Substance Abuse

The statistics today are unbelievable with regards to alcohol, tobacco and drug use. We all know people who use or have used these substances at some point. As part of my Substance Abuse class we have been talking about ways to keep kids off of these drugs. We had a particular lecture about how big of an influence parents can have on whether or not their kids get into drugs. As a field experience I would just like to share some of the ways we discussed that parents can do this and get feedback on anything your parents or parents you know have done that either worked or didn’t work to keep their kids away from drugs and alcohol.

• Have a happy stable marriage
• Spend time with children (quantity, not just quality)
• Strong values, clear rules and guidelines
• Check up on your kids: know when they are, and wait up
• Understand the difference between discipline and punishment
• Put some holes in your kids life raft
• FHE, Scripture reading
• Set the example on substance using
• Limit television
• Push academics, talent development
• Know friends of your children, positive interaction
• Have regular family dinners
• Allow freedom, praise responsible decisions
• Common interests, hobbies
• Have a sense of humor
• Build strong links with extended family
• Talk about substance abuse
• Start drug prevention young. (Waiting til teen age years is too late)
• Be there when they need you.

As I sat through this lecture, I just thought about how lucky I have the parents that I do. They did an excellent job raising all six of their kids and did everything they could to make our lives great. There were times when it made us crazy as kids, but looking back I wouldn’t change a thing that they did. They had strict rules that kept us all in line and they followed the guidelines above almost perfectly whether they knew it or not.

Again please leave comments and give feedback and insights about raising kids in a way that will keep them away from drugs and alcohol and spread the word because I want as much feedback as possible for this report.

Here’s a final little tidbit from “Parents Empowered”

• Parents are the biggest influence in their teenagers’ lives. Don’t rationalize “kids will be kids.” “There is nothing I can do.”
• Do the things that build a strong loving relationship with your child.
• Have clear, firm rules regarding alcohol, tobacco, drug use, and other behavior.
• Monitor your child’s activities. Check up on them. Be a parent who enforces the rules.