The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS): Parents 2007 Report, Partnership for a Drug-Free America, June, 2008.

This study accompanies the Partnership’s study of teens attitudes about drug use, released in August, 2008.

The 20th annual study found that as children grow parents confidence about their ability to influence their teen’s decisions about drugs begins to diminish. 

• The number of parents who cited the need for more tools and information to help their kids deal with drugs increases 46 percent between elementary and middle school.
• Parents of middle school students are more likely to say that their children are reluctant to talk to them about drugs than are parents of elementary school students.
• 37 percent of parents of middle school students feel they have little influence over their child’s decision to use drugs; only 26 percent of elementary school parents felt the same way.

The study also found that parents of teens are more reluctant to enforce rules and limitations because they want a strong friendship with their child.