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Substance
Abuse Prevention
As
a parent, how can I help keep my child from using drugs?
There are
no guarantees that your child will not choose to use drugs, but as a parent,
you can influence that decision by:
All of these are necessary
to help your child grow up free from the problems of drug use.
Ask yourself a few
questions
Much of what children
learn about drugs comes from parents. Take a few minutes to answer the following
questions about your feelings and behaviors about tobacco, alcohol, and other
drugs.
-
Do you
usually offer alcoholic drinks to friends and family when they come to your
home?
-
Do you
frequently take medicine for minor aches and pains or if you are feeling
sad or nervous?
-
Do you
take sleeping pills to fall asleep?
-
Do you
use alcohol or any other drug in a way that you would not want your child
to?
-
Do you
smoke cigarettes?
-
Are you
proud about how much you can drink?
-
Do you
make jokes about getting drunk or using drugs?
-
Do you
go to parties that involve a lot of drinking?
-
Do you
drink and drive or ride with drivers who have been drinking?
-
Has your
child ever seen you drunk?
-
Do you
let minors drink alcohol in your home?
Teach your child to
say no
Tell your child exactly
how you expect her to respond if someone offers her drugs:
-
Ask questions
("What is it?""Where did you get it?")
-
Say no
firmly.
-
Give
reasons ("No thanks, I'm not into that.")
-
Suggest
other things to do (go to a movie, the mall, or play a game)
-
Leave
(go home, go to class, join other friends)
Parents can also help
their children choose not to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs in these
ways:
-
Build
your child's self-esteem with praise and support for decisions. A strong
sense of self-worth will help your child to say no to tobacco, alcohol,
and other drugs and mean it.
-
Gradually
allow your child to make more decisions alone. Making a few mistakes
is a normal part of growing up, so try not to be too critical when your
child makes a mistake.
-
Listen
to what your child says. Pay attention, and be helpful during periods
of loneliness or doubt.
-
Offer
advice about handling strong emotions and feelings. Help your child
cope with emotions by letting her know that feelings will change. Explain
that mood swings are not really bad, and they won't last forever. Model
how to control mental pain or tension without the use of tobacco, alcohol,
or other drugs.
-
Plan
to discuss a wide variety of topics with your child including alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs and the need for peer-group acceptance. Young people
who don't know the facts about tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs are at
greater risk of trying them.
-
Encourage
fun and worthwhile outside things to do; avoid turning too much of your
child's leisure time into chores.
-
Be
a good role model by avoiding tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs yourself.
You're the best role model for your child. Make a stand against drug issuesyour
child will listen.
Your pediatrician understands
that good communication between parents and children is one of the best ways
to prevent drug use. If talking to your child becomes a problem, your pediatrician
may provide the key to opening the lines of communication.
Parents guide to teenage
parties
If your teen is giving
a party:
-
Plan
in advance. Go over party plans with your teen. Encourage your teen
to plan some organized group activities or games.
-
Keep
parties small. 10 to 15 teens for each adult. Make sure at least one
adult is present at all times. Ask other parents to come over to help you
if you need it.
-
Set
a guest list. The party should be for invited guests only. No "crashers"
allowed. This will help avoid the "open party" situation.
-
Set
a time limit. Set starting and ending times for the party. Check local
curfew laws to determine an ending time.
-
Set
party "rules." Discuss them with your teen before the party.
Rules should include the following:
-
No
tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.
-
No
one can leave the party and then return.
-
Lights
are left on at all times.
-
Certain
rooms of the house are off-limits.
-
Know
your responsibilities. Remember, you are legally responsible for anything
that happens to a minor who has been served alcohol or other drugs in your
home. Help your child feel responsible for this as well. Guests who bring
tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs to the party should be asked to leave.
Be ready to call the parents of anyone who comes to the party intoxicated
to make sure they get safely home.
-
Be
there, but not square. Pick out a spot where you can see what is going
on without being in the way. You can also help serve snacks and beverages.
If your
teen is going to a party:
-
Call
the host's parent to verify the party and offer any help. Make sure
a parent will be at the party and that tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs
will not be allowed.
-
Know
where your child is going. Have the phone number and address of the
party. Ask your teen to call you if the location of the party changes. Be
sure to let your child know where you will be during the party.
-
Make
sure your teen has a way to get home from the party. Make it easy for
your child to leave a party by making it clear that he can call at any time
for a ride home. Discuss why he might need to make such a call. Remind your
teen NEVER to ride home with a driver who has been drinking.
-
Be
up to greet your child when he comes home. This can be a good way to
check the time and talk about the evening.
Talk to your teen about
safe partying
Maybe your teen has been
to parties where there were tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Maybe he tried
them. Maybe after using them your teen did something stupid, something he
wouldn't normally do.
It's hard for people to
stay safe when they aren't thinking clearly. How can teens keep a clear head
and still have fun? Give them the following suggestions for staying safe while
having a good time:
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Hang
out with people who don't smoke, drink, or use other drugs.
-
Plan
not to smoke, drink, or use other drugs. Do whatever it takes to help you
remember.
-
Use the
"buddy system"team up with a friend. Use a code word to
remind each other when it's time to leave a party.
If your teen likes to
meet new people, suggest trying some of the following activities instead of
parties:
Remember
Your pediatrician cares
very much about your family, and wants to help if there are problems in any
area?especially if you have concerns about substance abuse.
Published online: 3/07
Source: Substance Abuse Prevention: What Every Parent Needs To Know (Copyright
© 1999 American Academy of Pediatrics)
Healthcare professionals
may order
this publication in multi-copy packs.
Parents can find more information on this topic in Caring for Your Teenager.
To order a copy of this book visit the AAP
Bookstore.
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The information contained
in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care
and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your
pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
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