Example
Drug Facts You Need To Know
When you talk with your child about alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs,
it's best to know as much background information as you can. The
following descriptions are by no means comprehensive, but they give
you a broad overview of the substances your child may be exposed to
or ask you about.
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Your 11-year-old tells you a friend offered him some marijuana (or other substance). You
can begin your conversation by asking for more information.
Q: “What do you know about marijuana (or other substance)?”
A: [Chances are your child will have some information on marijuana (or
other substance), but not all of the information may be accurate. If your
child doesn't know about the harms of marijuana (or other substance),
you can do the following things together to find out more:]
- See "Drug Facts You Need to Know."
- Contact SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug
Information (NCADI) toll-free at 1-800-729-6686.
- Look at the following Web site—www.samhsa.gov—for other substances.
Ask more questions to continue the conversation.
Q: “Do you know what happens if you use marijuana (or other substances)?”
A: [Listen to your child's response. Does he mention any of the
consequences listed below? If not, you should mention them. We have used
marijuana as the example here.]
- Smoking marijuana is illegal and could result in getting suspended
or kicked out of school, being sent to jail or juvenile detention, and
having a criminal record. All of these things could affect the rest
of his life.
- Smoking marijuana sets a bad example for younger siblings.
- Smoking marijuana will hurt his lungs and cause him to perform poorly
in sports.
- Smoking marijuana will hurt his brain and could result in memory loss,
bad grades, and a loss of motivation.
- Smoking marijuana would affect his relationship with you and others
he cares about.
- Smoking marijuana would greatly affect the whole family. State what
the resulting consequences would be in your family.
Express Thoughts and Feelings
Being able to express thoughts and feelings with someone we feel comfortable around—whether it is a spouse, a coworker, or a friend—can make all the difference in how we feel about ourselves and in how we interact with the world around us.
Similarly, young people need opportunities to express their thoughts and new feelings. When we try to limit the thoughts and feelings of our children, we take a great deal away from them. When we deny that their feelings are real, we are denying that children are individuals with their own perceptions. Young people who are taught to express themselves have an easier time dealing with peer pressure and resisting other temptations.
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