Five Minutes a Day to Drug-Free Kids – 5th Edition is for parents who want to make sure their children understand that drugs and substance abuse pose a deadly risk to their children. According to the CDC, drug overdose deaths among adolescents aged 10-19 increased 109% in a recent two-year period.
It’s common sense to teach our kids about things that can harm them—like looking both ways before crossing the street, not running with scissors, and using sunscreen in the sun. However, many of us avoid discussing the dangers of drugs with our children. Why is that?
One reason is that we often don’t know much about the topic. Explaining the consequences of drug use isn’t something easily condensed into a single sentence. While we stress that drugs can be deadly, the portrayal of friends or movie characters using them without apparent issues makes it seem like we’re not being truthful.
By the time a young person reaches 18, they’ve likely encountered numerous messages suggesting that using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco is a fun way to enjoy life. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Nowadays, experimenting with drugs is risky and can have severe consequences, even proving deadly.
The research is clear, people who struggle with drug, alcohol, and tobacco addictions started using these substances when they were young. “I’ve interviewed youngsters who admitted starting as early as five and six years old. Most of the time they told me that they started in the sixth and seventh grades,” Author, Tom Monson said. “One young man told me he made his biggest mistake when he was six years old when he snuck into the refrigerator and took his dad’s beer. He told me he liked the way it made him feel.”
Research also reveals that 62% of high school students think using drugs is cool.
Are we really giving our kids the information they need about drugs? Five Minutes a Day to Drug-Free Kids is here to ensure you’re well-informed. With just half of teens aware of the dangers of opioids, meth, heroin, and ecstasy, this book steps in to bridge the gap. It breaks things down in a way that’s easy to understand, helping your kids stay safe.
Let me be clear about one thing: people will flat-out lie to your children about how safe drugs are. Even worse, they’ll deceive your kids to get them to experiment. They’re either ignorant or see your child as a source of profit.
“That’s why I wrote this book,” Monson said. “Once a person starts using drugs and can’t stop, society looks down on them as a loser or even worse. Kids are the victims here and we have to do more to protect them.”
For many of us, this means we need to put in the effort to understand the risks and learn how to talk with them about drugs.
Whether you decide to get this book or not, one thing is certain: if you want your children to grow up healthy and happy, you must engage in conversations to protect them.
Five Minutes a Day to Drug-Free Kids is A Practical Handbook
Five Minutes a Day to Drug-Free Kids is a practical handbook for parents, group leaders, or counselors. In plain talk, this book covers what you need to know about drugs and why they can be harmful. It starts with an introduction and talks about the general dangers of using drugs, including the risks of driving under the influence and the potential for addiction.
The book also looks into illegal drugs and how they can be especially dangerous, especially for kids. It explores why kids might use drugs and emphasizes the importance of setting a good example. There’s advice on preventing drug use, including tips for keeping your kids away from gateway drugs.
As you read further, you’ll find practical tips on dealing with challenges like peer pressure. The book discusses strategies like diversion, intervention, and tough love. It also covers warning signs that someone might be using drugs and what the recovery process looks like, including the risks involved.
The book goes on to analyze different substances of abuse, from common ones like alcohol and marijuana to less-known ones like bath salts and synthetic marijuana. Each substance is explained in terms of the dangers to health.
To make things interactive, there’s a question and answer section, and the book wraps up with suggestions for additional reading and information on where to find help. Overall, this guide is meant to give you the knowledge to understand, prevent, and deal with the complexities of drug use and substance abuse.
Order a copy of Five Minutes A Day to Drug-Free Kids on Amason here.
If you are part of a group, order multiple copies here.