No parent wants to see their child suffer from the negative
effects of drug addiction, yet many mistakenly believe there is nothing they
can do to stop their kids from experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Some
parents think this behaviour is normal and acceptable, but the fact is - the
earlier teens start using drugs and alcohol the greater their risk for
alcoholism and drug abuse. Early substance abuse prevention is one of the best
ways to lower the risk for addiction, and this prevention starts at home with
families and parents. There are steps parents can take to help their kids and
teens steer clear of alcohol and drug abuse.
The greatest factor influencing a teen's choice not to use drugs is their parents. It is important that kids and teens have good role models when it comes to alcohol and drug abuse. While there is no way to guarantee your kids will not try drugs, the least you can do is try — and the following steps will help:
1. Communication is key.
Drug abuse prevention starts with communication.
Establishing good communication habits early on will make having difficult
conversations about substance abuse easier. Talk to your children daily and try
asking open ended questions that require more than a yes or no answer such as
“What was your favourite part about today?” instead of “Did you enjoy school?”
Remember that communication is a two way street that
involves both talking and listening. When your children know you will listen to
them they will be more likely to come to you when concerns about substance use
come up later.
The earlier you start talking to your kids about the dangers
of substance abuse the better, but it is not always easy to start these
conversations. One option is to use movies and television shows to spark
conversations about irresponsible behaviour. Educate yourself about
the effects of drug abuse so you can relay factual information
to your children.
Be sure to ask about their thoughts on substance use and
dispel any myths they might believe. Common myths among youth are that everyone
drinks and marijuana is not harmful. This is not true, and they should know
this. As well, having frequent conversations about drug abuse is better than
giving a one-time lecture.
Teach and role-play multiple ways to say no when alcohol and
drugs will inevitably be presented. If kids and teens know what they are going
to say it will be easier for them to resist peer pressure.
2. Get to know your children's friends.
Be active in your child's life. Meet your child's friends
and their parents. Ask questions about where they are going and what they are
doing with their friends. Secretive behaviour and having new friends that
parents never meet are signs of drug abuse in teens.
Talk about how to be a good friend, and the fact that real
friends would never reject someone who does not want to do things that are
unsafe or not allowed. Let them know that doing things they know are
unacceptable is not a good way to fit in, and involve your children in activities
such as scouting, sports, or other after school clubs they are interested in
where they can easily make friends while learning new skills and developing
healthy habits.
3. Limit access to inhalants, prescription drugs and
alcohol within the home.
Inhalants are the earliest abused substance. Common
household products such as glue, computer cleaners, and anything in an aerosol
container can be huffed by children — and this type of drug abuse is
extremely dangerous.
Replace potential inhalants with water based products and
throw away products that are not being used. Always store any products with the
potential for abuse in a safe place away from children.
Kids and teens often try alcohol for the first time within
the home without parents knowing. If you keep alcohol at home, store it in a
safe place and monitor alcohol levels in the bottle. If you suspect your teen
has been drinking alcohol, talk to them about it and enforce consequences.
Prescription drug abuse is also on the rise. Talk to your
kids about the risks of using any medication not prescribed to them. Throw away
any prescriptions you are not taking, and store any prescription drugs in a
safe, locked place.
4. Make clear rules and consequences.
Have clear rules regarding alcohol and drug abuse. Discuss
your rules, expectations and consequences in advance. Involve your child in the
process of determining what a reasonable curfew is and what his or her
consequences will be for breaking any rules. Let your child know that you are
not okay with them experimenting with drugs and alcohol and that you would be
very disappointed in them if this occurred. If rules are broken, be sure to
consistently enforce consequences.
5. Be a role model.
The best thing you can do to help prevent your children and
teens from abusing substances is to be a good role model. This means not
smoking or doing drugs, and if you do drink do so in moderation and never drink
and drive. Demonstrate how to have fun, manage stress, and solve problems
without substances.
Never host a party where under age drinking is allowed in
your home — not only is it illegal, but teen alcohol use is related
to a number of negative consequences including higher risk for developing
alcoholism.
As addiction is a genetically
linked disease, if
you or someone in your family has battled addiction it is even more important
to talk
to your children early and
often about the risks of alcohol and drug abuse and how substance
experimentation can lead to the horrors of addiction. It is important for them
to know that their risk for developing addiction may be greater than their
friends.
Overall, preventing future addiction starts early and at
home. Consistent and caring communication, clear rules and consequences, and
good modeling of ways to cope without substances can go a long way.
Shafa Home is a residential
treatment facility and nasha mukti kendra offering complete treatment for Drug/Alcohol Addiction.
We encourage you to contact one of
our counsellors today if you are concerned about Drug/Alcohol Addiction.
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