Tips for Talking with Kids About Addictive Substances
Addictive substances are, sadly, very easily accessible to everyone. Children are not excluded, and that is why talking with kids about addictive substances is very important. In fact, it’s one of the most important conversations you should have. Otherwise, they will look for answers elsewhere, which is risky.
However, having a conversation with them will greatly decrease the chance of future substance use because it promotes informed decision-making from the very beginning.
Understand the Basics
Addictive substances include a wide range of things. Alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs all make the list. These substances will harm both a child’s and an adult’s health, brain development, and function. Their use leads to addiction, and no one is immune. That is why kids, in particular, need to know about the risks of experimenting with these substances.
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 8.33% or 2.08 million 12- to 17-year-olds in the USA reported using drugs in the last month, predominantly marijuana. Even more alarming is the number of drug-related deaths. For example, in Florida alone, there have been 5,268 overdose deaths per year, a staggering 23.19% above the national average death rate.
These worrying numbers highlight the severity of substance abuse problems and the need for prevention.
Create an Open Environment
If your kid doesn’t feel it’s safe to talk to you about these things, they won’t. The number one thing for a modern parent is to create a comfortable setting from an early age. Show them you can listen without judgment and that they can ask you anything about any topic. Only this way will you build trust and open communication. You can begin by asking open-ended questions and listening to their responses. Make them feel like their thoughts and feelings are important, even when they might not be the same as yours.
Have Age-Appropriate Conversations
If you think that substance abuse is something that your kids need to know about, that is great! But you need to wait until a certain age for them to be ready for this conversation. Preschoolers won’t really understand much about the topic, but young school-aged kids can be informed using simple explanations. Older kids will understand and benefit from more detailed explanations and examples.
Educate Yourself and Your Child
To be able to educate your kids about the topic, you need to be educated yourself. You can use many resources, like the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Likewise, you can encourage kids to explore themselves by sharing educational materials like books, videos, and websites designed for their age. Just make sure that the information is accurate because not everything on the internet can be trusted.
Use Real-Life Examples
Real-life examples teach better than theory. Sadly, everyone knows at least one person who has struggled with addiction of some kind, and you can use that knowledge to teach your kids to do better. You can also find stories online or in the news, and make sure to share how it affected that person’s life.
This way, children will see that addiction is not something that can only happen to someone else but also to them and the ones they love the most. You should also consider talking with them about how social media is making kids grow up too fast, exposing them to peer pressure and misleading information about addictive substances.
Of course, focusing only on the negative is not a solution. It’s equally important to share successful recovery stories. Thus, even if the worst-case scenario happens, your kids will know there are plenty of treatment options and that they only need to ask for help. For instance, Level Up Treatment Lake Worth, referred to as We Level Up Lake Worth, FL, has many successful recovery stories. Also, you can find reliable information on substance abuse symptoms and treatment options on their website.
Develop Your Kids Critical Thinking and Decision-Making
Try to educate your kids to think critically about substances and their abuse. Not everything they hear and see will be true. Always encourage them to think for themselves and research a topic they are interested in to avoid misinformation. It will give kids confidence to know they reached a good conclusion all on their own.
Address Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is the main reason why kids try drugs. In an attempt to fit in with the popular kids, a child will most likely try cigarettes for the first time. According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, peer pressure has caused 21% of teenagers to try illicit drugs at least once. So, explain to your kid that fitting in is not the biggest goal in life and that they should never do something they don’t want to just because others tell them to. Help them recognize these scenarios and teach them how to say no.
Set Clear Expectations and Boundaries
Enforce rules from an early age so that when you set rules about drugs and alcohol use, they know that they won’t get away with doing something that is not acceptable. Be clear and consistent. Explain why these rules exist and what happens if they break them.
Be a Role Model
Even if children don’t always listen to what you say, they often copy what you do. Thus, if you are using drugs and alcohol, they will likely, too. Be a role model, and show them that there are better ways to cope with stress and other life challenges. At the same time, if you do enjoy an alcoholic beverage from time to time, explain why moderation and responsibility are important.
Seek Professional Help If Needed
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, your kid may need professional help. However, make sure you know the signs of substance abuse so that you don’t accuse them without a reason. Some telltale signs are behavioral changes, mood swings, and declining performance at school. If you notice this, don’t hesitate to seek help.
While you can start by contacting a therapist, if the problem is severe, an addiction treatment center might be a better option. Fortunately, especially in states with troubling statistics, such as Florida, there are numerous facilities dedicated to assisting teenagers. Among these, there are esteemed rehabilitation facilities that have proven especially helpful. They offer different kinds of addiction treatments, drug and alcohol detox, alternative addiction treatment, evidence-based therapy, and more. On top of that, they also offer effective resources for supporting long-term recovery.
Conclusion
Talking with kids about addictive substances is very important, as it will impact their whole lives. Everything with them is a phase, even the phase in which they will be more prone to trying different substances. It is important to stay vigilant and help them correctly navigate this time in their life. Start early, be honest, be patient, and never stop having these conversations. It might be uncomfortable initially, but it will pay off in the future.
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