Over the past several months, our community has experienced a number of tragic events involving teens whose actions were adversely affected by drugs and alcohol. As a community organization comprised of parents, local government, school officials, clergy and health care providers, Parents. The Anti-Drug wishes to express our most sincere condolences to the community and to all those family members personally affected by these events and to those whose lives have been forever changed.

As parents, we worry about our kids. When they are babies, we aim to insure that their basic needs of food and warmth are met. As they age, we strive to find ways to engage them socially, athletically and academically. In their teen years, we fear the long-term consequences of their choices. This is why we react so strongly to negative news stories about teens in our community. When faced with tragic news - especially when it takes place close to home - we are reminded of just how difficult it is to protect our teens.

News can intrigue; it can spark our curiosity to want to learn more about "what happened". Yet as parents, we are far better served to use the news of tragic situations to reflect within our own families. Heartbreak in our community offers each family the opportunity to invest that emotional energy into meaningful discussions. While we cannot always protect our children, we can prepare them for life through honest conversations about values and choices. Take the time to be present for your child. Take the time to talk with your children of all ages. Remember that the most significant interactions take place when we eliminate technological distractions and truly attend to one another.