When to Talk to Your Children About Drug & Alcohol Use

 

We know that talking with our children about drug and alcohol use is a huge factor in helping them to make healthy choices, but it can be hard to take that first step. Plan to have a series of shorter, regular conversations, which can be more effective than one "big" talk that can be overwhelming on both sides.

When starting an important conversation like this, choose a time and place where you both are comfortable and unlikely to be interrupted. That means putting aside cell phones. Even more importantly, know when NOT to start a conversation. When parents are angry and teens are frustrated, it's best to delay the talk. If you catch your teen intoxicated, wait until he or she is sober and cooler heads and emotions prevail.

Quick Tips:

*Ask your teen’s views – avoid lectures and listen to your teen’s opinions and questions about drugs. Parents should assure teens that they can be honest without getting in trouble.

*Discuss reasons not to use – avoid scare tactics. Focus on how drug use can affect the things that are most important to your teen like sports performance, driving, health, or appearance.

*Discuss media messages – talk about what your teen sees and hears on social media, tv shows, movies, and songs that can sometimes make drug use seem normal or cool.

*Discuss ways to resist peer pressure – think about how to respond if your teen asks about your own personal drug use, including alcohol. Explain why you chose not to use drugs. If you did use drugs, share what the experience taught you and why you want to spare your teen the same experiences.

*Know your teen’s friends and activities – pay attention to who your teen spends time with and where they hang out. Get to know their friends and parents of their friends. Research adult-supervised activities that your teen is interested in and encourage them to get involved.

*Communicate rules, expectations, and consequences – explain your family rules and repeat them often. If rules are broken, consistently enforce consequences.

*Keep track of alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter drugs in your home – take regular inventory of the alcohol and medications in your home and keep under lock and key for safety.

*Provide support – offer praise and encouragement when your teen succeeds. A strong bond between parents and teens can help prevent your teen from using drugs.

It's never too soon to start talking to your children. The conversations you have today can help delay experimentation and assist them in making healthy choices now and in the future!