Six Things Parents Can Do to Help Their Kids Stay Drug-Free
LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 19, 2017 (Newswire.com) - It is important for parents to talk to their children about drugs and underage drinking and to educate them on the effects of these substances. But even more important can be helping them escape the consequences of opting out when they are offered drugs or are pressured to join in the "fun."
If kids are left vulnerable to ridicule, chances are they'll succumb. Parents can help them work out an escape clause so they can gracefully escape the situation. Here are some examples:
The Diversion: They can bring up something else they have to do: "I don't want to drink because I'm going to play basketball next and I don't want to look stupid," or "I have to work with my dad as soon as I get home so I can't risk being all dopey and sleepy."
The Plausible Excuse: "My parents (or coach) drug test me all the time. They'd ground me forever if I test positive." Or "My mom will hug me and check my breath and clothes for smells. I can't get away with anything."
The Health Reason: "Alcohol (or whatever drug they are being offered) makes me puke," "I get such a bad headache if I smoke pot," or "I'll just fall asleep if I even take one of those pills."
The Avoidance: Have them work out what to do if they walk into a party, they see kids who often drink or smoke and they can see where the party is headed. Now is the time to suddenly "remember" the other appointment they have.
The Buddy System: They may have a friend who is willing to make a pact not to experiment with drugs. They can support each other when they feel under pressure. And they can roleplay these kinds of circumstances together until they feel comfortable about how they will handle them.
The Extra Incentive: Parents can make it more enticing not to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Reward them with things they really enjoy or want—new permissions or freedoms, getting out of chores, extra car privileges for older teens or a contribution toward a more expensive reward tucked away for that future purchase. Tell them about the rewards that await them for doing the right thing.
With the runaway epidemic of opioid abuse and the dozens of deadly drugs on the market, there's not much that's more important than teaching children how to protect their own sobriety.
For nearly 50 years, the Narconon drug rehabilitation program has saved the lives of countless individuals who were thought lost to substance abuse forever. The Narconon mission is to provide an effective path for drug abuse rehabilitation and to assist society in reversing the scourge of drug abuse worldwide.
For more information on the Narconon program and our international network of centers across 50 nations, call 1 (877) 445-7113.
Source: Narconon.org
