Building Healthy Morals and Values
Last week’s blog talked about a Generation in Crisis. We have a generation of young people who are constantly bombarded with cultural “truths” that are far from God’s truth. The first crisis we discussed was a Sexual Revolution.
Crisis #2 is a Drug and Alcohol Revolution. Consider these statistics:
- In the US, the average age a child has their first alcoholic drink is age 12.
- 85% of Christian kids have had an alcoholic drink by age 18.
- Every day, 2,500 children under the age of 18 try their first cigarette with 400 of them becoming regular, daily smokers. Half of those will ultimately die from their habit.
- 80% of young people who smoke will try marijuana; marijuana is a gateway drug to stronger drugs
- In 2022, 30.7% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past year; 6.3% reported using marijuana daily over the past 30 days.
You may wonder why young people begin using drugs and alcohol in the first place. Many studies have been done and the answers are actually pretty simple. There is peer pressure; everyone else is doing it. You can never underestimate the power of peer pressure. However, surprisingly, young people had two other answers that ranked as high as peer pressure. The first: Drugs and alcohol make them feel good and help them escape from their anxiety and pain. Second: Drugs and alcohol work every time (although they do require more and more as time goes by to get the same desired effect.)
As young people begin using drugs and alcohol, they go through 4 phases:
- Experimental Phase
- Social Use Phase – they feel comfortable here. This is very dangerous because their drug/alcohol use becomes acceptable
- Dependency or Preoccupation Phase: it’s “just what you do” and is on the verge of addiction.
- Addiction
So, what can we, as parents and the church, do about this crisis? First, we need to be aware that this is a real problem! It is easy to look the other way, blame it on “bad” kids or “bad” homes, when in reality, this crisis affects all demographics of children and families. Now that you are aware of the problem, be available! Be open and honest with your own children and the children you have connections to within the church. Let them know you are there to talk to them at any time about anything! Be the safe place they can go when they are tempted, hurting, anxious. Don’t let drugs or alcohol be the thing that takes away pain and anxiety. YOU can be the resource they need.
Be aware of the warning signs. If a teen begins to exhibit the following signs, it is time to look closely at what is happening in their life:
- Losing interest in activities they once enjoyed
- Dropping old friends for a new group
- Acting despondent, aggressive or angry
- Sleeping more than usual
- Breaking the rules, rebellion
- Physical changes like sudden weight loss, watery eyes, tremors
The key here is to know your child so that you know when something is “off.” When you know your teen's passions, interests, hobbies, patterns, you will more easily recognize the early warning signs of trouble.
And don’t be afraid to ask for help yourself. If you have concerns or questions, reach out to someone who can help you! Seek help from a counselor or another friend/parent who can listen and help you make good decisions on what to do next. At Shady Oaks, we have ministerial staff who would be more than happy to listen, pray with you, and point you in the right direction. By working together, God’s people can help the next generation turn to Him, rather than substances, for their answers!