WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP PREVENT DRUG PROBLEMS?

As a parent, you're probably worried about the choices your children may face about alcohol and other drugs. Even when children are very young there are many opportunities to discuss how drugs affect our lives. For example, it is important to talk to children about the safe use of medications.

The early adolescent and teenage years are a particularly confusing and important time. At this time, young people need the kind of experience and learning that will give them a sense of confidence and direction. Teenagers must come to rely on their own skills and judgment to make life work well for them.

Parents can help support these learning experiences. Here are some practical suggestions you may find helpful.

• Always remember you are important to your children. They care about what you say and do, even though it may not seem like it at times.
• Set guidelines for your children's behaviour and renegotiate these with them as they mature.
• Help your children gain the feeling of confidence, control and capability that comes from learning through experience. Be positive and support their accomplishments -- both big and small.
  • Do a variety of things with them.
  • Encourage them to be self-reliant and to choose challenges that are neither too difficult nor too easy.
  • Allow them to learn from mistakes and to accept the consequences for their own decisions.
  • Help them reflect on how their decisions worked and how they can apply what they learned to new situations.
• Realize that friendships are very important to children and teens today. Get to know your child's friends and their families, if possible. Encourage your children to bring their friends home and make an effort to emphasize the good points of all their friends.
• Understand that children need to express themselves and their growing independence. They are very concerned about their opportunities and their image. Work out with them the amount of freedom that they can have in choosing clothes, hairstyles, music and activities.
• Be an active learner yourself. Share your challenges, mistakes and feelings in an open and honest way.

There are other important ways that you can specifically work with your child to prevent alcohol and other drug problems.

• Know as much as you can. Learn the facts about alcohol and other drugs.
• Be open to your children's concerns. Encourage them to discuss alcohol and other drugs openly with you. Take advantage of television shows and advertisements to discuss how medicines, alcohol and other drugs are promoted.
• Recognize that your children are likely to encounter some drug use among their peers, especially alcohol, tobacco and marihuana. Ask general, non-threatening questions about their classmates and friends but don't appear shocked or angry if they say they know some kids who have tried smoking or drinking. Ask them how they felt about this and what they would do if someone asked them to try smoking or drinking.
• Make sure your children know what your standards are regarding their use of alcohol (for example, no drinking under the legal age, no drinking outside of family celebrations). Share your concerns about the risks associated with the use of tobacco, marihuana and other drugs.
• Ask your children to let you know where they are, and let them know where you are.
• Show your teens how they can be responsible hosts when giving a party:
  • do not allow party crashers, drugs or alcohol;
  • limit the party to a specific area of your house;
  • don't allow guests to come and go;
  • make sure a parent or another adult is present in the house.
• Remember that actions speak louder than words. Be a good role model for your children to follow. Demonstrate responsible, healthy decisions with your own use of medications and alcohol, if you use these.