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7 Tips For Talking To Your Child About Drugs
By Nicole Brownfield, Fri Dec 9th
Did you know that over 75% of teens aged 16-17 report thatobtaining marijuana is “easy or fairly easy?” Or that 25% ofyouths between 12 and 17 say the same of crack? Drug use canlead to a host of significant health, social, learning andbehavioral problems at a crucial time in a young person’sdevelopment. Getting high also impairs judgment, leading torisky decision making on issues like sex, criminal activity orriding with someone who is driving high. Because experts insubstance abuse claim that parents are the principal influenceon their teenager’s decision to use drugs, the message needs tostart with you. Research tells us that kids who maintain an openand honest line of communication are far less likely toexperiment with drugs and alcohol. Many parents neglect tobroach the subject primarily because they are unsure how tobegin. If you would like to start a dialogue with your teen,begin by educating yourself on the different types of drugsavailable and the risks and dangers of each. Use televisionprograms, anti-drug commercials, or news about drugs to help youintroduce the subject in a relaxed, natural way. Then: §Beabsolutely clear with your kids that you don't want them usingdrugs. Ever. Anywhere. Don't leave room for interpretation. §Bea better listener. Ask questions and encourage them. Paraphrasewhat your child says to you. Ask for your children's input aboutfamily decisions. §Give honest answers. Some parents who useddrugs in the
past choose to lie about it, but they risk losingtheir credibility if their children discover the truth. Thisdoes not mean that you need to recount every moment of yourexperience - some details should remain private. §Ask clarifyingquestions to make sure you understand exactly what your child isasking, and why, before answering questions about your past druguse, and limit your response to that information. §Don't reactin a way that will cut off further discussion. If your childmakes statements that challenge or shock you, turn them into acalm discussion of why your child thinks people use drugs, orwhether the effect is worth the risk. §Role-play with your childand practice ways to refuse drugs and in differentsituations. Acknowledge how tough these moments can be. §Repeatthe message. To further help your child resist the traps of drugand addiction, experts suggest that you remain currenton the drug market and street lingo, set effective guidelinesand rules, strengthen your relationship with your child’sschool, and be a good role model for your teen. For more advice,or to locate the right treatment facility for you, call theCenter for Substance Abuse Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. About the author:Nicole Brownfield 71 County Road 269 Stevenson, AL 35772 (256)437-8788 jnb8788@aol.com
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