Student Assistance Counselor
Samantha Gilday - 603-336-598 x395


March 2010
Talking to your child about drugs and alcohol may not be easy. You might be just as uncomfortable with the conversation as your child. This may sound crazy, but children actually want to know what you think about drugs and what you expect of their behaviors. Research shows that young people are less likely to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs if their parents set clear rules about no drug use. Also, teenagers have valuable things to say and it builds their self-confidence when adults (especially important adults like you) listen to them.

The website for “Parents. The anti-drug.” (http://www.theantidrug.com) provides a lot of helpful tips in starting these conversations with your child, as well as pointers for answering questions and establishing clear rules and consequences. Here are a few suggestions:

Be absolutely clear with your kids that you don't want them using drugs.
Be a better listener.
Give honest answers.
Use TV reports, anti-drug commercials, or school discussions about drugs.
Don't react in a way that will cut off further discussion.
Role-play with your teen and practice ways to refuse drugs in different situations.
Start the conversation early in life and talk about it often.

Another website helpful for starting these conversations is through The Century Council and Nickelodeon at http://www.asklistenlearn.com/parents. Explore the websites for further information on drugs, peer pressure, and how you can support your child in developing into a healthy and confident young adult.

Most kids cringe when their parents say, “We need to talk.” You might wonder if something is wrong, or are you going to hear about ‘The birds and the bees’, or is it going to be another lecture about drugs. You might want to wash the dishes more than you want to discuss these things with your folks.

But you know what? They are actually showing you respect and love by sharing information and their thoughts and feelings about these important topics like drug and alcohol use. They want you to know the risks so that you can stay safe. They want you to know they love you and want you to be healthy and alive for a long, long time. They might want to know what you think and feel about drug and alcohol use.

The discussion doesn’t have to be a lecture either! You can discuss drug and alcohol use when you see people on TV using drugs or drinking. You can a brief conversation many different times in a week or month so it’s not one long boring talk. You can add some information you learned at school. The important thing is that you participate in the conversation. Be active – listen, think, ask questions. It’s you life – don’t you want to participate?




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