Q. What is molestation?

A. Molestation occurs when an adult or person significantly older than a child engages in sexual activity with a minor below the age of legal consent. The abuse can be over an extended period of time or a one-time incident that includes touching, fondling, kissing in a sexual manner, oral sex, masturbation, dry intercourse, digital penetration, object or penile penetration of rectum or vagina.

Q. Who are child molesters?

A. It is not enough to warn a child to stay away from strangers. The majority of children are molested by those they know and trust. It may be the stranger, parent, older sibling, teacher or person having control over the child.

Q. What are the characteristics of a molester?

A. Child molesters:

• Can have adult sex partners, but children are primary objects
• Have lifestyles that give them easy access to children.
• May target specific gender, age, hair and eye color.
• Use threats to manipulate and control victims or bribe them with gifts, love, or promises to lure victims into their confidence before victimization takes place.
• Often commit first offense when in teens
• Continue behavior even after conviction and treatment.
• May photograph or videotape sexual activity with children to exchange with other molesters and/or to shame a child into not telling anyone of the abuse.

Q. What are some indicators of sexual abuse?

A. Characteristics may include:

• Displaying inappropriate sexual activity or showing an unusual interest in sexual matters.
• Mood swings, withdrawal, and depression
• Pain, itching, bleeding, discharge or rawness in private areas
• Regressive behavior: baby talk, sudden clinging behavior
• Sudden unexplained aggressiveness or rebellion
• Sudden fear of specific things, people, places, etc.

Q. Why didn't my child tell me? He/she never told me anything.

A. Many children feel guilty, ashamed and that it was their fault. Children as a rule look at their parents as the ones who deal out punishment when they do something wrong. Many parents panic and overreact. Emphasize that the child is not to blame. It was an adult who was at fault and should have known better.

Q. What should I do if I know or suspect abuse?

A. Call the Sheriff's Office or Social Services department.

Q. How can I tell if my child is using drugs? What are the signs?

A. Generally there are four progressive stages of drug use. They include:

• Experimentation
• Occasional Use
• Regular Use
• Dependency

Not everyone who tries drugs passes through every stage. A young person may try drugs or alcohol and decide not to continue use. According to experts, however, those who experiment during early teen years are more likely to continue use in later years than those experiment after they become adults. A person who experiments with the more addictive drugs such as cocaine can move directly to regular use and dependency.

The most important transition occurs between Occasional Use and Regular Use. This is when the occasional social user moves to regular weekly or daily use. At this point, drug and/or alcohol use becomes an important part of life.

Changes in behavior may be observed:

• Change of friends
• Loss of interest in school or hobbies
• Drop in school grade
• Loss of interest in family activities
• Change in sleeping habits
• Noticeable increase or decrease in appetite
• May need to have more money than normal
• Interest in music that contains drug themes
• Interest in the drug culture (e.g. drug related t-shirts, posters, vocabulary)

The final stage is total dependency on one or more drugs. The dependent user must maintain a certain level of the drug(s) in his/her body to feel "normal" or to get the desired "high." The move from regular use to dependency may be subtle. Or, it might occur rapidly with dramatic effects.

Along with the previously mentioned behavior changes, other signs of dependency may include:

• Change in attitude (e.g. frequent fighting with family and friends, rebellious toward authority
• Separation from family
• Sudden mood changes
• Lack of interest in personal appearance
• Changes in eating and/or sleeping habits
• Loss of body weight
• Poor physical condition
• Frequent illness

Q. Is there a home test I can use on my child to see if narcotics are in his/her system?

A. Yes. Several companies produce home test kits that allow you to test for several types of narcotics. Check with your local pharmacy.

Q. Does marijuana lead to more serious drugs?

A. Yes. Marijuana has been shown, by means of statistics, to lead to more serious drugs. Some studies have shown that 43 percent of kids that use marijuana go on to other drugs. Other studies have put the number in the mid- to high 80s.

Q. What can I do to help my child if he/she is using drugs?

A. Determine the level of use and select the appropriate treatment. Your child should be evaluated by a professional to determine the level of involvement and subsequent treatment. In many cases, family counseling with a chemical dependency specialist is all that is required.

Often, however, particularly when cocaine is involved, medical treatment may be necessary. Selection of the proper therapist and/or treatment program is crucial. Your family physician or other trusted health care professional can refer you to a specific person or program.

Recognize that substance abuse is a family problem. Substance abuse is a family problem. Avoidance of drugs by your child depends, to a great extent, upon your parenting skills.

Parenting, however, is not a natural or inherited skill. It must be learned, constantly and consistently applied, encouraging growth and success. Your child's development of positive values, self-esteem, and conformity to community standards and the law depends on you. You cannot simply depend upon chance or faith. Your knowledge, skill, involvement, authority, control and care are the most important influences in preventing your child from abusing drugs. Parenting is an awesome, challenging responsibility, but it is not impossible.

Parenting education is available through many public and private agencies, including adult schools and colleges.

Recognize that your own substance use influences your child. YOU are the most important influence in your child's life, even when compared to his/her friends. Your attitude and use of substances, including alcohol, influence your child's use of drugs. If you involve your child in your use, for example, asking your child to get you a beer or to light your cigarette, he/she is more likely to use drugs. If you approve your child's use of alcohol under supervision, even moderately, he/she is more likely to abuse other drugs as well. Remember, YOU are your child's role model!