Publisher's Synopsis
In order to effectively keep your child safe, you must become an expert on an ever-increasing variety of topics - everything from I.T. to drug recognition - must now be part of your knowledge base. Being a busy, dedicated parent myself, I know the pressures you're facing. Through my work in law enforcement, I regularly encounter overwhelmed parents desperately seeking help keeping up in a world that's changing faster than they ever imagined possible. There is a void when it comes to science-based drug education information for parents, and I was inspired by those same parents to help fill it by writing a series of Parental Guides. These publications are a culmination of my education in biochemistry and my work as a cop. Drugs are changing every day, and there are new studies being done constantly... it's difficult to keep up, but I'm as dedicated to helping your children as you are. The Parental Guide series is my way of offering relevant, real-time information to parents (and teachers) to help them stay abreast of the issues and dangers facing our teens. My company, Safe Kids America, is focused on providing parents, educators, law enforcement, prevention professionals, medical professionals and others who work with teens the tools to recognize and respond to those dangers. The guides are just one of the ways I do that and there's more information on www.safekidsamerica.org if you need help beyond what this publication is able to provide. Why tackle teens and marijuana first? I believe, given current events and the movement toward more marijuana legalization, this is the most pressing and impactful discussion we can have with our teens. Parents come up to me after my classes and workshops in tears, saying this is the first time they've felt empowered enough to approach their teen about adolescent marijuana use. I encourage you to dive in and learn about the problems marijuana will cause your child, then take that information directly to them so they can make better decisions. They are being marketed to with slick and sexy propaganda by the marijuana industry. You must respond with fact and reason and this guide is your tool to do so. You, the parent, are the most influential person in your child's life. Our society has lost the conversation on marijuana with our teens... it's time to take it back one child at a time. Thank you for starting with yours.