*Be aware that nearly all children must make decisions about drug use and form attitudes about drugs in their formative years.

*Become educated and informed about drugs and their effects. Be a credible source of information to your child.

*Become aware of the "do drugs" message of today's society.

*Be knowledgeable of and alert for signs of drug use.

*Take a firm anti-drug stand. Make it clear that you will not allow your~ child to use drugs.

*Back up the "no drug" rule with a clear and consistent set of behavioral ruses and be willing to enforce them.

*Take positive steps to strengthen family unity and communication.

*Improve the quality and the quantity of the time spent with your child.

*Establish communication with other parents, particularly the parents of your child's peer group. Work together for a communal set of standards and provide reinforcement and support for one another.

*Work with other parents to develop meaningful alternatives to drug use. Utilize community and parent resources.

*Encourage youngsters to participate in meaningful, thoughtful and unselfish activities and services within the community.

*Encourage the community at large to adopt attitudes and policies that discourage the use of drugs among young people.

*Work to develop a cooperative, working relationship with the organizations and agencies within the community that have an impact on youth and adolescent drug abuse (civic, school, church, judiciary, mental health, law enforcement, professional, etc.)

*Be aware are of programs and agencies working with drug abuse, and if it becomes necessary, seek help immediately.

*Have confidence in your ability to make a difference. In working together with other parents, you become many. In a time of powerful adolescent peer pressures, parents need peer pressure too.