Raising Healthy Kids

Here are the rest of the items on the list of common mistakes made by parents pertaining to substance abuse.

6. Equating smartness with maturity

Substance abuse does not exempt even the smartest of kids. Just because a child is intelligent, it does not necessarily equate to matured decision-making skills especially on issues related to substance abuse. Experts have said that fully matured and responsible judgments only happen when a person reaches the mid 20’s.

7. Failure to acknowledge the changes in a child

The most obvious signs that kids are into some kind of addiction are manifested physically, mentally and emotionally. Parents should be on the lookout for any changes in their child’s behavior. A decline in academic standings, loss of weight, poor personal hygiene, changes in sleep pattern and mood swings may be indicators that something is wrong.

8. Allowing kids to have easy access on medicine cabinets at home

Prescription drug abuse has become one of the fastest growing types of substance abuse in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report claiming that one in every five teenagers get their “high” from prescription painkillers which they surprisingly get from other family members and friends.

It should be a practice at every home to properly dispose of medications that are not needed anymore and that medicine cabinets should be secured. Other household substances such as solvents and aerosols should also be kept away from kids.

9.  Refusing to get help

Substance abuse can be treated especially at the earliest stages. It is estimated that over 2 million teens are in need of treatment to get over their addictions, but only 150,000 are able to get the help that they need. As most experts advise parents, prevention and early intervention are key to putting kids back on the right track.

10. Doing it (substance abuse) themselves

Parents have always been the role models of their kids. Showing them the right behavior and attitude on substance abuse can make a big difference in their decisions.

A 2009 government survey in the United States showed that one in every ten kids aged 12 to 17 years old is hooked on drugs.

This figure has increased over the past few years to make drug abuse one of the top problems that parents are faced with. Yet parents aren’t left helpless when it comes to this issue as addiction specialists like Dr. Joseph Lee from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry lists the common mistakes parents make when dealing with drug abuse.

1. Expectations are not set.

Dr. Lee suggests that parents should make their expectations clear on the issue of substance abuse to their kids at the soonest possible time. Studies have shown that kids are less likely to use drugs if they know that their parents condemn it.

2. Denying mental health issues.

If a child is diagnosed with mental health issues like depression, ADHD, or anxiety, the risks for substance abuse are high. Parents should not disregard these problems because, most often than not, mental health issues and substance abuse can happen simultaneously to kids.

3. Not coming clean on your own issues.

Parents should come clean with their own past experiences of drug abuse. While it could prove to be an awkward and uncomfortable discussion, it’s one of the best ways to discourage children from taking drugs by sharing your own horrific situations in the past.

4. Feeling guilty for your child’s problem.

Nobody’s perfect so parents should stop blaming themselves or their spouses once their kids get into trouble. This will only aggravate the situation and will separate families in times when unity and teamwork is most wanted to solve the problem.

5. Ignoring kids’ experimentation with drugs.

Assuming that there’s nothing wrong with kids who play around with drugs and alcohol can be the heaviest mistake parents could ever make. Experimenting with drugs and alcohol should never form part of any stage in a child’s development.