Keep Tabs on Your Teens, Says AAFP President

Parents are a powerful influence in keeping teens free from risks involving drugs, alcohol, tobacco and sex, and family physicians can help strengthen that parental role by advising both parents and teens.

During a Feb. 28 news conference in Washington, D.C., AAFP President Larry Fields, M.D., of Ashland, Ky., urged parents to watch for changes in their youngsters' behavior and question them about any changes they see. The news briefing launched this year's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. The Academy and many other organizations are participating in the campaign.

"I called on parents to talk with their child when they see a change in their child's behavior, a drop in grades, a loss of interest or excessive fatigue," Fields said in an interview after the news conference. "I said parents should not be afraid to ask their family doctor for help. Also, I said the teens themselves may find their family doctor a good source of advice. Many teens have been to their family physician's office for years, know the people there and are fairly open to discussion."

Fields, the only physician who spoke at the news conference, told reporters a story from his own family. "I said my oldest son started to have a problem in the ninth grade. Fortunately, it turned out to be girl problems instead of something more serious, but you can't tell until you check it out with your child," Fields explained.

The federal Office of National Drug Control Policy organizes the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and has developed free resources to help parents and others, such as family physicians, tackle sensitive topics with teens. These resources include a new booklet, Navigating the Teen Years: A Parent's Handbook for Raising Healthy Teens, and a CD-ROM, "The Teen Years: A Road Map for Parents."

Family physicians can make parents aware of the resources, which are designed to help parents advise their teens as the youngsters confront questions about drugs, drinking, tobacco and sex. Order copies online or download their content as PDFs.

Another core element of the 2006 campaign, a "Risky Behavior Open Letter" print ad signed by the AAFP and 15 other groups, also was unveiled at the news conference. The ad and other resources focus on parents as "The Anti-Drug." "It's a fine line between respecting your teen's privacy and doing your job as a parent. … Teenagers today have a minefield of risky behaviors to navigate -- drugs, drinking, tobacco, sex -- with powerful influences like peer pressure and mixed messages from pop culture and new technologies such as the Internet," says the ad. "Fortunately, there's one influence in your teenager's life that trumps them all. You. So take action."