Tips for Parents

Talk with your child about alcohol and other drugs. You can help change ideas your child may have that "everybody drinks, smokes, or uses other drugs."

Learn to really listen to your child. Your child is more likely to talk with you when you give verbal and nonverbal cues that show you are listening. Hold regular family meetings in which each person gets a chance to talk without interruption and only constructive feedback is allowed.

Help your child feel good about his or herself. Your child will feel good when you praise efforts, as well as accomplishments, and when you correct by criticizing the action rather than the child.

Help your child develop strong values. A strong value system can give your child the courage to say "NO" rather than listen to friends.

Be a good role model or example. Your habits and attitudes may strongly influence your child's ideas about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Help your child deal with peer pressure. A child who is taught to be gentle and loving may need your permission to say "NO" to negative pressure.

Make family rules. It's helpful to make specific family rules about your child not using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and tell your child the consequences for using them.

Encourage healthy and creative activities. Hobbies, school events, and other activities may prevent your child from using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs out of boredom.

Team up with other parents. You can join other parents in support groups that will reinforce the guidance you provide them at home. This will also allow for discussion ways to ensure that your children are supervised after school.

Know what to do if you suspect a problem. You can learn to recognize the telltale signs of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and get help immediately.

Establish a regular weekly routine of doing something special. Simple things like going for a walk will allow parents to talk with their children.

Eat meals together as often as possible. Parents can use meal time as an opportunity to discuss a specific topic with their children, i.e. current events, their children's interests, popular music, fashion, or school, just to name a few.

Prepared by the National Abuse and Alcoholism; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration; the Office for Substance Abuse Prevention; and The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.

Click here to learn more about the signs of drug use.

Click here for a list of common drugs and their effects.

Click here for A Parent's Guide to Drug Prevention.