Bridging the Technology Gap: Study Confirms Teens Open to Discussing Drugs and Alcohol With Parents By Email, C...( - Some Parents Missing Opportunities ...),Health

- Some Parents Missing Opportunities to Connect -

- Only 1 in 4 Teens Report Parents Have Warned of Prescription Drug Abuse Dangers -

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and MetLife Foundation shows that many parents who don't use e-mail or text messaging to communicate with their teens may be missing important opportunities to connect with their kids about drug and alcohol use. The national survey of more than 1,000 teens and 1,000 parents confirms that while a majority of teens would rather have a face-to-face conversation with their parents about alcohol or drugs, nearly one in four (23 percent) say they would prefer to have a "serious conversation" about this issue using e-mail or cell phone. However, just three percent of parents would opt to communicate with their kids this way.

"Parents who are waiting for the "right time" to talk with their kids about drugs and alcohol may be missing everyday opportunities to connect on this important issue, said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Partnership. "While nothing can take the place of an in-person conversation between parents and teens, for some parents, emails, cell phone conversations, and even texting can help start a conversation with a reluctant teen and reinforce talks you've already had--plus, parents can reach teens at times when use tends to be likelier--after school, on weekends and during unsupervised time."

The survey underscores that "Generation Text" has arrived -- when asked which was more important for everyday communication with friends, texting or social networking; teens were far more likely to communicate directly by texting (63 percent) than to rely on websites like Facebook (38 percent) to stay connected. And teens don't only w
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