| During a time where more and more children are | | | | inevitably encounter? |
| abusing illicit drugs and alcohol, it has become vital | | | | Another vital tool in keeping children off drugs and |
| for parents to be even more vigilant in monitoring | | | | alcohol is really knowing their friends, and their |
| their children's activities and indicators. Drug use | | | | friend's families. Although it is a nice thought that |
| will take over a person's life in a blink of an eye | | | | your child will want to spend most of their time |
| and the only way for parents to prevent this is | | | | with you and your family, at some point they are |
| by learning how to talk to their children. | | | | going to desire the company of their friends over |
| Remember, kids don't wake up one day and just | | | | you. These friends will end up being the most |
| decide to start abusing drugs and/or alcohol, there | | | | influential people in your child's life. Know them, talk |
| are many things that led up to that, and that is | | | | to to them, talk to their parents, make it safe for |
| what parents need to watch out for. | | | | them to hang out at your house - where you can |
| One of the most important things to do, is make | | | | watch them. When you can trust your child's |
| sure that your child knows that they can talk to | | | | friends, you have a much better grasp on their |
| you. Often times, children will be upset about | | | | social life. Most children that abuse drugs and |
| something, or concerned about something and | | | | alcohol do so with their friends, as a way to |
| keep it from their parent's because they are | | | | experiment. Not many children decide to try drugs |
| afraid they will get in trouble, or that their parents | | | | or alcohol for the first time on their own. |
| will not understand. Now, some parents try to | | | | Know the warning signs of drug abuse. For |
| handle this problem be assuring that their child can | | | | parents who have had to send their child to drug |
| tell them anything, and sometimes that works, | | | | rehab, they often say that they had no idea that |
| however most times it does not. The best way | | | | their child was even abusing drugs until it was too |
| to make sure that your child feels comfortable | | | | late, don't let this be you. When a person |
| telling you their problems, concerns, or anything | | | | consumes drugs or alcohol they are basically |
| else that is going on with them, is by proving that | | | | ingesting poison, and their body and behavior is |
| they can tell you anything. That means if they | | | | going to change because of that. They will lose |
| decide to tell you that they didn't do their | | | | weight, they will usually break out, they will |
| homework even though earlier they told you that | | | | become moody - happy one minute, angry the |
| they had, show them that you are happy that | | | | next, they will start to pick fights with you and |
| they had the courage to tell you and then leave it | | | | the rest of the family, their grades will drop, they |
| at that. A general rule could be; if you tell me, you | | | | will stop bringing their friends around, and you will |
| won't be in trouble. This encourages children to | | | | start to catch them lying. A good rule of thumb is |
| have an open communication with their parents, | | | | this: if you suspect drug use, you are probably |
| and it also allows parents to really know what is | | | | right - listen to your gut. A great way of knowing |
| going on with them. Of course, if the child really | | | | for sure it to administer an at-home drug test. |
| does something bad, and it would encourage them | | | | These drug tests are available at most |
| to continue doing that really bad thing if you didn't | | | | pharmacies and the results are usually ready |
| punish them, then do it. Just let them know why | | | | within a few minutes. |
| they are getting punished and make sure that it | | | | Drug and alcohol abuse does not have to kill off |
| fits the crime. Because, in the end, is it really | | | | our children, we can prevent it. Realize that you |
| important that you sent them to their room for | | | | are still their parents and that you can create an |
| eating a cookie before dinner, or is it more | | | | environment for them that doesn't make using |
| important that they are willing and comfortable to | | | | drugs and alcohol a solution. |
| talk to you about the real problems that they will | | | | |