Kids and Health Care: Kids and Drinking and Drugs and Sex Conclusion

When it comes to drinking, drugs and sex, all statistics and most advice come wrapped in political controversy. Parents' groups, family groups, scientists and political interest groups all battle over their various agendas.

For your own kids -- as they reach adolescence and its pressures -- the public health policy debate is irrelevant, anyway. Individual lives follow their own, often intense paths.

From an insurance and health coverage perspective, the news is generally good on these fronts. Plans will usually cover treatments for substance abuse recovery and sexual health issues. And, beyond this, various nonprofit group and public-sector agencies make sexual hygiene services and products available to anyone who needs them -- including teens.

As a parent, you may find so many options troubling. And you may not like the idea that your teenager might be getting sex information -- and contraceptives -- without your knowledge.

All of these factors combine to suggest a candid approach to dealing with teens and drinking, drugs and sex. That doesn't mean you have to condone the illegal or ill-advised use of any of them. It just means that you should try to keep relations with your kids open enough that they feel comfortable letting you know if they're in any kind of trouble.