Wayne Alliance - Parents

The Wayne Alliance mission is to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug abuse among the youth and adults of Wayne by providing educational programs, community education and literature available to the public.

“Hot Topics” Round Tables meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00-8:00 pm in the Health Department Conference Room 2  at the Wayne Township Municipal Building, 475 Valley Road, Wayne, N.J. 07470.

FACTS FOR TEENS ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS:
(Click HERE for printable version)

Chances are you have heard that taking prescription medications is safer than using illegal drugs because they are legal.

Well, we know that even acetaminophen [also known as Tylenol] is dangerous if overused and that’s what most people can buy over-the-counter for a plain old headache.

Possible Side Effects
Some medicines have dangerous side effects even when taken the way a doctor prescribes them.
Deadly Consequences
You hear all the time about “accidental” overdoses. Not everyone who mixes alcohol and prescription medications know about the deadly consequences of this cocktail. Forget this: ‘it won’t happen to me’ thought. Remember this: once you start, you may not be able to stop or worse yet-you might survive in a vegetative state. And that’s not fun for anyone.
Know the Truth
Using prescription drugs not as recommended is just as dangerous as abusing illicit drugs. When someone tries to convince you that taking a prescription pill is safe-remember- The drug may not have affected them [YET], but it just might be really harmful for you.
Avoid Peer Pressure
Try these pointers:
1. Hang out with people who have the same ideas about healthy living.
2. Join a club or volunteer group. This should help you avoid boredom and be around people who
share the same beliefs.
3. If you find yourself in a sticky situation-find a way to escape by:
- Act as if you ‘assume’ they are joking.
- Explain that you have another place to be and leave.
- Suggest another activity
- Ignore the suggestion
- Just say “I’m not into that” or if you need to be more forceful try “I said I’m not into that-get it?”
- Try to leave the situation-you’ll be surprised by who will follow you.
4. If you feel like you can’t get yourself out of a situation, text or call a trusted adult with a “codeword” that lets them know to come and get you NOW.
YOLO so DIP before you get Merked*
*You Only Live Once so Leave before you get Drunk, High, Knocked Out.

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PARENTS CAN HELP PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING:

Our research shows that parents play an important role in their children’s underage drinking, and that teens are more likely to develop drinking and other substance abuse problems if their parents or friends’ parents provide alcohol at parent sponsored events.

 

Parents who allow drinking at their sponsored events have good intentions, thinking that students are safer when parents know about the practice. However, this sends the wrong message. Children as young as 11 years old as well as teens, interpret this as an approval to drink alcoholic beverages at any time.

 

We learn over and over that parents need to be authoritative figures in their children’s lives and not their friends. Fortunately, 67% of students who have a positive relationship with their parents are also less likely to drink and consequently, experiment with more aggressive drugs.

 

The “Wayne Parents Care” committee is designed to help parents share information and learn methods to combat the practice of underage drinking and use of other drugs.

See Wayne Parents Care - Safe Homes Network to learn about contact information and how you can become a member.