Statistics show that most families will face a crisis at some point, but when it’s your family, it may seem like the world is coming to an end.
Unfortunately, with the epidemic of teenage substance abuse and mental health issues these days, this heartache strikes thousands of families every day. The good news is there are things parents can do to help, but the first step is to understand the nature of the problem …
ALMOST ONE HALF OF FAMILIES IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY DEAL WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
FENTANYL IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AGES 18 TO 45.
9 OF 10 PEOPLE WITH ADDICTIONS START BEFORE AGE 18, AND ONLY 10% GET HELP.
The issues facing young people these days are more than substance abuse alone, and the problems are getting worse.
1 IN 11 YOUNG PEOPLE ATTEMPT SUICIDE, AND 19% CONSIDER IT.
ONE HALF OF ADOLESCENTS HAS A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES.
COVID ESCALATED ALL CRISIS STATISTICS, AND OVERDOSE DEATHS ROSE TO AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
Meanwhile, parents are juggling a busy schedule with a host of activities competing for their time. For a while, things seem to move along smoothly enough—until the teenage years. Kids change when they become teenagers, and the issues and risks they face change as well. Which means parents need to change to keep up with those challenges, so they never have to make frightening statements such as:
- “We thought substance abuse only happened to other people.”
- “We didn’t think our kid’s problems were that serious or dangerous.”
- “We couldn’t communicate with them once they became teenagers.”
- “We didn’t know what to do to help them when they were struggling.”
- “We should have done something sooner, but we waited too late.”
Amazingly, every one of those statements above is preventable! “PACES for Parents” is a proven parenting methodology that can keep those situations from becoming a reality, and it will help prevent a dangerous crisis that could tear your family apart. “P-A-C-E-S” is an acronym to help you remember five steps you can take to build a happier family: Preparation, Awareness, Connection, Education, and Steps.
This guide will go through those areas of PACES and present techniques you can pick from to fit your situation. In each section, select one or two items that apply to your family. Write them down for future reference, and before you know it you’ll have a “Proactive Parenting Plan” that can help your family not only deal with a dangerous crisis but come out the other side in a happier and healthier place.
Now, it’s time to take the next right step …
