Drug Rehab Q&A: How Do I Keep My Kids Off Alcohol and Drugs?
by Rod MacTaggart
Alcohol and drugs can be a confusing issue for kids. Drugs seem pretty cool in the movies and on TV, and there's alcohol and drug advertising everywhere: prescription drugs for everything and anything, beer commercials, and liquor billboards are all over the place. They're even advertised by the beer in your own refrigerator and the pills bottles in your medicine cabinet. The fact is that parents who set a good example and educate their kids about the dangers of alcohol and drugs can play a big part in keeping their kids free of substance abuse that could lead to the need for drug rehab.
The average age a kid first tries alcohol is 11, and it's only 12 for marijuana. And that's just the average, which means plenty start experimenting even younger. And kids needing drug rehab have been as young as 10 or 12. But research shows that kids are 50 percent less likely to use drugs and alcohol if their parents teach them about the dangers, early and well.
How do you get your kids to listen to you? According to surveys, parents who listen to their children's feelings and concerns, and don't belittle them, have a better chance of establishing the kind of relationship needed to make kids comfortable about talking to them. Kids pay more attention, and parents find it a lot easier to help them stay drug-free.
Choose information that suits a child's age and level of development. For a 6-year-old, look for opportunities to bring up the subject. Maybe they're washing their hands or brushing their teeth or taking their vitamins. You can point out how that's one of the ways we take care of ourselves to stay healthy, but there are some things we shouldn't do because they're not good for us, like smoking or taking medicine you don't get from mom or dad. Short, simple statements that are repeated often enough do a better job. Keep it light, and do it often.
For older kids, choose an appropriate moment - they don't respond well to "Now we have to have a serious talk about drugs." Maybe they're watching TV and there's a reference to drug rehab and Britney Spears or alcoholism or substance abuse. Ask if they know what that's all about, and clear it up. Always explain the family policy - we don't do that stuff because it can make us sick.
Instead of waiting, create an opportunity. Ask, "What about all these pop stars going into drug rehab?" Present the truth about alcohol and drug abuse, addiction and drug rehab, discuss it all you want, and again, clearly set out the family policy.
Role-playing can help kids learn how to avoid being sucked into trying drugs without looking like a dork to their friends. Get them to come up with ways they can tactfully refuse, and act them out with you until they're comfortable. "No thanks, I don't drink beer, I have to stay in shape for baseball." or "No thanks, let's (insert a favorite activity) instead."
Parents also need to find out about the local drug scene and be able to tell their kids what to expect. For example, learn some of the terminology and how local kids might get drugs. And teach them that someone who says what they're offering isn't really a drug is probably lying. Always restate the family policy!
And if you discover that your kid is trying alcohol or drugs, find out how far it's gone. If it's beyond the early experimentation stage, call a drug rehab referral service and discuss it with a professional counselor. They might need to get them into a drug rehab program fast before the situation gets even worse.
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