SUSAN ASCHOFF
St. Petersburg Times

A recent national survey finds parents and their children at opposites when describing the prevalence of drugs and alcohol in teenagers' lives. Parents say there is little contraband and lots of adult supervision at teen parties. Their kids say that's not true.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University surveyed 1,300 kids (ages 12 to 17) and 562 parents (most of them parents of the teenagers surveyed). Among the findings:

• Eighty percent of parents believe that neither alcohol nor marijuana is usually available at teen parties, but 50 percent of teens say that the parties they go to have alcohol, drugs or both.

• Ninety-eight percent of parents say they are normally present during parties in their homes, but 33 percent of teens say parents are rarely or never at parties they attend.

• Ninety-nine percent of parents say they would not serve alcohol at their teen's party, but 28 percent of teens say they've been at parties where parents were present and teenagers were drinking.

• Twelve percent of parents see illegal substances as their teen's greatest concern. More than twice as many of the teens, or 27 percent, say drugs are a major worry.