With the increasing cases of drug exploitation among youth, it's normal to be worried about your child's safety. Though most parents want to keep children away from drugs, they aren't sure how to approach this topic.
If you feel the same, here are all the tips to protect your children from these evils.
1. Have an open conversation about it
Arrange a distraction-free time and have a conversation with your child. Tell them about the effects of drug addiction and abuse on physical and psychological health. Let them know how nothing good comes out of addiction.
Warn them about peer pressure as well. Remind them that just because kids their age are consuming it, they don't have to follow suit.
Share that addicts may bully non-addicts into consuming substances. If anything similar happens, they must report to you immediately.
2. Follow a disciplined life
To ensure your child doesn't pick up bad habits like drugs, ensure you don't touch them either. Enjoy life without indulging in drugs and alcohol. Don't use them for stress relief, either.
If you have any past stories on drug abuse, don't share them. Otherwise, they'll think you're a fine person now, so nothing will hurt them either. They might even feel that you won't mind if they also try it.
3. Know their friends
Your child's friends play a great influence on the type of human being they become. So, be involved in your child's life and know their friends. If possible, befriend their parents as well.
If you notice signs of drug abuse in any of their friends or their families, talk to your child. Don't push them to stop being friends, lest they rebel. However, slowly convey your concerns without belittling their friendship.
4. Spend time with your child
While you want your own space sometimes, try to be involved in your child's life as much as possible. For instance, attend events in their school, including sports day, public speaking, and other competitions.
At the end of the day, spend an hour with your child and ask about their day. Maintain a judgment-free zone so that they feel comfortable discussing their troubles with you. Support them when they share vulnerabilities. Never mock them or call them weak.
Your physical and emotional involvement will keep you close enough to them. This will help you notice easily if anything is amiss.
5. Be cautious of possible substances at home
Some prescription drugs are often used for drug abuse. In fact, 6% of Americans older than 12 years abuse prescriptions in a year.
Learn about the drugs that can be abused. Check whether those are in your cabinet. And lock it if there are such drugs. Keep tabs on how many pills are in the cabinet as well. Do the same for alcohol stored in your home.
6. Set clear rules and boundaries
Convey that "no drugs/alcohol" is a non-negotiable rule from your side. However, don't be too harsh while sharing this. Otherwise, they might break the rule just to rebel.
Instead, be calm and respectful and tell them that if they try drugs, they'll face consequences. If they ever do it just to try, stand by your words and ground them for a while.
However, not all children are mature enough to understand the grave impact of the situation. So, if you ever notice serious signs of addiction in your child, don't try to punish or discipline them. Instead, they should be admitted to a reliable rehab center like the Malibu Recovery Center immediately.
They'll provide your child with one-on-one attention and personalized care plans. The authorities ensure quick recovery under the guidance of experienced professionals.
7. Reward positive choices
If your child shares that they refused someone's offer of drugs, reward them with affirmative words or small tokens of love. Your action will encourage them to continue refusing drugs and sharing such details with you.
8. Monitor your child
Know your child's whereabouts at all times, whether through honest communication or via GPS on their phone. If they want to attend parties or sleepovers, ensure you know the parents who will look after them.
Check your child's bedrooms for drugs in hidden areas, including books, vents, closets, school bags, food stashes, etc.
Conclusion
With these detailed strategies and a nurturing environment, you will ensure your child's safety and healthy future. So, don't hesitate to embrace them immediately to prevent any mishap.
