- Start:
It is never too early to prevent your children from trying drugs. Building
protective factors, such as letting your child know you care, plays an important
role in protecting even the youngest children from drugs.
- Connect:
Take every opportunity to build lines of communication with your children.
Do things as a family. Spend time together, eat dinner as a family, read
together, play a game, attend religious services. Show that fun doesn't
involve drugs.
- Listen:
Take a more active interest in what is going on in your child's life. Listen
to their cares and concerns. Know what they are up to, what parties they
are going to, with whom, and what will be served or available.
- Learn:
Children today are sophisticated. In order to educate your child about the
danger of drugs, you need to educate yourself first. In many cases, you
and your child can learn side by side. Sit down together and learn about
the risks drugs pose.
- Educate:
Spend at least thirty minutes with your kids every month explaining with
simple facts how drugs can hurt youngsters and destroy their dreams.
- Care:
Spend at least a few minutes each day telling and showing your children
that you care. Make sure they know you care that they are drug-free. Explain
to your child that you will always be there for them-not matter what happens.
Make sure that they know to come to you first for help or information. The
extended family plays a major role in influencing a child's life.
- Be Aware:
Look for the warning signs that your child may be developing a substance-abuse
problem and get help before the problem occurs.
- Set Limits:
By setting limits on what is acceptable behavior, you show your children
you care and help guide them to a safer, drug-free future. Declare limits:
"This family doesn't do drugs. This family doesn't hang around people
who do drugs." Enforce these limits. If you say no drugs or no drinking
and driving, the rule applies to parents, too. Be consistent.
- Get Involved:
Effective prevention extends beyond the home into the community. Get involved
in your community. Ensure that your community's streets, playgrounds and
schools are safe and drug-free. Start or join a community watch group or
community anti-drug coalition. Become active in the PTA. Get involved in
your church, synagogue or faith.
- Lead:
Young people are as aware of what you do as much as what you say. Don't
just say the right things; do the right things. Set a good example. If you,
yourself, have a substance abuse problem, get help.
