Why Walk For Chris?
- To promote substance abuse awareness in our communities
As a memorial to Chris Foley, who passed away from a heroin overdose on July 15, 2007
To raise money for Hearts of Hope to continue the battle against substance abuse
Substance Abuse and American Families Today
Addiction knows no demographic boundaries and touches all sectors of society
- 22.6 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol.
- This is the single greatest preventable health problem in the United States.
- There are 35 million American families with children at risk of abusing drugs and alcohol.
- In 2004, 14-1/2 was the average age when teens first used an illegal drug.
- Kids who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs, yet only 31 percent report learning a lot from their parents.
- Three quarters of teens/young adults (ages13-24) surveyed said that their parents make them happy and almost half, when asked to name their hero, named their parents. And when asked the open-ended question "What one thing in life makes you most happy," 46 percent cited spending time with family members and friends.
- Seven out of Ten (69%) grandparents reported they believe their grandchildren face greater worries than their own children did growing up.
- A majority of grandparents (56%) reported already having had a discussion about drugs with their oldest grandchild-and those who had a discussion, nearly 9 out of 10(86%) said they felt "very comfortable" talking to their grandchild about alcohol use.
- A growing number of parents don't just want information; they want advice on what to do and the best approaches to having open and honest conversations with their kids. With 30 percent admitting they need tips on how to start a discussion about drugs; and 37 percent reported they want information on how to tell if a child is using drugs.
- In 2006, one in five (21%) 8th graders has used an illicit drug in their lifetime. Half (48%) of young people have used an illicit drug by the time they left high school.
- One in five teens (19%) (grades 7-12) has abused prescription medicine to get high and one in ten has abused cough medicine to get high.
- Only25 percent of parents think that their child has ever tried marijuana; When 37 percent of teens (grades 7-12) have tried the drug.