The kids in their teenage years are all about adventure, regardless of the potential risks. As much as these adventures are necessary for the kids to become independent adults in the long run, some of these may have devastating effects that can ruin their physical and mental health.
One such dangerous undertaking is consuming drugs, which may seem very exciting to young adults as their developing brain lacks the functions of impulse control and self-monitoring that can help them evaluate their actions. Although there are no standardized or all-encompassing set of rules that can help parents to talk to their kids about the risks of drugs, there are some principles that may help in taking them out of substance use and abuse. Let’s have a look:
1. Be Mindful Of The Genetic Heritability
If you have a family history of drug disorder and substance abuse in the first or second-degree relative, keep a close check on your children, as the genetic heritability could be quite persuasive and your kid might fall prey to it.
Be honest with them about the people who have been into drugs, how they struggled in their everyday lives, how it affected their relationships, how their future goals were destroyed, how much was spend in rehabilitation centers, how many precious years they lost, and how some of them couldn’t make it and destroyed their lives for a momentary excitement. Provide them with logic and offer them treatment options which can be outpatient or in-patient depending on what works for your child.
2. Help Them Cope Peer Pressure
If you come to know that your kid(s) are into recreational drugs such as alcohol or cigarettes, sit with them, make them comfortable, have non-judgemental conversation about why and how they started using those drugs.
Listen to their concerns and pay extra attention to how they have been lately. Figure out if they’re using drugs just because they are influenced by someone or something. If that’s the reason, help them fight this peer pressure by offering therapy and support.
3. Listen Intently To What Bothers Them
As a parent, you cannot just assume that your children would already know the dangers of substance abuse and it will keep them being a part of the group who are into addiction. No matter how strong your core values are, you need to be very specific about the disadvantages of the use of any form of drugs. Your teenage kid might already know people in his/her school who use substances to cope up with depression, social anxiety or just to be accepted in the group. Tell them how dangerous it could be to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the legal penalties, heavy fines, or serving jail time. Tell them how their little adventure can put somebody’s life and their future at risk.
4. Have Recurring Conversation Regarding Drugs
With time the pressure to give in to new experiments increases. So it is important to have a recurring conversation with your kids to understand their opinion about the drugs, the people who do them, and their knowledge of their negative repercussions. Help them understand the glamorized role of substance, drugs, and alcohol in reel life and be more proactive about the precautions and prevention. Keep a check on the company your kids have. In most cases. it’s the close friend or ally who pushes the naive kid into the depths of addiction
5. Be Specific In Exuding Your Expectations
The adolescent age of children is quite troublesome for both parents and themselves. This particular phase in kids’ lives is the source of perplexity and consternation for parents as they struggle to talk, communicate and make their kids understand the risks of their explorations and adventures. It is vital for parents to have a clear discussion on drug substance abuse and addiction with their kids as early as possible for their general health and safety.
We understand that it is very difficult for parents to keep a balance in giving clear messages about the drug use and also keep them safe and not too curious about the addiction. But before starting the conversation, make sure that you have laid a wholesome groundwork and your kids are comfortable in talking to you and sharing their adventures as it will make such difficult conversations easy and you will be able to clearly inform them about the repercussions of this substance abuse. It is important that they trust you with their most mortifying and dangerous experiences or activities of their lives and credit your response in return.