In conjunction with a nationwide survey, Westchester County, New York conducted a survey of its own to try and gauge parental perceptions of teen drug and alcohol use among the County's children. It found that, though parental awareness of substance use was higher than the national average it was still underestimated.

"The good news from this survey is that Westchester parents overwhelmingly disapprove of teen alcohol and tobacco and marijuana use. But the survey shows that they have more permissive attitudes than their national counterparts, especially when it comes to beers and wine coolers and punishing teens when they break rules."

The findings were based on a survey of 414 parents who responded to a survey-by-mail. Responses were then compared to a national sample of 10,450 parents. Read more at Westchester.gov.

Labels: acceptance, awareness, prevention