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Proms Plus!
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| Helping Teens Stay Drug and Alcohol-Free |
| Parent-School Partnerships |
Parents do not need to feel that they are alone in helping their children stay drug-free. Teens have the best prospects for leading healthy drug-free lives when schools support parents in their anti-drug message. One of the best ways to ensure that the anti-drug policies at your child's school are strong is to be involved.
 | Learn about the current policies regarding alcohol and other drugs at school. |
| Familiarize yourself with how drug education is being taught in school. |
| Ask your teen to show you any materials distributed during or outside class and take the opportunity to review them together. |
| Ask what happens to those who are caught abusing drugs. |
| Volunteer. |
| When Your Teen Asks "Did You Ever Use Drugs?" |
Unless the answer is no, it is difficult to know what to say because nearly all parents who used, don't want their children to do the same thing. The response should be honest - lying risks losing credibility and teaches your children to lie. This doesn't mean parents need to recount every moment of their experience. Some details should remain private.
Ask clarifying questions to make sure you understand why your children are asking. This discussion provides a good opportunity for parents to speak frankly and explains why they want their children to avoid making the same mistake.
| Drug and Alcohol Facts for Parents |
As a parent, you should understand all of the facts about Drugs and Alcohol. Imformation is your strongest resource.
| Make your position clear - kids should not use alcohol or drugs at all. |
| First and foremost, it's illegal. State governments have imposed a limit of 21 years of age for alcohol possession and use. Parents are legally responsible for anything that may happen to a minor who has been served alcohol or other drugs in their home, whether the parents are there or not. |
| Alcoholism runs in families. Children of alcoholics have a four times greater risk of becoming alcoholics than children of non-alcoholics. Parents should let their children know of any family history of alcoholism or other drug addictions and educate them on the risks of becoming addicted. |
| Alcohol and drug use delays the maturation process. When children use alcohol or drugs, it affects the developmental process of the adolescent years. This may result in learning difficulties, a lack of social skills and poor self-confidence. |
| Impaired judgement may lead to dangerous situations. When anyone is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, inhibitions are lowered and people are more likely to do things they would not do. This can lead to things such as sexual intercourse, unintended pregnancy, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS, and committing crimes of destruction. Alcohol and other drugs have also been responsible for injuries and deaths by falls, drowning, alcohol poisoning and car crashes. |
| Family values and beliefs are important. Be aware of how you use alcohol and talk about it openly with your children. It is important to remember that what you do has more of an impact on your children than what you say. |
| Psychological development is a factor. The frontal regions of the brain that regulate judgment and consequence evaluation are the last regions to reach maturity and are especially sensitive to alcohol and other drugs. When a child begins to use alcohol and other drugs at a young age, their maturation process is stopped at that particular age and development essentially ceases. |
| Drug and Alcohol Resources on the Web |
For further information on Drugs, Alcohol and your teen, visit these helpful websites.
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