Parents Seek Help In Sign For Troubled Teens
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Henderson County parents gathered Monday night to hear words of advice from those who know first-hand about the reality of drug use and gang activity in area teens. Local experts, law enforcement and parents spoke about the warning signs, especially when it comes to the rising use of synthetic drugs and meth. Suzye Montgomery said she is so fortunate she learned her high school son was doing synthetic drugs in time to get him help. “I overlooked the signs and I want to make sure that it does not escape another parent,” she said. And that is why Montgomery and local gang and drug experts are reaching out to parents, keeping them in the loop and aware of what their children are doing. “There are so many things out on the streets these days that they can get access to really easily in our convenience stores. It’s right there on the counter for the kids to see,” Montgomery said. According to drug counselors, the most popular drugs today are meth and synthetic drugs, and 15 percent of high school students are abusing meth. Gang officials said they have seen tremendous growth in juvenile gangs in West Tennessee in the past couple of years. “A lot of crime, petty thieves around here, window break-ins, vandalism, graffiti, is done through our young youth,” said Jonathan Flake, who works in Internal Affairs with Tennessee Corrections. Speakers advised parents to have open communication with their children, their friends and their parents. To see if your child is involved with drugs, look for changes in personality, friends, dropping grades, and money disappearing. Gang officials told 7 Eyewitness News the best way to keep your children from getting involved with gangs is to spend more time with them, and get them involved in extracurricular activities.
