Half of the students raised their hands!

Howard Reznick, Manager of Jewish Community Services’ Prevention Education, reports he and JCS Health Educator Susan Kurlander recently had a sobering experience. 

“We were at one of the local Hebrew day schools presenting a prevention education program on drug awareness for 7th graders,” Howard said. “It was my first time back in a classroom in many years. I noticed how attentive all the students were. Our talk was clearly not just academic to them.

I veered off slightly from our usual focus and asked:

‘Please put your heads down and close your eyes so no one can see if you raise your hand.’ 

‘Now, if you are concerned or worried about either of your parents’ use of drugs or alcohol, please raise your hand.’

Half of the students raised their hands.

Their teachers and I were stunned.

Most of the time we approach these school programs with the mind-set that parents, in general, are worried about their children getting involved with drugs. It dawned on us that we must also support these same children with the courage and information to handle the insecurities that arise from the fear of something bad happening to their parents, due to the parents’ use of mind altering chemicals.

As parents, we have the mistaken notion that what my kids don’t see me do doesn’t affect them.  Based on that same notion, some children may hide from their parents things they do that might not be so healthy. It is truly an unhealthy family situation when parents are hiding their actions from the kids and the kids are hiding from the parents.”

Howard Reznick concludes: “As parents we need to be the open, healthy people that we can be, and that our children need us to be. It is our job to be the parents and for the children to be the kids. We must set and communicate healthy boundaries to them, and we must act as role models for healthy living.”

Donna Kane, MA, Jewish Community Services, Baltimore, Maryland

JCS offers addictions treatment, as well as prevention education for children, teens, parents and professionals.  For more information, call 410-466-9200 or visit http://www.jcsbaltimore.org.