What Should Parents Do?

We’d all like to think that our children will never abuse drugs; that we will never need to confront such an issue at home. But, even if your child does not use drugs inappropriately, he/she will most likely be confronted with the opportunity to do so. You want her/him to be armed with the knowledge and courage to make the right decisions.

Remember, adolescence is a challenging time for both parents and children. Your kids still need you, but they want to show their independence. You can stay close to them, while at the same time giving them space. Your child wants his/her own experiences.

Do not underestimate your influence as a role model, even as your children may seem to be ignoring everything you say and do. They are not. They look to you for guidance. How do you respond to difficult situations? And do not ever use someone else’s prescription medication, even once, because it sends the message that it is fine for them to do it too.

Another issue that can arise is when your adolescent asks you if you ever did drugs. If you didn’t, then this is not a difficult issue. The complexity arises if you did experiment with drugs as a youth. Experts’ advice varies on this, with some saying that it’s your right to keep some things private, and you can tell your child that. Others say that you can tell the truth, but qualify it and don’t go into detail. Timetotalk.org has some excellent examples of ways to approach this. The one fact experts agree on is that you not lie to your kids. If they find out the truth, this will break their trust in you and trust is the most important ingredient in a healthy relationship between you and your child.

So, you are a good role model; you have an honest, open relationship with your child. She/he knows how you feel about drug abuse. But if the opportunity to abuse drugs arise, what refusal skills can you teach that will help? You can role-play some scenarios with your child, offering different ways to say no. Reinforce the notion that most kids are pretty focused on themselves and aren’t going to spend a lot of time harassing a peer into trying drugs. Most of the peer pressure will be that which is self-inflicted, by thinking that abusing drugs is “cool” and a way to be accepted.

What if your child has a friend who is abusing drugs? How can you help your child to help this friend, without either of you betraying a trust? If your child is certain that this friend is abusing drugs there are many resources at school intended to support at-risk children such as teachers, school nurses, counselors and psychologists. Suggest that your child encourage the friend to confide in one of these professionals. Maybe your child would be willing to go with the friend for support. At the very least, your own child is serving as a positive role model for this friend. The support and encouragement may not show immediate results but it can’t hurt.

• Learn the facts about prescription pain medicine and their potential for abuse. The information provided in this guide is only a start. Find out about the particular drugs that are prescribed for you and your family members. In addition, think about your community, the neighborhood, the school and your children’s friends and what problems they confront that might influence their decision making.

• Establish an atmosphere of trust and open communication in your household. If you do not already, talk with your children about choices and help them learn to use critical thinking skills when confronted with issues affecting their health – like drugs.

How can you tell if your child may be abusing drugs?

The physical and behavioral changes can be typical of any teenager, but they could also mean your child is abusing prescription drugs.