Finally, some good news in the fight for drug sanity: Earlier this month, Oklahoma voters resoundingly rejected a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana use. With nearly all the precincts reporting, the vote was 62 percent opposed and 38 percent in favor of the measure.

Topics: parenting, marijuana legalization, marijuana, teenagers, teens, cannabis

Today, widespread marijuana use has become an unfortunate fact of life. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have legalized its use, and 20 others—including Florida—have approved it for medical use. Celebrities like Bill Maher, Willie Nelson, and Woody Harrelson brag about their constant use of the drug.

Topics: parenting, marijuana legalization, marijuana, teenagers, teens, cannabis

President's Message - March 2023

Understanding connections between mental health, diseases, and social problems are the underlying icebergs (frequently created by our own behavior) that stop us from seeing the problem correctly and taking appropriate action. 

Topics: President's Message, marijuana legalization, marijuana, Informed Families, cannabis

There are so many things we need to teach our kids to prepare them for a healthy, happy, productive life.

One philosopher thought endurance was the single most important life skill to teach our children:

“Endurance and to be able to endure is the first lesson a child should learn because it’s the one they will most need to know.”

—Jean Jacques Rousseau

Topics: parenting, teenagers, teens, redribbonfridays

Here’s just one more reason why it’s such a bad idea to legalize marijuana: A recent report from the National Poison Data System (NPDS) found that calls to poison control centers about kids five and under accidentally consuming marijuana edibles rose from 207 in 2017 to 3,054 in 2021—a 1,375 percent increase. In 98 percent of these cases, the victims found the edibles either at home or at a friend’s house.

Topics: parenting, teenagers, teens, redribbonfridays

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, one in every five students reports being bullied at school. It happens to all races, sexes, income levels, and grade levels, according to the center’s findings.

Topics: parenting, teenagers, teens, bullies, cyberbully

President's Message - February 2023

How Do You Show Love to Your Brain and Heart? By Staying Drug-Free!

Topics: President's Message, alcohol, Informed Families, alcohol use, alcohol abuse

Drum roll please... introducing the 2023 National Red Ribbon Week Theme: "Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug-Free."™

Topics: parenting, teenagers, teens, redribbonfridays

So often it seems our interactions with our children consist mainly of telling them what not to do, and what they’re doing wrong. But sometimes we need to focus on what they’re doing right. Indeed, we need to encourage them more than just sometimes.

Topics: parenting, teenagers, teens, accomplishments

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported last month that federal authorities seized more than 379 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl last year, enough to kill every American.

Topics: parenting, drug, teenagers, drug abuse, study, teens, fentanyl