Stars' fall from grace can be lessons for children
| Printable version | | |
Michael Phelps and Alex Rodriguez, two of the most famous names in sports, are now in the news for all the wrong reasons. Colleen Sullivan, a social worker and Director of Care Management at Backus, said the news may be bad for Phelps and Rodriguez, but it is an important opportunity for parents.
"It does provide an opportunity for parents and everybody to stop and take a step back and talk a little bit openly about what has occurred," Sullivan said. "It's a prime opportunity to have a discussion about drug use because the news is everywhere."
After a British tabloid printed a photo of the most decorated Olympian of all time allegedly smoking marijuana, a firestorm of debate has been kicked off. The results thus far for Phelps are a three-month ban from swimming competition and the loss of at least one major sponsor, Frosted Flakes. Then came news that Rodriguez, the New York Yankees' power-hitting third baseman and future Hall of Famer, admitted using steroids from 2001 to 2003.
Sullivan said parents sometimes struggle with finding ways to broach difficult subjects, such as drug use. How the conversation should be initiated will depend on the age and maturity of the child, she said. A parent can ask a teen his or her opinion of the incident and have a dialogue. But, with a preteen, the conversation would likely be more focused on the parents' feelings about the situation, Sullivan said.
"With any discussion the key strategy is to be open and honest and to make it real," Sullivan said.
Marijuana is the most abused illegal drug in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The active chemical in marijuana is THC, which can cause can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory, the institute reports. Even after the "high" has gone, marijuana's adverse effects can continue for days, reports the institute. Marijuana's effects don't stop at the brain, according to the institute. Studies have shown it to quadruple a users risk of heart attack and to have 50-70 percent more carcinogens as tobacco.
The adverse affects of performance-enhancing steroids have also been well documented. However, the lure to use them is great because young people see the fame and fortune attained by some who use them.
Since winning eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in August, Phelps has been a media darling and become a role model for many children. Rodriguez has long been hailed as baseball's savior, a "clean" player who would break the records set by steroid users. Sullivan said the lessons in Phelps' and Rodriguez's falls from grace are many and go beyond marijuana and steroid use.
"It's an opportunity to say they are human and even stars can make mistakes," Sullivan said. "It also brings to light how important it is to always exercise really good judgment as a member of society. With technology today you can be photographed or videotaped any time and you cannot necessarily take privacy for granted."
For parents who are struggling with how to begin the conversation, Backus has a collaborative with Madonna Place in Norwich for a number of parenting initiatives. Sullivan said there a variety of support groups and curriculums at Madonna Place to help parents create open dialogue with their children. Madonna Place can be reached by calling 886-6600.
Sullivan said it is important to remember that children are being saturated with information. The more dialogue a parent can have with the child, the better.
The reality is you have to have these conversations because they are still getting the information," Sullivan said. "They are so saturated in the media with mixed messages. Parents can help shape their child's opinion and give some kind of reality to the information they are getting."