Drug and alcohol
To many parents, it’s a mystery why young people should want to do something which can have severe health implications. If you think your teenager is abusing drugs or alcohol:
- Don’t panic or overreact. Most drinking and drug taking is experimental and is often done to follow the lead of friends.
- Talk to your child, not at them. You were young once and experienced peer pressure so relate to your child and encourage them to share information.
- Stress the health risks to your child rather than giving ultimatums. Remind them that some drugs are illegal and could lead to prosecution.
- Let your child know that you love them unconditionally and will support them no matter what – even though you may be disappointed with their behaviour.
- Don’t drink excessively or smoke heavily in front of your child. They will see your drunken behaviour as acceptable behaviour.
If you want to know more about the effects of drugs, see the information below or take a look at the young adult section of this website.
The Raising Kids website provides useful information for parents on how to address drug and alcohol issues. See the sections on:
- Pre-teens and smoking
- Underage drinking: 6 Facts
- Drinking responsibly
- Teenagers and smoking
- Warning signs of drug use
- Talking to teens about drugs
- Smoking cannabis
- Marijuana and motivation
- Drugs and the law
What if their addiction is more serious than I thought?
You should consult your GP or seek specialist advice from a support group. You can also find lots more information on the web.
See also
Links