- How does a parent prevent their child from using drugs?
- How do you talk to your kids about drugs?
- What are the signs and symptoms of drug use?
- What are the most successful methods of drug prevention?
- What should you do if your teen is using drugs?
These are just a few of the questions parents are faced with today. Our mission is to provide parents with useful information and effective methods for keeping their kids away from drugs.
Reaching Our Children Before it's Too Late
Kids today are flooded with false information about drugs, faced with peer pressure and various media influences. The message kids receive today is that of the quick fix, less effort is better, and that one should not have to work hard for what they desire in life. This often leaves them with little ambition and a feeling that there is no game in life. Drugs can be used as a solution to boredom and the hopelessness they often feel. The risk taking and the effects of the drugs themselves make life exciting again-at least for a short time.
Advertising worldwide pounds them daily with messages to drink beer, smoke cigarettes, to solve any pain, discomfort, inability to sleep, or any emotional or physical problem with some medication instantly and at once. They see drugs and alcohol being used all around them, but are being told that "they" shouldn't try drugs. In the United States, the average age a young person is exposed to street drugs being tried or abuse of medical drugs is 8 years old (the third grade). This could happen even earlier if the child has grown up in a family that abuses alcohol or medications on a regular basis. Helping children to reach a sane and self-determined understanding of the truths about alcohol and other drugs can save them and the world enormous future trouble.
A full understanding of what drugs are really doing to a person and the long-term consequences, allow kids to weigh their options and come to a rational decision about them. The key to this is providing them with the correct information, but also in such a way that it relates to their world and their experiences. The Narconon® program provides various educational information, videos and booklets that contain the precise information that has been shown to increase young people's perception of risk, and help them make the decision not to use drugs. These are offered, in addition to the information contained on this page as tools for parents in educating their children.
First and foremost it is important to be educated about drugs yourself. This site and others can provide you with information as well as the books and materials the Narconon International offers. There are many other resources available, including several government websites that provide basic drug information, current news, and study results.
Also important is how you talk to your kids. What has never worked in any drug education is to tell a person something from an authoritative viewpoint. As soon as one starts in with that approach, the child will immediately tune the person out. A better approach is to ask them questions and then provide basic, true information.
One can just ask "What have you heard about drugs that is good?"
At this point is is very important for the parent to simply listen to the child's response without interrupting them. Give them your full attention, no matter what they say, be patient and listen carefully.
When they have finished telling you the good things they have heard about drugs, we have found it is best to just say "thank you" or "I understand" to the communication they just gave you. This helps give your child confidence that they can talk to you and that you are interested in what they have to say. It's like having communication with your best friend, only this one happens to be your child.
Now that they have told you what they heard that was positive about drugs, it is time to get them the correct information. The objective is to give the child correct information so they can make sound decisions on their own. We have found that when young people are given the accurate information about drugs their attitude about them changes and they make their own decisions not to use them. Their own solid decision will carry them a long way.
When providing them with information, ensure that they fully understand it. Consult their understanding and ask for an example of what they have just learned. If they ask a question that you can't answer, it is important that you are honest with them and don't try and make something up. Use the opportunity to work with them to find the answer.
Honestly, patience and good communication are the key to talking to your kids about drugs. Getting their questions answered will help ensure they make the right decision not to use drugs.
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