Drugs are becoming more and more easily available to young children. We have seen kids as young as 12 in an adolescent treatment clinic hooked on drugs. American studies suggest that their kids first try alcohol at age 11 and marijuana at age 12. Drugs are often portrayed quite favourably in the popular media. Movies and films often show drugs in conjunction with parties, cool social scenes, or people acting humourously because they've been taking drugs. If you are not going to talk to your kids about drugs then who is?

Any conversation with your child about substance abuse addiction should be a two-way conversation. Pay attention to how your child feels and listen carefully to his/her concerns. If you show respect to your child then the conversation will be more comfortable. Ultimately the goal of the conversation is to educate the child to avoid the chance of experimentation and prevent later teenage drug abuse and the need for a substance abuse rehab.

You can help your child learn ways to refuse drugs and alcohol by rehearsing small role-plays. For example you could ask your child "Let's play a game. Suppose you go to your friends house after school and they find some wine in the cupboard. They open the bottle and ask you to take a sip. Our family rule is that children are not allowed to drink alcohol. What could you say to your friends?". Practice a few trial runs until your child learns how to say no effectively and appopriately.

Encourage your child to start making age-appropriate decisions. If your child is skilled at making decisions then he/she will be more able to make the right decision concerning drug and alcohol when the time arrives. To help your child learn decision making skills you could place small decisions into his/her hands. An 8-year old could be asked if he wants to have lots of friends over for a birthday party or would rather take a few friends to a movie. A 12-year old can choose which sport she wants to play and whether she wants to learn the violin or trombone.

Make sure the information that you offer fits the child's age and stage. When your 6 or 7-year-old is brushing his teeth, you can say, "There are lots of things we do to keep our bodies healthy, like brushing our teeth. But there are also things we shouldn't do because they hurt our bodies, like smoking or taking medicines when we are not sick". Short, simple comments said and repeated often enough will get the message across. Older children can be given more specific information about drugs and and how they affect the body.

The family should have a clear rule around drug and alcohol use. Establish a firm understanding that children are not to drink alcohol and nobody may use drugs. Make sure that children understand that this rule is to protect them from harm.

Remember that children learn a great deal more from watching you than listening to you. For example: If you arrive home from work and grab a beer it could give your kids the message that alcohol is the best way to unwind.

Children who have good self-esteem and feel confident in social situations are much less likely to develop substance abuse disorders. As a parent you can help enhance your child's self-image by offering praise for any accomplishment. Criticism should be directed at behaviour and not the person. For example, if the child has made a mistake doing arithmetic you could say "I think you added wrongly, why not check over that again". Giving your child chores to do can help them feel useful and appreciated. Make sure that the chores are do-able and this will help the child to learn that he/she is capable. Spend time alone with your child to bond and show affection. Use the phrase "I love you".

Be on the look out for warning signs. Even kids under the age of 12 can develop a substance abuse problem, even if this is a rare occurance. Warning signs include: emotional changes, losing weight, rebellious, and poor school marks. Look out for missing drugs from your cabinet, or the smell of paint fumes or other inhalents in the house. If you feel your child might have a problem talk to him/her about it and reach out to a local adolescent treatment unit for drug rehab help.

Additional Resources

• Alcohol Awareness Month is a resource site dedicated to providing facts about underage drinking.
• Alcohol Awareness Website for Grades 6-12 is a resource for school-age children about alcohol.
• BBC Education is a series of resources provided by the BBC.
• Common Sense: Strategies for Raising Alcohol- and Drug-Free Children is an American guide for parents.
• CyberIsle is a site by teens for teens offering interactive info on a variety of social issues.
• Gang Activity at School: Prevention Strategies is an American study into identifying and preventing gangsterism in schools.
• Growing Up Drug-Free is an American parental guide.
• Keeping Children Drug Free is a family-centered approach to drug prevention.
• Life Skills Training is a drug prevention strategy based on American Research.
• Parenting Is Prevention Project is an American government guide to parents to help them keep their kids drug free.
• Reality Check: Keeping Youth Drug-Free (Caregivers' Guide) is a comprehensive resource site offering guides to those who look after kids.
• TeenNet is an American university project aimed as a primary intervention strategy for teens.