Parent Tips: Protecting Your Kids From Substance Abuse

It’s normal for teens to test their limits, especially in the years when behavioral changes happen and when one is generally risk-taking, and a teenager who is mainly responsible can still be tempted to try drugs or alcohol. The implications are enormous if a youngster tries these substances. 

While you’ll never be able to monitor them constantly, you can still keep your children safe by keeping them on your radar and paying attention to what they do. Keeping a careful check on their children helps parents prevent and solve problems because they are more aware of them earlier and address them more effectively.

There are many resources for parents to learn about how they can keep a watchful eye on their children without making their teens feel locked up. Parents can choose to buy and read books about effective parenting, research online, speak to a child psychotherapist, or enquire in drug and alcohol rehab centers in their area to get information about tell-tale signs of drug abuse or crack symptoms.

Below are some of the simple things to start in protecting your kids creating from home:

Set authority over the kids

In some studies about child psychology, experts have noticed that children who grew up in a household that doesn’t impose parental authority are more prone to getting into an uncontrolled exploration that often leads to addiction to alcohol, drugs, and smoking.

Setting authority doesn’t mean putting an invisible chain on the kids to the point of pushing them to rebellion. This concept is simply making the children realize what they need to keep in mind to ensure that they’re going to stay out of trouble. This is when parents need to learn the best approach, depending on their child’s personality, in monitoring and influencing their children in keeping open communication. 

Educate your children if you’re taking prescribed medication. 

In some information shared by parents seeking help in rehabilitation centers, children started drug abuse by sneaking and stealing their prescription drugs. Parents should be mindful of what they’re doing in the presence of their children. If parents or other family members are on prescribed medications, be sure that the children understand the medicines. Educate them properly!

Be involved without meddling

Parents must be physically and emotionally present at their children’s life events. Your presence will encourage open dialogue, making it easier for your child to express concerns and ask questions. It will also help in checking your child’s activities and becoming acquainted with their set of friends.

Inform the children without opening a can of worms

While you may not realize it, your actions have a more profound impact on your child than you think. Show how to have a good time without the use of alcoholic beverages. Do not disclose your adolescent drug or alcohol experiences if they do not offer a lesson. If you approach stories about yourself in a lighthearted manner, your child may believe that they should do the same or that you would be unconcerned if they abused substances.

Set a justifiable rule

When parents create rules that are unclear or overly strict, their children may react adversely or rebel. Justifications for inappropriate behavior should be developed, and your child should discuss rules to ensure they understand them. 

As you would with any other behavior, reward your child for proper behavior and discipline them for inappropriate behavior. A child who understands and respects your boundaries is less inclined to go beyond exploration.