Drug crimes are not a new concept. There have been crimes that revolve around drugs for many years now. However, more and more of our younger generation are being faced with these issues. The following paragraphs will discuss some of the current drug problems that are youth are now having to face.

We have all told our children about not taking candy from a stranger. We heard it from our parents as children, and now we pass that knowledge on to our own kids. Our world has evolved to a point where we now have to discuss drugs with our children, where the subject matter used to stop with candy being the subject.

Drugs are now being offered to children and sold in schools, all the way down to elementary schools. We can speculate all day on what is the cause of this change for the worse in society, but it is better to concentrate on educating our own children on the dangers of addiction. We need to let them know that there is no tolerance for drug abuse or selling drugs at any time.

Kids will always have peers that they look up to. Be sure you know who your child's friends are to help insure they do not fall victim to this type of crime. Try to eliminate the bad influences in their lives to help keep them on the straight and narrow road of good. Ultimately it is up to you who your kid leaves your house with. Try to make sure they have only good influences in their lives.

Another thing we can do to help keep our children on the right path when it comes to drugs is to monitor our own medications closely. Never leave prescription medication where your child can have easy access. Count your pills. A lot of kids are stealing their parents' prescriptions, and selling them to their friends at school. If your child cannot get to your medication, they are in less danger of getting involved in something like this.

If your child has internet connection available in their room, you should be sure to monitor all activity. Invade their privacy because it could save their life. It is better to find out things you would rather not know than to live in ignorant bliss.

Finally, by staying closely involved in your child's life, at home and at school, you are education yourself on what your child may or may not do. Talk to their teachers regularly and ask a lot of questions. If anything seems different, or warning alarms go off, try to get to the bottom of it with your child just as soon as you can. Knowledge is the key to prevention.

There was once a time when parents did not have to worry about children providing or obtaining drugs illegally at school. That is not the case today. If you have a child in school, be aware that drug crimes are rising fast in schools for any age group.