Saturday, March 8, 2014

Talking to Your Kids About Drugs

Teenagers are exposed to drug use through movies, internet, society and media. They are facing enormous problems ranging from academic failures to peer pressure. Sometimes children indulge themselves with drugs by following the behavior of their ideals who smoke and use alcohols. Substance abuse has become a serious concern for all the parents, but when it comes to talking, they don’t know from where to begin. As a parent you might get worried How to talk to your kids about drugs. Every child is unique; there can’t be one accurate way to talk to your kids about substance usage. Here are some guiding principles that you should follow to have positive conversation with your teens-

Be Prepared & Supportive: You should always be ready to answer the questions about substance abuse. You are the real role model for your kids. If you did drugs, tell them and say how it was a mistake and you're glad that you have stopped. It’s about being honest; your child must rely on you to tell the truth about the dangers of alcohol.

Ask Questions: According to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse, about half of high school students said that they have at least one friend who uses illegal substances like ecstasy, cocaine or heroin. You must talk to your kids about their friends and encourage them to share their feelings with you. It's never too early for your child to have valuable information that can help them make the right decisions.

Encourage Communication: Let your teen express themselves and talk to you about what is important to them. Make sure your child is listening to you carefully. Listen and encourage them to ask questions & answer them honestly.

DFPA designed a program ‘Straight talk for parents’ to educate you about emerging medication trends, signs and symptoms of kid’s substance abuse. We assist you in developing communication skills to speak and listen to your children about drug abuse. We are raising awareness in changing behaviors of your kids with clarity, communication, consistency and caring. You can also visit us at http://straighttalkforparents.drugfreepa.org

Teen drug abuse facts

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