Prevention

Parental Guidance to Help Teens Avoid Drug and Alcohol Abuse

As a parent, if you know how to talk and listen with your child you can better help them avoid drug and alcohol abuse.

Parents are encouraged to have caring and intimate talks with their children all throughout their childhood – one talk about drugs and alcohol is not enough. As young minds develop over the years, their views, opinions, awareness and desires change. At some stages of a child’s life discussions about drugs and alcohol may be long and intense. Other times it might be a few sentences that point out a healthy lifestyle choice or a wise decision.

If parents suspect that their teen may have used or may be using either drugs or alcohol the parents should not be secretive about it as it’s often best to confront the teen about their behavior. Parents should make the teen aware they know what’s going on and that they don’t condone their actions. Through talks with their teen, parents can clearly set their rules about the use of drugs and alcohol and set appropriate consequences if those rules are broken.

Some teens may claim that their parents just don’t understand, with the parents doing much more talking than listening. It’s important for parents to hear their teen’s thoughts, concerns and daily pressures. Through a trusting relationship a parent may be able to sense when their teen needs help to avoid alcohol or drug abuse. Moms and dads can even offer to be the “excuse” when teens want to say no to drug and alcohol use with friends, letting their teens know they’re working with them to stay healthy.

Knowing their teens’ friends and meeting the parents of those friends allows better communication and awareness of possible dangers, such as when a party might be in works, and can let their kids know they can call any time with any concerns.

When all parents are watching out for their children bonds can be formed between families to secure the safety of all of their children.