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Drugs and Alcohol

Be Cool!!  Say no to Drugs & Alcohol

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. It's not so hard saying "No thanks" to a stranger. But it's a lot tougher when a child's friend - especially one whose approval means a lot to him - tries to get him to do something he knows is wrong.

Even "good kids" occasionally pester their friends into skipping a class or lying about why they were out together late. But when friends or acquaintances entice children to try tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, the consequences are more serious. Practicing to say no really helps. Rehearsing the words, finding good reasons and the exact words, or even changing the topic when pestered by friends are a few ways of making the right choice of saying "no", and asserting independence while making it very clear to the friends that their choices are being rejected and not the friendship itself.

The many ways of saying "NO"

  • "No thanks."
  • "No thanks, I think that's really dumb."
  • "My parents would kill me if they found out, and they always do!"
  • "No, I'm not into that stuff."
  • "I tried it once, and I hate the taste."
  • "My parents trust me to not drink, and I don't want to break their trust."
  • State the consequences of drinking like:
    • "I tried it once and hated it."
    • "I tried it once and threw up on everything."
    • "I tried it once and felt very dizzy, and it wasn't fun."
    • "I tried it once and felt so out of control, and hated it."

If everything else fails then one can simply leave the scene by saying

"I've got to go."

For more information you can visit the following sites:
NIDA Sara's Quest to learn about the affects of Marijuana on your brain.
NIDA Keep your brain healthy. Don't do drugs.

See also Club Drugs in HOOAH 4 TEENS.

It is a known fact that parents play a very important role in their children's lives. They can help children make the right decisions. They can make children feel comfortable as who they are and increase their self esteem. Click on the icon to find out what parents can do to help children stay away from drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

 
Source: Helping your child say "no" to drugs - Growing Up Drug–Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention, Chapter 3: Talking With Your Children Effectively, 1998


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