Talking to your teen about drugs and alcohol
Talking to your child about drugs and alcohol begins at an early age. It should be a comfortable and on-going conversation that continues even into their college years.
Before you start the conversation with your child, be sure that you are educated on drug and alcohol facts, and that you are prepared for any questions that they may ask you. Resources for your education can be found on this website under the "Just for Parents" tab, or they can be found at reputable sites like the following:
After you have learned about drugs and alcohol take this steps towards talking to your teen:
Before you start the conversation with your child, be sure that you are educated on drug and alcohol facts, and that you are prepared for any questions that they may ask you. Resources for your education can be found on this website under the "Just for Parents" tab, or they can be found at reputable sites like the following:
- The Century Council
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Office of National Drug Control Policy
After you have learned about drugs and alcohol take this steps towards talking to your teen:
- Start the discussion: Use a current newspaper article or recent event about alcohol as a way to raise the issue. The top conversation starters for parents and youth are tragedy in the news, something on TV or a movie, or someone else caught with drugs or alcohol.
- Give your reaction to these examples and ask your child for his. Be sure not to criticize what he says. Stay away from sentences like "How could you think that way? What made you say something like that?" Your child needs to know that he can speak openly to you without regretting it. If he knows that he can talk openly and even disagree with you about difficult issues he will be less likely to tune out your opinion.
- Don't deliver a science report, but provide your child with information about the dangers of drugs and alcohol in a way they can understand it. Let your child know the dangers to her body and mind, and answer her questions honestly.
- Have the conversation more than once. Your child might accuse you of harping, or he might not appear to be listening, but explain to him that alcohol use among teens is scary to parents and your want to protect him. If your child is open to the talks, let him know how great that is and how mature he sounds.
- Establish your values beyond a doubt. Kids can be very literal, so it is important that you clearly say "I am against alcohol for people under 21 because..." and then explain to your children why.
- If you catch them using alcohol be sure to have consequences like grounding, suspended phone use or curfews. However, if your child comes to you with an admission, you don't want to squash that impulse. Punishing the child will make her never want to tell you anything again. Instead, let her know that what she did was wrong and that you strongly disapprove, but you are glad she told you. Also, let your child know the consequences for it happening again.
