There are a number of ways young kids find out about drugs. In the Hispanic communities of Dallas, Texas, a family friend may be selling cheese heroin - which is targeted for young children. In Florida, children may witness their parents taking prescription drugs or even doctor shopping. In West Virginia and Virginia there is the ongoing battle with OxyContin and kids can’t help but see drug use. They even see TV programs about drug addiction and drug rehab. The indoctrination begins at an early age and doesn’t ever stop.

The average age of first drug use is now around 12 years old – that’s right, at the ripe old age of 13, your kid could need drug rehab. Alcohol is even younger at age 11. Even major universities deliver a not so subtle message that life may be better on drugs. In college you can usually get whatever drugs you want from a dealer – or you might get them from a doctor. Which doesn’t mean you won’t end up in drug rehab.

There is also another message from a different kind of drug dealer - the TV drug ads directed at children and their parents. One current ad is from Shire Pharmaceutical and advertises their drug, Adderall. I was recently watching a cartoon with my son. I normally use a DVR, record shows and then fast forward through the commercials, but this commercial caught my eye.  I doubt many parents watch cartoons with their children, so I assume the message is directed to a child. I am not saying all drugs are bad, but I do wonder why a drug company would promote a drug during a show that primarily only children watch. Surely they know that kids are influenced by commercials - that’s why they advertise toys during the hours kids watch TV, right? And, like the toys, if they make the drugs attractive the kids will also want them. These ads fuel drug use, drug addiction and are driving more and more people to drug rehab.

If a drug company can put a child on drugs at age six and keep them on them for a lifetime, they stand to make a lot of money. According to one recent study, if kids start on drugs such as Ritalin or Adderall at age eight or older, 44% will develop drug problems and need drug detox and drug rehab. If they are taught what symptoms to present to a doctor, they can get drugs (watch the movie Charlie Bartlett). I wouldn’t want my kids to be indoctrinated for future drug use. And I certainly wouldn’t want them to have to interrupt their education and their life for a drug rehab program.

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