Megan Overstreet is a student at Northridge High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, and she has some (potentially) surprising news for parents; it's often easier for kids to get drugs in school than anywhere else.

"While polling my 11th-grade English class, I found that 52 percent of the students had been offered drugs since starting high school. Yet the most shocking statistic is that 88 percent of the students knew exactly who to talk to if they wanted drugs...'I could text some people and literally have it in my hands by the end of the school day.'"

Overstreet goes on to suggest that parents have far more influence in their teens' decisions than they realize. By taking an active interest in a child's life, asking questions, and knowing who their friends are, parents can help their teenagers avoid substance abuse pitfalls.

Labels: drug_use, influences, schools