There are many ways we can take action to fulfill the Five Moms mission, but the most important thing we can do is share what we learn about cough medicine abuse and its risks with other parents. Parents cannot take a stand against this type of substance abuse if they don’t know that it can occur. Tell your friends about it. Tell your neighbors. Tell your kids’ coaches and teachers. Educating the adults you know really does make a huge difference. Take advantage of the excellent resources available at StopMedicineAbuse.org to help.

Talking with our teens is another important and effective way to reduce the possibility that your teens will abuse cough medicine, but remember it shouldn’t be a one-way conversation. Listening allows us to understand our kids’ experiences and perspectives. We’ve learned that when parents talk regularly with their teens about the risks of substance abuse, their teens are up to 50 percent less likely to abuse. Of course, substance abuse isn’t an easy topic to bring up, but there are some wonderful tips available from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Visit the Partnership’s Time To Talk site for advice on how to get the conversation started with your teens.

The information we learn and share is essential to preventing OTC medicine abuse in our communities. We are excited to see how much more progress we can make with your continued help this year. Share what you’ve learned with others on the Stop Medicine Abuse Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/stopmedicineabuse.

I was shocked to discover the national issue of teenagers abusing over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines, but even more so to learn that this behavior could be happening in my own community. So, as one of the Five Moms as well as a mother of four and foster parent, I started talking to family members, parents, teens, and others in my community about the warning signs of abuse and how to prevent it from happening. This year my goal is to further educate parents about the dangers of cough medicine abuse by hosting a Town Hall meeting. I challenge each of you to talk to other parents and your others in your community about the dangers of OTC cough medicine abuse.

We can truly make a difference by working together, which is why Five Moms strives to ensure parents have the resources they need to get involved in their communities. Our web site makes it easy to find information on ways to take action to keep your teens safe. By using the free resources on our site, you can also help other parents understand the seriousness of this issue so they can discuss those risks with their own teens.

If spreading the word about the dangers of cough medicine abuse is a community resolution you’d like to adopt, here are a few useful tips and resources:

• E-mail five friends or family members about medicine abuse by using our Tell-a-Friend tool available in both English and Spanish.
• Share this flyer at your next parent-teacher conference or school meeting.
• Order free educational brochures for parents and distribute them at your child’s next sports event or school play, or at PTA meetings.
• Host a town hall meeting to share information about teenage medicine abuse with other parents and adult influencers.

Being responsible, getting involved, and speaking out against OTC cough medicine abuse are great steps every parent can take this year.

Do you have more ideas for New Year community resolutions? Share them with the community on the Stop Medicine Abuse Facebook fan page!

What about making a commitment to improving the lives of your families and those around you. Consider resolving to communicate better with your teens and create an open family environment where your teens feel comfortable talking to you about drugs. You, as a parent, can make a positive difference in your children’s lives. In fact, research shows that parents do influence their teens’ decisions about whether to abuse drugs or not.

When it comes to talking with your teens about medicine abuse, here are a few tips that can help:

1. Educate Yourself – Know the facts about cough medicine abuse and share this information with others who are involved in your teens’ lives.
2. Communicate with your Children – As we’ve mentioned before, teens who have learned a lot about substance abuse in the home are up to 50 percent less likely to abuse drugs. Make a commitment to not only talk to your teens, but listen to them too!
3. Safeguard Medications – Take the time to get rid of the medications you don’t use and keep track of every medicine you do have.
4. Be More Involved – Get more involved in your kids’ lives and get to know their friends and their friends’ families, too.
5. Watch for Warning Signs – When you notice behavioral changes in your teens’ lives, make yourself available and encourage them to talk about what is going on.

As you make the commitment to communicate better and more often with your teens, simple steps like these will do more than you know. The main thing is that as parents we need to start talking, and there’s no better time than now!

How will you incorporate preventing medicine abuse into your resolutions for the year? Share your thoughts and advice on our Stop Medicine Abuse Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/stopmedicineabuse.

There is some good news in this year’s report: cough medicine abuse among teens has not increased. On the other hand, however, it hasn’t gone down. Ultimately, the findings mean that we here at Five Moms still have a lot of work to do when it comes to raising awareness about this behavior, and we cannot do this alone.

You can do many things to help keep your teens safe. The first step is to start talking about cough medicine abuse – talk about it with your teens, your friends, your neighbors, and other adults in your community. The more educated we are, the better chance we have of ensuring that our teens understand the dangers of this behavior.

The value of talking with your teens about substance abuse cannot be underestimated. This year’s Monitoring the Future study indicated that teens’ overall perception about the risks of drug abuse is decreasing. We must change this and ensure that our teens understand the true dangers of such behavior. After all, research indicates that teens whose parents talk to them a lot about the dangers of drug abuse are up to half as likely to abuse drugs.

As we get into the heart of the holiday season and school vacation, take just a few moments to share your views on substance abuse with your kids. It could make more difference than you’ll know.

On behalf of all of the Five Moms, I want to thank you for your help so far and ask that you continue to support our mission to make as many parents aware of cough medicine abuse as possible. You can help us by telling your friends or joining our community on Facebook, and together, we can continue to make a difference.

Since friends can have significant influence over your teens, peer pressure can play a large role in teen drug abuse. These five tips can help keep your teens out of trouble:

1. Talk to your teen on a regular basis. Although it may not always seem like it, you are the most powerful voice in your teens’ lives.
2. Get to know your teens’ friends. Learn their names, invite them over, and get to know them and their parents.
3. Make sure to ask your teen questions about their plans. Where are they going? Who will they be with? Will they be supervised? I cannot stress the importance of these questions.
4. Talk openly and honestly about the peer pressure that revolves around teen drug abuse. Many teens face peer pressure issues at some point, and it is essential that you take the time to form an open line of communication with them about the dangers of cough medicine abuse.
5. Know the warning signs on OTC cough medicine abuse. Being able to identify when your teen may be abusing cough medicine is the best way to prevent a problem and it will help you explain to your kids that substance abuse is not okay with you.

I know that talking with your teens about sensitive issues, such as drug abuse, can be tough, but communication with your teens is key in keeping them safe and healthy. It is so important that we talk with our teens about substance abuse, and that we talk with them often.

Have you successfully been able to talk to your teen about pressure from their peers? I encourage you to share your experiences and tips for other parents on the Stop Medicine Abuse Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/stopmedicineabuse.

Before you start clearing the table and turning on the football game this Thanksgiving, take some time to ask your teens about OTC cough medicine abuse. As we know from Blaise’s recent article, the dinner table is a great place for this discussion.

A good way to get started is to tell your family about a story you saw in the news, a public service announcement that ran on TV, or a recent Five Moms article you read. Use these references to start an ongoing discussion about OTC cough medicine abuse with your teens and the rest of your family. Ask them what they think of this form of abuse or if they have heard of other teens engaging in this behavior. Role play different ways to avoid situations in which your kids might be offered medicines or other substances to abuse. Explain your views about medicine abuse.

And, remember, what you say does matter to your teens. Research shows that teens who learn a lot about substance abuse in the home are up to 50 percent less likely to abuse.

How will you use your holiday time to start a discussion with your teen? Share your thoughts and advice on our Stop Medicine Abuse Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/stopmedicineabuse.

I recently found this article that discusses how family dinners can prevent teens from engaging in risky behaviors. The study, which was conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, suggests that teens who frequently eat dinner with their families (five times a week) are less likely to turn to alcohol and drugs.

I know it’s hard enough to get the entire family in the house at the same time for dinner, especially with teens, so getting them to sit down at the dinner table—without television or cell phones—sounds nearly impossible. But it doesn’t have to be if you start small. Shoot for twice a week first and then gradually make your way to more days each week. Let your family know earlier in the day that you’re making dinner, and tell your teens what time they should be home. Making this a regular routine in your house will just be another small thing you can do to protect your teens from engaging in OTC cough medicine abuse or even illicit drug use.

Who would have thought something so simple could prove to be so helpful in keeping our teens from engaging in risky behaviors? So while you have heard a lot about talking to other parents about the dangers of medicine abuse during last month’s efforts, don’t forget about protecting your teens in the home.

How have family dinners helped open the door to valuable conversations in your household?  Tell other moms your story on the Stop Medicine Abuse Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/stopmedicineabuse

Apenas llegamos a D.C., cenamos con nuestros viejos amigos de la CHPA y de la comunidad del blog: Caroline de Morningside Mom, Jenn de Mommy Needs Coffee y Janice de 5 Minutes for Mom! Fue divertido volver a conectarnos con las otras Five Moms y dar la bienvenida oficial, en persona, a mamá Misty Fetko. Todos tuvieron la oportunidad de analizar su relación personal con la campaña Stop Medicine Abuse y de escuchar las historias individuales de las mamás y los participantes del blog. Cuando creíamos que todos ya habían hablado, la CHPA nos informó que había otra persona más que recién había llegado… y entonces apareció el Dr. Drew Pinsky, más conocido como Dr. Drew, que venía de su programa de radio “Loveline” y de la serie de VH1 “Celebrity Rehab” y “Sober House!” La CHPA había invitado al Dr. Drew para ayudarnos a promover la campaña Stop Medicine Abuse y el Mes Nacional de Concientización sobre el Abuso de Medicinas. Lo menos que podemos decir es que estábamos todos sumamente entusiasmados. Y permítanme contarles que el hombre profesional, sincero y amable que ven en televisión y escuchan por radio es exactamente igual a la persona con la que se encuentran cuando conocen personalmente al Dr. Drew.

Al día siguiente, el Dr. Drew, las mamás, los participantes del blog y yo fuimos al capitolio para hablar acerca de la legislación que puede ayudar a prevenir el abuso de medicinas de venta libre para la tos entre los adolescentes. Fui lo suficientemente afortunada de reunirme con el personal de las oficinas de la Senadora de Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchison, del Senador de Kansas, Pat Roberts, y del congresista de Texas, Ciro Rodriguez, mi representante de San Antonio. Aunque indudablemente estaba un poco nerviosa, gracias a la ayuda de las otras madres, de nuestras amigas del blog y del Dr. Drew, estaba más ansiosa que nunca de compartir mi pasión y apoyo a nuestra campaña. Debo decir que fue estupendo recibir la atención de personas tan importantes en Washington.

Logramos tanto en solo un día. Creamos conciencia en el área de D.C. acerca de nuestra causa; hablamos con legisladores acerca de la cuestión del abuso de medicinas de venta libre para la tos; respondimos preguntas y compartimos nuestras historias con todo el que nos escuchara. De más está decir que en mi viaje en avión de regreso a Texas esa noche me dormí con una sonrisa en mi rostro, exhausta por las actividades del día, pero orgullosa de nuestra campaña y de quienes hicieron que ese día fuera posible, y entusiasmada por lo que el futuro nos depara a Five Moms y a Stop Medicine Abuse.

Lea el mensaje personal del Dr. Drew acerca del abuso de medicinas de venta libre para la tos y regístrese para recibir videos con novedades del Dr. Drew sobre la campaña Stop Medicine Abuse.

***

My Trip to Washington, D.C.

As many of you know, last week was a very important time for the Five Moms as we traveled to the nation’s capitol to raise awareness of OTC cough medicine abuse for National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month. We have all been working very hard to spread our message and last week was our chance to make an impact on Capitol Hill. It was a busy and exhausting couple of days for us! Shortly after we all arrived in D.C. we had dinner with our old friends from CHPA and friends from the blogging community: Caroline of Morningside Mom, Jenn of Mommy Needs Coffee, and Janice of 5 Minutes for Mom!

It was fun reconnecting with the other Five Moms and officially welcoming new mom Misty Fetko in person. Everyone took a moment to discuss their personal connection to the Stop Medicine Abuse campaign and heard the individual stories from the moms and bloggers. Just when we thought everyone had spoken, CHPA informed us that there was one more person who had just arrived, and in walked Dr. Drew Pinsky, better known as Dr. Drew from his syndicated radio show “Loveline” and VH1 series “Celebrity Rehab” and “Sober House!” CHPA had invited Dr. Drew to help us promote Stop Medicine Abuse and National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month. We were all very excited to say the least. And let me tell you, the sincere, kind, and professional man you see on television and hear on the radio is exactly who you get when you meet Dr. Drew in person.

The next day Dr. Drew, the moms, bloggers, and I went to Capitol Hill to talk about legislation to help prevent the abuse of OTC cough medicine among teens. I was fortunate enough to meet with staff from the offices of Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Kansas Senator Pat Roberts; and Texas Congressperson Ciro Rodriguez, my representative from San Antonio. While certainly a little nervous, with the support of the other moms, our blogger friends, and Dr. Drew, I was more anxious than ever to share my passion and support for our campaign. I must say, it felt pretty amazing to have the attention of such important individuals in Washington! We got so much accomplished in just one day. We raised awareness around the D.C. area for our cause, we spoke to legislators about the issue of OTC cough medicine abuse, and we answered questions and shared our stories with anyone who would listen. Needless to say, on my plane ride home to Texas that evening, I went to sleep with a smile on my face exhausted from the day’s activities, proud of our campaign and those who helped make that day possible, and excited for what the future may hold for the Five Moms and Stop Medicine Abuse.

Read Dr. Drew’s personal message about OTC cough medicine abuse and sign up to receive Dr. Drew’s personal video updates about the Stop Medicine Abuse campaign.

I have spent a lot of time educating parents about the dangers of medicine abuse and sharing my story. Although it has not always been easy, it is important to me that other people learn from my experience so that they don’t have to go through what I did. I know that OTC cough medicine abuse has touched some of our readers personally, but I also realize that this is a new issue for many. No matter what your past experience has been, we all can play a part in educating parents and teens alike about this destructive behavior during National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month.

For those of you who have witnessed this form of abuse first-hand in your family, your school, or your community, speak up! Making a personal connection among your friends or in your community can go a long way in helping to prevent abuse, so learn the facts.

If you don’t have a personal experience with OTC cough medicine abuse, it doesn’t mean that you should stay silent. Talk to your teens about the dangers of abuse. You can share my story or the stories of teens from DXMstories.com. Next time you are at a town hall or PTA meeting, talk to your community and tell them about National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month. Or, please join us at one of the town hall events we’re co-hosting with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. In the coming weeks, we’ll be in Richmond, Virginia; Lansing, Michigan; and Santa Ana, California.

Whether or not you have a personal experience to share, you can play a valuable role in educating people about OTC cough medicine abuse. So make your voice heard! What better time to speak out than during National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month?

How do you plan to use National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month to talk about the issue of OTC cough medicine abuse among teens? Share your story on the Stop Medicine Abuse Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/stopmedicineabuse.

It was my first podcast, and it was a lot of fun! Jeff and I talked about many of the topics that we have covered on Five Moms: the need for parental awareness, the various warning signs of abuse, the importance of talking to your teens, and what parents can do to prevent OTC cough medicine abuse. Jeff shared with me some of his experiences, and we discussed a number of ways adults can bring up the topic of abuse with teens.

We also talked about the importance of being on the lookout for signs of potential cough medicine abuse and what parents can do. OTC cough medicine abuse can be much more difficult to detect than some other forms of drug abuse. We won’t smell smoke and we won’t find paraphernalia to alert us that cough medicine abuse is happening. This means that we all have to be extra vigilant when looking for the signs that could indicate a teen is abusing medicine.

The podcast is available online at Jeff’s site or listen to the entire interview here in the box below:

How has the information from our Five Moms site helped you take action to raise awareness of OTC cough medicine abuse? Share your stories at our Stop Medicine Abuse Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/stopmedicineabuse.