep children drug-free, said John Walters, director of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy, during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington.

"We know that parents remain the most important influence on children, particularly when it comes to decisions about drugs," Mr. Walters said. "The national fight against drug use must be fought on many fronts, and an early and active role by parents in drug prevention is critical to the success of that effort."

A recent survey conducted by the University of Michigan found that more than 37 percent of students have used an illegal drug at least once in their lifetime.

With the program, parent leaders serve two-year terms dedicated to sharing research on the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drug use, as well as teaching parents how to identify high-risk children and situations.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is funding the initiative with a three-year, $4.2 million grant to the nonprofit group National Families in Action (NFA). NFA is responsible for establishing the Parent Corps program in nine states, four of which have cities already active: Denver; Stamford and Weston, Conn.; Wilson and Wilmington, N.C.; and Appleton and Kimberly, Wis.

Operations will begin in the remaining five states -- Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, California and South Carolina -- by early 2005.

"The Parent Corps takes the power of community engagement and multiplies it with the power of strong parents to keep drugs away from our kids," said CNCS head David Eisner.

CNCS also administers the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs.

The initiative stemmed from President Bush's campaign platform in 2000 to create a drug-prevention corps led by parents. A pilot program in North Carolina has been in operation since 2002 with 16 parent leaders and seven volunteer leaders.

"Parents need to know the dangers of substance abuse and communicate these dangers to their children. Children need to know that their parents have solid reasons for disapproving use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs," said Charles Curie, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration director. Mr. Curie's agency also provided a grant to the NFA to develop training programs for Parent Corps participants.

Nora Volkow, director for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said preventing adult drug abuse must start with preventing youth drug abuse, and Parent Corps can help to promote continued decline in illicit drug use among the nation's children.

According to the 2003 Monitoring the Future survey by the University of Michigan, which collects information from more than 50,000 students in grades eight, 10 and 12, overall illegal drug use among those grades has decreased.

Figures show overall illicit drug use, including marijuana, inhalants and hallucinogens, declined among eighth graders from 17.7 percent in 2002 to 16.1 percent in 2003. Over the same period, drug use among 10th graders decreased from 34.8 percent to 32 percent, and use among 12th graders declined from 41 percent to 39.3 percent.