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Soul
of the Healer
Posters
for Clinic
By William
F Pfeiffer, MD
In my practice, I have found that often the best way
to make a point is not to state an observation outright but to ask a
leading question. Sometimes that question is loaded, at times even provocative.
However, a question gets people thinking and can bring them to the same
conclusion, independently.
I've
found that posters on parenting, smoking, or issues that concern primarily
the parent seem to get attention and requests for copies to bring home
to other family members. I'm not sure about the ratio of positive change
to family arguments that I've started, but I do know that it's made
at least a few people think.
Teens
who do not smoke, use drugs, or abuse alcohol through age 21 are virtually
certain NEVER to do so.
Teens
who have never used marijuana overwhelmingly credit their PARENTS
as the main influence in their decision.
The
more often a family has dinner together, the less likely a teen is
to smoke, drink, or use drugs.
Children
in families that have dinner together only once a week are more than
TWO TIMES more likely to smoke, drink, and use drugs than are families
who eat dinner together every night.
Teens
who fight more than they get along with their fathers are 68% more
likely to smoke, drink, and use drugs than teens who get along well
with their fathers.
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How often does your family eat dinner together?
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How
often do you help your kids with their homework?
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How often do you attend their games or activities?
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How
often do you go to parent meetings at school?
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How
often do you give your kids praise or set limits?
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How often do you take them to a place of worship?
Be
honest with yourself as you answer these questions.
If you feel that there's not enough time for family life, perhaps
you need to reevaluate the time you spend at work or away from home?
Keep
in mind that your children are your legacy and are much more important
than any money or property that you will leave behind.
Invest
well in them now, and it will pay off later.
So
what are you doing for dinner tonight?
Data
from a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
at Columbia University. Califano JA Jr. America 2000 Jan 15-22;182(2):6-8.
www.americamagazine.org
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