How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs

In recent years, Utah has seen a rise in the abuse of prescription drugs and pill-related deaths. In fact, according to the Utah Department of Health, Utah has experienced more than a 400% increase in deaths associated with the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs in the past decade.

With drug abuse on the rise, it’s as important as ever to talk to your kids about the dangers of drug and alcohol use. Although this may be an uncomfortable topic to broach, it’s vital to have the conversation. It’s never too early to talk to your kids about maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle.

Having “The Talk”

Here are some tips on how to have an effective conversation:

• Find some alone time - Set aside a time when you won’t be interrupted to have the talk with your kids.
• Ask their opinion - Avoid lecturing and instead encourage your child to talk openly about the topic. By asking, “I’d like to know your point of view” you may get a more honest response.
• Discuss the reasons not to use alcohol/drugs - Avoid using scare tactics to talk about the dangers of drugs. Instead, focus on how drug use can negatively affect things that are important to them, like sports, grades, their appearance, getting their license, etc. Make sure to explain the health risks and explain that teenagers are at risk of developing an addiction.
• Problem solve ways to resist peer pressure - Brainstorm with your kids how they might turn down offers of alcohol or drugs or how they might respond if they are made fun of for not participating.
• Bust the myths - Talk about any myths your child might have heard about drugs, such as “Prescription drugs are safer than street drugs.” Discuss the reality of drug use by using books, reliable websites, or other research to back up your points.
• Be ready to discuss your own drug use - Think about how you’ll respond if asked about your own drug use and set a good example for your children by abstaining from drug use or seeking help for a drug problem.
• Review the rules & consequences - Let your children know what your rules and expectations are about drugs (that they never ride in a car with someone who has used alcohol/drugs, that they don’t hang out with friends who are using drugs, etc.) and what the consequences will be if they break those rules.

If you suspect your child is abusing drugs, talk to him about what is going on in his life and encourage honesty. Be sure to remain consistent and enforce the consequences previously established. Tell your child how he may begin to regain your trust. If you believe your child is involved in significant drug use, contact a doctor, counselor or health care provider who specializes in drug abuse or addiction.

Remember, it’s never too early to talk about alcohol and drug use. Having an open dialogue promotes a healthier understanding than using scare tactics or avoiding the conversation altogether.

About the Author

Sara Bybee, LCSW

Sara graduated with her Master’s in Social Work from Portland State University and moved to Salt Lake City in 2012. Since then, she has been working with Safe & Healthy Families and has been enjoying all that the Southwest has to offer. In her free time, she loves hiking, biking, running, taking her dogs to the park, speaking Spanish, learning about other cultures, cooking, and baking

http://primarychildrens.org

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