Drugs and Alcohol

There is no magic bullet for preventing teenage drug use. But parents can be influential by talking to their children about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol, and remain actively engaged in their children's lives. Even after teenage children enter high school, parents can stay involved in schoolwork, recreation, and social activities with their children's friends. Research shows that appropriate parental monitoring can reduce future drug use, even among those adolescents who may be prone to drug abuse, such as those who are rebellious, cannot control their emotions, and experience internal distress. To address the issue of drug abuse in your area, it is important to get involved in drug abuse prevention programs in your community or your child's school.

The only way to prevent your child from using drugs is to be open, talk to them, warn them, be aware of everything going on in your child's life. No matter where children grow up or who their friends are, nearly all of them are confronted at some time or another by friends with bad ideas - ways of testing limits, getting in trouble, and doing things they'll regret later. Parents can step in and make all the difference in their lives.

Here is a list of behaviors that warn you that your child could be using drugs. They could simply be signs of normal adolescent behavior or growing pains. But, if you find two or more symptoms, then take that as a warning to you as a parent.

• SWITCHING FRIENDS
• A DROP IN GRADES
• EMOTIONAL HIGHS AND LOWS
• DEFIANCE OF RULES AND REGULATIONS
• BECOMING MORE SECRETIVE
• WITHDRAWING FROM FAMILY FUNCTIONS
• LOSS OF INITIATIVE LIKE SLEEPING MORE THAN USUAL
• CHANGE IN PHYSICAL HYGIENE LIKE BECOMING MORE SLOPPY
• STAYING OUT LATE
• SELLING POSSESSIONS
• ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR
• MONEY OR ALCOHOL MISSING
• DRASTIC WEIGHT CHANGES
• COMING HOME DRUNK OR HIGH
• LEGAL PROBLEMS LIKE ATTENDING PARTIES THAT GET BROKEN UP BY POLICE

Research has shown that parents who were consistent, informative and were fair had children who were well behaved. These kids were happier than their peers. They had a very low incidence of drug, tobacco or alcohol abuse. Noted below are a few suggestions that could help parents raise healthy children. With minor adjustments, these suggestions are also useful in the classroom. It is important that parents agree on behavior control. Two parents who use different systems can do more harm than good.

• USE CONSEQUENCES, NOT PUNISHMENT
• USE TIME-OUT AND GROUNDED
• BE CONSISTENT
• BE FAIR AND LOVING
• AVOID NEGATIVE COMMENTS
• LISTEN TO AND TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN
• LOVE YOUR CHILDREN UNCONDITIONALLY
• DO NOT LIE TO YOUR CHILDREN
• TELL YOUR CHILDREN WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO BE
• FOLLOW AND TEACH THEM VALUES :
  • HONESTY
  • COURAGE
  • LOVE
  • PEACEFULNESS
  • SELF-RELIANCE
  • SELF DISCIPLINE
  • JUSTICE AND KINDNESS

See also information on Club Drugs in HOOAH 4 FAMILY.

For more help you can visit the following sites:

NIDA Marijuana facts parents need to know
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol

Sources: How can I prevent my child from getting involved with marijuana? - The National Institute on Drug Abuse;
Signs that your child might be using drugs - Growing Up Drug–Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention, Chapter 6: What To Do If You Think Your Child Might Be Using Drugs, 1998