AVAILABILITY: Is the Prime Reason

CURIOSITY: Students hear about "highs" and want to find out for themselves.

PEER PRESSURE: Student drug abusers are almost "drug crusaders." They want to "turn on" their friends and others for various reasons. It becomes the "in" thing to do. Some students believe it is the way to become popular, to join a clique, to really be where the action is.

INSECURITY: Desire for affection, identity; low self-esteem; feeling of being a "nobody" from "nowhere" and being left out of everything that is important at their age by their peers.

BOREDOM: Lack of excitement, zest, thrills, fun and challenge in a dull, routine life. "There's nothing to do."

ESCAPE: From seemingly insurmountable or painful problems at home, in school, in the community.

REBELLION AGAINST AUTHORITY: Unwillingness to accept the discipline of home, school, and society. Desire to do "one's own thing" when one wants to regardless of the "rules."

AFFLUENCE & PERMISSIVENESS: The result of being able to have almost everything one wants because of overindulgence; or failure of home, school or society to provide fair and understanding limits of behavior of people of all ages.

LACK OF SUCCESS: While it is important to allow our young people to experience failure as a natural consequence, every person needs to know some success in life on a regular basis - not just a promise for an indefinite future. Frequent failure can rob a person of confidence, self-esteem, self-respect. To compensate, many young people find their "success" in the dream world of alcohol and other drugs where failure is temporarily (for as long as the high lasts) forgotten.

ABSENCE OF STANDARDS & ETHICS: The inability of many families to establish and maintain standards and ethics has, unfortunately, led too many young people to become involved in unacceptable behavior, simply because they neither knew, nor accepted limitations designed for their own enhancements, as well as for that of others with whom they had to interact daily. Young people need "models" - people whose actions as well as beliefs are worthy of acceptance and emulation.

SUGGESTED CURFEWS

When children are younger (elementary) a night time curfew should not be necessary as regular night time socialization is inappropriate.

A suggested weekend curfew guideline has been drawn up by the SafeHomes Committee for students in grade 5 through 12. Special events and circumstances may require that you be flexible on curfews but it is important to have a standard curfew for your child.

These curfews are not meant for every night of the week. Good common sense must prevail where young people are concerned. It is never a good idea for a student to be out every night regardless of their curfew. Time needs to be spent at home just being with the family, doing homework, or just plain relaxing. As the parent/guardian you are the best one to judge what works for your child. Set your rules and stick to them- for everyone's sake.