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of an overactive cell phone pale in comparison to the far more serious and certainly more addictive behavior that drugs and alcohol can create. Among the challenges that kids and parents face in the middle school years, exposure to drugs and alcohol ranks at the top of the list. Although some children will have their first experience with either one during elementary school, middle school can mark the beginning of a behavior pattern leading toward addiction. With greater numbers of students on campus and a mix of older adolescents with younger ones, the opportunity for experimentation and exploration increases.
    Although it may be hard for parents to imagine a twelve-year-old child drinking or using drugs on a weekly basis, the latest statistics tell a different story. Consider the following five facts (statistics provided by the Marin Institute, www.marininstitute.org ):
    1. Every day, on average, 11,318 American youth (ages twelve to twenty) try alcohol for the first time; 6,488 try marijuana, 2,786 try cocaine, and 386 try heroin.
    2. Alcohol is by far the most used and abused drug among America’s teenagers. According to a national survey, nearly one third (31.5 percent) of all high school students reported hazardous drinking (more than five drinks in one setting) during the thirty days preceding the survey.
    3. Children who are drinking alcohol by seventh grade are more likely to report academic problems, substance use, and delinquent behavior in both middle school and high school. By young adulthood, early alcohol use is associated with employment problems, other substance abuse, and criminal and other violent behavior.
    4. Young people who begin drinking before age fifteen are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin drinking at twenty-one.
    5. Alcohol is a leading cause of death among youth, particularly teenagers. It contributes substantially to adolescent motor vehicle crashes, other traumatic injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school problems.
    Despite the seriousness of these statistics, don’t panic—by reading this book, you’re already taking steps toward ensuring that your child avoids drinking and drugs. Implementing the following three actions will support your child in pursuing a drug-free life.
    Supervise after-school activities . Parents can minimize the potential for alcohol and drug abuse through close supervision of after-school and weekend activities. A quick phone call to a friend’s parents can often confirm the supervision of another trusted adult and prevent an encounter with drugs or alcohol. However, it requires a certain degree of trust to rely on the integrity of fellow parents to remain present and responsible for your child’s welfare. Sharing a cup of coffee with parents who are new to your child’s social circle can raise your trust level and lower your anxiety about after-school gatherings. You can make sure your child’s activities, whether at home or in public, are supervised, without becoming overly intrusive. Your presence nearby, although not necessarily in the same room, is enough to give most adolescentsa sense of accountability. If your concern or curiosity reaches its limit, don’t hesitate to ask about after-school outings. Most kids won’t be very forthcoming with the details of their social gatherings, but it doesn’t hurt to express your interest by asking, “How’s it going?” or “What are you up to?”
    Show you care . Regularly letting your child know “I’m here if you need me” without bombarding him with constant questioning both shows him you care and encourages him to open up on his own.
    â€œI struggled to maintain a relationship with my son Alex during his middle school years. His resolve to gain independence was unrelenting. He’d say things like, ‘You can trust me, Mom,’ so I gave him almost unlimited freedom. Later, I’d find out