Despite the national reality of pervasive use of drugs including alcohol in our culture, we do little to prepare our children for the choices they need to make regarding their use. Either we vacillate between “just say no” and “just say nothing”, or we embellish the facts with exaggerations and misinformation. Too often, the schism that exists between what we tell them and their own lived experiences provokes cynicism, mistrust and even more curiosity. So much so, that once they are out on their own, many young folks seem primed for overindulgence. That is why the safety of our children should be our number one priority.
