Drug czar: Parents must talk to kids

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Parents must take personal responsibility for reversing increases in young people's drug use in the United States, the U.S. drug czar said Thursday.

"Now more than ever, families must recognize early signs that children may be using drugs and take immediate action to protect them from the potential of a lifetime of drug-related consequences and harm," National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske said.

His office pointed to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report last month that indicated 1 in 10 people age 12 to 17 and 1 in 5 age 18 to 25 reported in 2008 and 2009 that they used drugs in the previous month.

"Particularly troubling is a 17 percent increase in the rate of prescription drug abuse among young people aged 12 to 17," the drug-control policy office said.

"Prescription-drug abuse is at record levels, attitudes about drug use are eroding and drugged driving is disturbingly common," Kerlikowske said.

He called on parents to talk to their children, make sure they know the harm drugs can produce and let their children know they disapprove of drug use.