The teenage years are a tricky time. Your child is growing from child to adult and may be anxious to make their own decisions and choices, and even their own mistakes. This can lead to experimentation with many things, drugs and alcohol included. According to DARE 90% of teenagers have experimented with alcohol before they graduate from high school. Parents may be aware of the common use of alcohol, cigarettes, and even marijuana, but they also need to be aware of the other harder drugs that are being commonly used by teenagers, as young as middle school.
Early detection of drug use is very important for recovery. If a teen is caught with drugs or even if parents just suspect drug use, it is important to act quickly and not wait for further proof. This will give the teen the best chance for recovery.
It is also important to talk to your kids about drugs at an early age. Even if your child is only in the 6th grade, they are likely to come in contact with kids who are in 8th grade and already experimenting with drugs, either at school, or they might be older siblings of their friends. It is important to arm them with information so they understand what other kids are talking about and can extract themselves from inappropriate situations.
Be clear with your child about what your expectations are and set clear boundaries. Don’t hesitate to talk to your child about drugs, you must send a clear message. Accentuate the positive while talking about drugs, for example focus on the high percentage of kids not on drugs more than the small percentage of kids who are on drugs.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do as a parent is to form a strong emotional and family bond with your child. Teens can turn to drugs as a coping mechanism and will be much less likely to do so if they feel emotional support at home. In fact, studies have shown that families that have frequent family dinners (five to seven nights a week) are twice as likely to stay off drugs and alcohol because of the emotional and family support that have at home.