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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday June 5, 1985 - Page 10 Plain talk and drugs: peer pressure by Janean Holden There are many facts that can be presented about drug abuse that document the detrimental effects such abuse has on the individual, his family, and society. Illicit drug use per capita in the United States exceeds that of any other industrial nation in the world. We see the effects frequently demonstrated by decreases in productivity among workers and students, high rates of crime, and deaths due directly or indirectly to drug drug-relate- d use. Unfortunately, while it is important to educate everyone about the terrible consequences of drug abuse, such education rarely helps abusers turn away from drugs, nor does it stop very Promotion to Major Captain Sterling K. Palmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Palmer of Blanding, Utah has been promoted to the rank of Major, United States Air Force. The new rank was pinned on Colonel Major Palmer by Robert V. Woods, commander 60th military airlift wing, on a flight from Osan Air Base, Korea to Yokota Air Base, Japan. Palmer, a 1967 graduate of San Juan High School, earned a bachelors degree at the Uniand a of Utah versity masters degree from Webster University in St. Louis, Illinois. He speaks both the Cantonese and Mandarin dialects of the Chinese language. Since earning his pilot wings in 1975, Palmer has served as a aircraft commander, an instructorflight examiner pilot, as air attache in Hong Kong and is currently assigned to the 86th military airlift squadron at Travis Air Force Base in California where he aircraft and flies the also serves as special assistant to the wing commander. Palmer is married to the former Kathleen Hanson of Salt Lake City and they have two sons, James and Matthew. C-14- 1 C-141- many from starting drug abuse. Obviously, there are no set solutions to the drug problem, but there are techniques that have been developed which can lessen the risks of becoming involved with drugs. One of the most important things parents can do to help their children stay away from drugs is to help them learn ways of saying no to those who would try to persuade them to use. The importance of this should not be underestimated, since many kids are introduced to drugs by their friends, and peer pressure is often difficult to withstand, regardless of how well intentioned the child. You can make it easier for them if you give them some Resistance to Persuasion Skills. Such skills should be introduced to them, and then practiced in your home, so that your child is never caught without some way to say no to drugs. The following resistance skills can help. 1. The Broken Record. In this nonsituation, you use a threatening stimulus, such as a candy bar, which you try to get the child to accept while he practices saying Im not going to do it to every argument you After the child feels use. comfortable with the candy bar, you switch to a more threatening issue like drugs. Example: you say, Try this candy bar, its really good. Your child responds, Im not going to to do it. If you were really my friend, you would eat this candy bar. Im not going to do it. And so on. 2. Give Reasons or Excuses. PMS-SO- S Theresa Stash is photographed in mid-a- ir Ranch Alvin Reiner photo Example: I almost died the first time I tried drinking. Or, My folks will ground me if they find out. 3. Recruit An Ally. Find a friend in the group who feels the same way you do and get him to help you withstand the persuasion. 4. Reverse The Pressure. If Example: you were really my friend, you wouldnt ask me to take drugs. Or you might try using your credit as a group member, I am the one with the truck. If you want me to drive, quit hassling me about drink- mg. 5. Avoid The Situation. Stay support group meets tomorrow The PMS Support Group will meet on June 6 at 8 p.m. in the Family Services building, south entrance, in Blanding. The topic of discussion will be Controlling PMS symptoms with proper diet, nutrition and good exercise program. Topics in future meetings will be the Steven Glenn Program that has been widely recognized as successful; Guided Imagery, PMS women and a guide to the as she heads for the cool water at the Bluff Elementary School picnic at Decker men who love them, How to say no without feeling guilty. Several meetings will be away from people who would try to persuade you to do something you know is wrong. 6. Straight Talk. Tell your friends, I have made a decision not to use drugs, and Im sticking with that decision. 7. Change The Subject. Example: Lets go to the show instead. Chicken Counter-attack- . This is used if the child is being chicken called or coward. not one who the Im Example: is chicken, you are. I didnt give in to the pressure, you did. 9. Guarding Your Rights. In this case, you tell your friends, I have a right to say no! When you are teaching these kinds of techniques to your children, it is important to remember that children and 8. i spent discussing the book Declare Yourself Discovering the Me in Relationships . There are some very exciting things happening in the methods of helping women with PMS Remember this, symptoms. PMS is real, you are not alone, and you can be helped! Everyone is welcome. Come and see our Flowers and Vegetables teenagers often have the feeling that nothing bad is going to happen to them, even if they choose to abuse drugs. If you stress to them that substance abusers are just people who never learned to say no, rather than that they are bad people who dont care about their health, your children may be more receptive to your help. Parents are very important in influencing children. Even with teenagers, when peers seem more important than any other person, studies have shown that parents still influence teenagers 75 percent of the time, while friends affect them only 25 percent of the time. Take time to prepare your children to say no to drugs. It can only help. WARNING SIGNALS THAT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE ...IF YOU SEE YOUR DOCTOR! Change in bowel or bladder habits. 2 A sore that does not heal. 3a Unusual bleeding or discharge. 4a Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere. 1 5a Indigestion, or difficulty 6 a 7 a in swallowing. Obvious change in wart or mole. Nagging cough or hoarseness. for your garden and flower beds! 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