Drug Abuse Prevention

Drug Abuse Prevention During Grade School Years

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on February 22nd, 2010

While the process of helping your kids avoid drug abuse starts in preschool, you need to make sure you continually make them aware of the benefits of healthy choices as they grow during their grade school years. Here are some tips to help you sail through this stage.

grade school kidsAlways remain realistic. While you may want to emphasize to your kids the dangers of drug abuse, do not overdo it. Telling them scary stories that sound out of this world would not help. Give them examples they can understand. Tell them, for instance, that alcohol abuse may make them feel sick or that cigarette use may cause bad breath. These are simple, but very real, examples.

Discuss drug-related ads, scenes and events that your children may see on TV. Make sure they understand the messages clearly and that everything they find difficult to understand are explained immediately.

Encourage your kids to speak their minds. Tell them that it’s alright to share what they think or to say no when they don’t like something. Many teens grow up with a difficulty to say no or to disappoint other people. Always ensure your children that expressing themselves is perfectly fine.

Set a good example. Most kids do what their role models – parents, teachers, older siblings, older neighbors – do. Make sure you set the right example. Do not smoke, drink or abuse drugs so your children don’t grow up thinking these activities are alright.

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Drug Abuse Prevention Starts in Pre-School

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on February 21st, 2010

Helping you child avoid the dangers of drug abuse is a most challenging task for many parents. Some believe that you must check your children starting on their pre-teens until they reach college. The truth is preparing your child against the temptation of peer pressure and drug abuse should start when he or she is still in his or her pre-school years. Here are simple ways you can start leading your child to the right direction.

preschoolerAllow your child to make small decisions. Let him choose what to wear or which little bag to use. This will enhance his decision-making skills.

Introduce him to healthy activities and healthy choices. Let him play around and remind him how healthy activities help improve the mind and body.

Allow your child to make mistakes and use these opportunities to help him understand the realities of life. Teach him the value of endurance, patience and determination.

Explain to your child how important it is to take care of one’s self. Do not simply force him to eat vegetables just because you say so. Make him choose between fresh orange juice and milk. Although both are good options, this will still provide him an opportunity to make healthy choices.

While fairy tales may sometimes be helpful, always make sure your child is fully aware of the differences between real life and what he sees on television, especially if violence is involved. Be with him when he watches TV shows and be ready to explain certain scenes that may be misinterpreted by a child.

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Healthy Activities that Help Fight Teen Drug Abuse

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on February 5th, 2010

Drug abuse and alcoholism among teens usually take the free time after school or on weekends. A good way of helping teens keep away from temptation is to give them healthy extracurricular activities that they can get busy with. Here are some suggestions:

Sports

Playing sports is a great way to channel youthful energies through a productive outlet. It is an effective socializing tool that helps the teen to identify himself or herself with his or her peers. This aids the teen with problems of self-esteem, honesty, commitment and focus.

teen playing pianoSkills and Talents

If your child is a musician, artist or dancer then invest in classes or anything that can help the teen enhance his natural skills. These classes will not only keep teens away from drugs, but it will also hone his or her craft. These classes will help the teen with concentration and discipline — values that are strong weapons against drug abuse.

Hobbies

Take time to get to know the hobbies of your child and try your best to support it. Studies have shown that video gaming is quite helpful when taken responsibly, plus it is a great way to keep your child in the house where he/she can be monitored. This will give you an excuse to encourage your child to invite his or her friends over so that you might get to know your child’s friends personally.

Family Bonding

Perhaps the most important of all preventive measures is to get to know your child intimately. Establishing good communication is crucial. Family activities such as fishing or going to the movies are great opportunities to establish a trust-based relationship with your child which will help with the teen’s road to maturity.

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Teen Pressures: Sibling Rivalry

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on February 4th, 2010

Teens go through a lot of pressure from all angles. Some teens handle it more responsibly while others resort to drug abuse, alcoholism and smoking. Not so long ago, today’s parents had to undergo similar pressures too, but the temptations and distractions may not be as strong as they are now. Today’s teens are bolder, with heavy influences from TV, movies and Internet.

sibling rivalryOne of the most common and powerful issues that teens have to face is sibling rivalry. While a little competition is always healthy as it allows our kids to learn certain relationship skills, some can’t handle the stress of being compared to a sibling who seems to often emerge as the ‘winner’.

Parents need to understand the factors that cause sibling rivalry and to ensure that these do not go overboard, which may result to intense competition over attention and jealousy.

Some kids feel that other siblings get more attention from their parents. Most parents would not admit to having favorites, but they should also not immediately dismiss their kids’ feelings as completely invalid and unfounded. Parents need to recognize these feelings and work hard to make everyone feel that there are no favorites.

Age and birth order are also factors to consider. Firstborns may feel that the younger siblings get more care and attention. On the other hand, the younger siblings may feel that the older ones are more trusted and have more freedom. The important thing to do here is to allow everyone to realize that their age and birth order do not affect how much you love each one of them.

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Added Teen Pressure: Adjusting to a Stepfamily

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on February 3rd, 2010

As if the pressures are not enough, several teens of this generation have  to go through the added pressure of adjusting to a new family. Divorced or single parents need to remember that managing adolescence is difficult enough, with all the changes that teens have to face, and facilitating a smooth transition for the kids to a stepfamily is as important as finding the right life partner.

Here are some helpful reminders to ensure that your teen is prepared to enter to and accept a new family, and do not engage in escape vices like drug, tobacco or alcohol abuse.

adjusting to a stepfamily1. Introduce your child only to partners you are seriously going out with. Do not introduce him to every person you date or consider dating. Exposing your child to every casual date may give him the impression that the relationships you go into are not really serious. He may also feel the trauma of separation every time your relationships don’t work, and unlike you, your child may not be matured enough to understand and accept this reality.

2. Introduce your child to your new partner slowly. Surprises are only good for birthday parties. Sure, your child may – or may not — be happy that you have found a new love, but do not take risks when it comes to your child and your new relationships. Take it slowly. Let them adjust and do not coerce them into accepting your new partner immediately.

3. Include your child in marriage and wedding plans. When the idea of marriage is already being discussed, make sure that your child is into the plans. Learning it from others would give him the impression that you have a ‘new family’ and that he is only part of the old one. Make sure he knows that you are expanding your family and that he is very much a part of it by allowing him to share his concerns. However, do not also force him to discuss things beyond his comfort level.

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Help Your Kids Fight Teen Depression

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on February 1st, 2010

We have already discussed how teenage depression can lead to abuse of drugs and alcohol. If you think that your child or any teenager in your life suffers from depression, take action right away. Do not wait for the signs to go away. Depression, when left untreated, can be very dangerous; some teens even go as far as committing suicide.

teen depressionParents have a responsibility to always check the welfare of their children and see to it that they are away from serious danger. Here are some things to remember when dealing with a depressed teen:

1. Offer support and let them feel you are there to help them. Express your unconditional support. Let your child speak freely about what he feels and listen to what he has to say.  Do not judge. Do not criticize. Do not lecture.

2. Acknowledge their pain and take their concerns seriously. Do not underestimate their feelings. Do not try to talk teens out of their depression, although their concerns may appear shallow to you. Remember that this is important to them and that it may be difficult for them to open up about it.

3. If your teen tells you that nothing is wrong, although you feel in your heart that there is, trust your instincts. Be persistent but be gentle at the same time. Denial is a common reaction, or your teen may probably not realize it’s depression he is feeling.

4. Check your child’s activities. Make sure he does not involve himself in drugs, alcohol or gambling. Depressed teens are susceptible to drug abuse, recklessness and violence.

5. If you feel that your teen’s depression is getting worse, seek professional help.  Encourage your teen to confront this episode in his life with courage. Ensure him that you are just beside him to offer your full and unconditional support.

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