I have been on the fringes of the drug war for over 25 years, and the one constant has been the fact that parents are the key to solving the problem and keeping kids off drugs.

It starts with the bonding of parent and child, and the development of trust. This is best done by talking and touching, and spending time together; being a good role model by not indulging in the "legal" drugs — alcohol and tobacco. Kids consider it hypocritical for Dad to chew them out about smoking a joint while he is sipping on a beer.

Knowing where your kids are and who their friends are is critical. Youngsters running with those on drugs are nine times as likely to become involved in drugs themselves. In this day and time, it's particularly important because some substances are almost instantly addictive. According to Dr. Forest Tennant, this can happen with one snort of cocaine, and in the upscale neighborhood in which I live we've had a dozen teen heroin deaths over the past year. It's been pointed out that all it takes is one drink, one joint, one hit of chiva (the capsulized heroin-sleeping pill mix implicated in several deaths) and the youngster becomes a full-blown addict.

Vigilance is the key, and when your child spends the night with someone else, check to make certain that is where he or she is. This shows genuine love, concern and interest in your child, and if he or she is headed down a wrong path, you will discover it far more quickly and be able to intercede. I recognize that "your child" would "never" lie to you or get involved in drugs, but as the old cliche goes, "It's better to be safe than sorry."

These guidelines will reduce your chances of being sorry and give you lots to smile about.

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free email newsletter through [email protected].