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As a concerned parent, you would probably jump at the chance to be able to ensure your teenager does not go through that experimental stage with drugs all parents fear. How can you prevent your teen from experimenting with drugs? Get to know him.
Getting to know your Teen
Quite simply put, an informed parent is a prepared one. He or she is equipped with the knowledge to fight back against the negative images the media, advertising, and more lay out there for adolescents’ hungry minds. Face it, pressures of influence are all around your teen-- if not at school from his peers, then at home from simply turning on the television set. All of these are factors which may contribute to a child’s experimentation with drugs, or NOT! By keeping yourself informed you can apply useful knowledge gained in formulating strategies to earn your teen’s trust and provide support when he needs it most. A teen who can feel that he’s supported is less likely to go out on a limb by engaging in high-risk behavior like drug abuse.
Steps to take:
1. Establish a comfortable atmosphere for your teenager where he can come to you with his questions about substance abuse.
Don’t worry yourself about the appropriate age. Beginning to address issues like drugs at an early time can prove to be beneficial in the end. Whether you like it or not, your teenager will find out about drugs somewhere! Wouldn’t you feel more at ease knowing the first word will be coming from you? Above outside influences, surely you can trust your own word. Use it to fight against negative influences from outside
2. Bond with your teenager in order to gain knowledge about your individual child’s environment (what he/she is going through and how he/she may be currently dealing with issues).
As tempting as it may be to leave a difficult issue to be discussed like drugs to the school of your teen, taking a direct approach can prove most beneficial. Teens nowadays are faced with a diverse set of society’s problems. Simply telling them to look the other way when drugs are in their face may no longer cut it. Discussing the destructive effects of drugs in detail with your teenager promotes better awareness and helps provide them with a strong foundation to turn to when pressure ensues. But don’t just lecture your child; it would help to speak with a teenager about a delicate topic in a manner that a counselor would use. Be open to listening to whatever feedback your teen has to offer, and be sure to correct any misinformation they may be harboring.
3. Convey your expectations as parent and enforce guidelines with the use of penalties.
Studies have shown that teenagers coming from households with distinct guidelines or expectations accompanied with penalties are at a lower risk for substance abuse. By setting guidelines for your teens, you are aiding them in realizing their own expectations. Is leaving the use of drugs up to your child, a gamble really worth taking?
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