Drug Abuse Prevention

Many teens give in to peer pressure because they want to feel accepted and liked by their peers. There are many things that parents can do to help protect their teens from drug abuse and make sure that they are as safe as possible at all times.

Establishing Guidelines

Teens need to know what you expect from them at all times. Talk to them on a regular basis, and let them know what you do and do not find to be tolerable behavior. Set expectations for them, as well. Your teens need to have goals, and if you help to let them know what you expect from them, they will be more likely to try hard to make you happy and proud. Two-thirds of all teenagers do not want to disappoint their parents. If your children know that it would greatly disappoint you if they even tried drugs, they may avoid illicit drugs all together. To learn more about establishing guidelines for drug abuse prevention, please call us today at (800) 943-0566.

Monitor Teens

Everyone wants to think that his or her teen can be trusted at all times. Many teens are very trustworthy; however, there are times when peer pressure can feel overwhelming. Without proper supervision, teens may feel pressured to try a drug by their peers. To monitor your teen, you need to know where they are, who they are with, and what they are doing at all times. Many teens are home alone in the afternoons because their parents have to work to support their family. It is possible to monitor your teens through phone calls, random trips home earlier than expected and having neighbors watch for visitors during hours when you are away. Call us at (800) 943-0566 to learn more about monitoring teens even when you are not at home. It is important to let your teens know that no one is to visit them when you are not there.

Some statistics on drug attitudes and experiences of teens:

• 29 percent of teenagers report exposure to drugs on school property between grades nine through twelve.
• 56 percent of teenagers find it easier to get over-the-counter drugs than illegal drugs
• 40 percent of teenagers think that over-the-counter drugs are safer than illegal drugs

Enforce the Rules

It is important for your teenagers to know there are consequences to their actions. If your teens break the rules, you need to enforce the guidelines that you established. Enforcing rules will help them to learn about consequences. Teens will face many consequences if they try or become addicted to drugs, including legal consequences if the police catch them with the drugs and health consequences. Informing them of the potential risks that come with drug use is a great way to be sure that they avoid drugs all together. To learn more about the potential risks your teens could face, call (800) 943-0566.

Have an Open Dialogue With Teens

It is important to talk openly and honestly with your teens about drug use. They need to be able to talk to you about the pressures they are experiencing and how they should react if they are offered drugs. Role-playing is a great way to connect with your teens and give them the tools they need to be able to resist peer pressure and drug use. Letting your children know about your personal experiences with drug abuse may also help them to see the lasting effects that drugs can have on their life.

You may want to share stories of people who you knew personally that died from drug abuse or who are still addicted to drugs that they thought was harmless as a teenager. Your teens need to know that they will not be in trouble for being honest with you about any drug issue that they may be facing. Trust and communication are essential to drug prevention. To learn more about creating an open dialogue with your teen, please call us today at (800) 943-0566.