Parent''s Resolution - Abuse of Perscription Drugs by Teens

Parent’s Resolution

By Bethany Winkel  -  December 31st 2010

Drug prevention starts at home. Kids whose parents talk to them about the dangers of drugs are up to 50% less likely to use drugs. That is a pretty amazing statistic, and it should be a big motivation to parents to start talking now. This New Year, make a resolution that matters. Resolve to talk more to your kids about the dangers of drug.

A Parent’s Bond with their Teen

There are many things you can do as a parent to lead up to the main message of your kids staying drug-free. These things involve your attitude toward your child, your family’s values, and the kind of person you encourage them to be. Timetotalk.org has a list of the top 10 things parents can do to show their child they care, and these things are important to a good relationship between parent and child. They talk about things like: Be a good role model, Keep your promises to your child, Listen to your teen, Teach them about ethics, Teach them about thankfulness, Be understanding, and Answer their questions. These are things that really lay the foundation for our relationship with our child, and when these things are happening correctly, it will be much easier to talk to them about drugs. A good bond will make them more open to the message you are giving them. But if you haven’t had a good connection with your teen before, it’s not too late to start. Resolve to begin improving your relationship with your teen(s).

Be Informed

The challenge of talking to your teen about drug and alcohol abuse should begin right away. Teens today are faced with more temptations for things like drugs and alcohol, and other risky behavior like huffing. There are new ways to get high, and new risks kids take. Parents should make themselves aware of these dangerous activities so they can talk to their kids about them.

Spend Time with Your Teen

As you have these ongoing talks, don’t assume that it is enough. Continue to spend time with your child and get to know the people they are hanging out with, to ensure they are staying clean. There are many ways to do this. Invite their friends over to your house to spend time together, so you can see who they are and what kind of influence they will have on your child. Meet the parents of your child’s friends to further understand what your child and their friends might be up to.
Don’t wait any longer to be the positive anti-drug influence on your child’s life. Start talking to them right away, and work on improving your relationship with your child so they take your message to heart.