Talking to Your Teenager about Drugs
Teenagers are among the highest risk groups when it comes drug abuse and drug addiction. One of the best preventative medicines to use in your effort to keep your child off drugs is communication. Here are some talking points to use in discussions with your teens about drug use.
- Explain to your kids why drugs are harmful. Studies have shown that the more kids know about the dangerous consequences of drug use, the less likely they will be to engage in the behavior. (Note: Don't be concerned that you are putting drug-related thoughts into your child's head. You are simply warning them about a potential danger – just as you did when you told them to always obey traffic signals).
- Tell your kids that you would be very disappointed in them if they used drugs. Despite how they act sometimes, children still see their parents as role models, and as such want to make them happy. Making clear your feelings about drug use will help steer their thought process in the right direction.
- Engage your child in two-way conversations about drugs. If the topic of drugs comes up, don't be too heavy-handed. Open a dialogue with your child and ask him questions about why he thinks that people use drugs, and if he understands the consequences of using, even if it is seen as just an "experiment". Make your child feel like he has a stake in his own future when it comes to drug use.
- Give your child some choices in the discussion. You need to talk to your teenager about drugs. That point is non-negotiable. But if you force your child to sit down and talk right at the moment you choose, you taking away the control that teenagers crave. By allowing them some freedom in when you discuss the issue, you will be making them feel like more of an active partner in the discussion. This in turn, should make them more responsive to the matters you are going to discuss.
- Show a regular interest in your teen's life. If you talk to your child often about their life, it will be that much less jarring when you broach the subject of drugs. If your child has grown accustomed to your interest in their day-to-day activities, it will come naturally that you want to sit down and talk to them about drugs.
Remember that being confrontational in your conversations about drug use will only do more harm than good. Be calm before you sit down and discuss this matter with your teenager. Try and put yourself in their position.
Michael's House helps young people and their families make it through the difficulties caused by drug addiction. The professionals at Michael's House do an outstanding job of speaking to teenagers and young adults in their own language, helping them feel more comfortable and ease with the rehab process. This enhanced comfort level increases the chances for success, and the proper rebuilding of the teenager's life.
