Talking with your teenager about drugs is part of guiding them through the many decisions that can affect their life in the long term. Here are some tips to help you talk with your child:
How to talk to your teen about drugs
- Listen to your teenager’s concerns and take his or her questions seriously.
- Continue or develop the habit of talking regularly with your child on a variety of subjects. This will greatly facilitate discussion on the issue of drug use when the time comes.
- Start early and get ahead of the questions. Start talking about drugs as soon as your child learns about their existence through friends, the media and the people around them.
- Your child should learn about the dangers of drugs from parents first. Getting an initial perspective on drug use from the parent is the starting point for forming their own opinion in the future.
- Be clear on where you stand. Successful communication with your teenager requires clear ideas. Your teenager needs to understand that you have a definite position on drugs and that his or her behaviour will be measured against that position.
Be a good example. As a key influencer, you are also a key example. Your behaviour should be in line with the positions that you established for your teenager. Your actions can speak louder than your words.
Reference: Talking with Your Teen about Drugs (Government of Canada, 2008)
