Raising Healthy Kids

How to Keep Kids Away from Drugs

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on August 4th, 2011

Many parents face the problem of keeping their kids off from drugs. Drug abuse is one of the biggest issues that families today face, and the saying “prevention is better than cure” still holds true on this matter.

drug-free kidsIt has been seen that involving in sports is one of the best ways to keep kids from drugs and alcohol. Being involved in a team gives your kids the sense of belonging where every member in the team expects nothing but the best from them. Coaches and mentors can motivate kids well to reach their full potential and achieve their goals, keeping their minds off from dangerous habits. Teams also have established rules of conduct which discourage kids to take on drugs or alcohol.

If your child isn’t the active type, you may encourage him to join different organizations or study arts and music. Your child should make the choice as to the group where he’d like to belong; don’t force him into something he’s not interested in. The group’s activities will keep your kids busy, and they won’t have time to experiment with drugs.

Finally, kids as young as 11 years old can be made to take on light jobs for a few hours a day. Whatever free time they have, encourage them to spend it wisely by having part-time jobs for kids. As they get into types of work that they enjoy, they also get paid allowing your kids to learn about the value of hard work. Even if they aren’t earning that much, the good work ethics that they can develop is something that will come in handy as they grow older.

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How to Help Your Teens Deal with Stress

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on July 20th, 2011

Teen stress should not be taken for granted. Parents may sometimes think that it’s just a phase in their teen’s life, but in reality, it is a major reason why kids can go astray. Teens who are not equipped to deal with the different stressors in their lives may develop dangerous behaviors, such as trying drugs.

parent talking to teenParents can help their kids deal with stress by being on the lookout for changes in their child’s health, thoughts, or feelings. Learn stress management skills and teach them to your kids. Always be ready whenever your child needs someone who will listen to them. You can also get your kids involved in recreational activities that will enable them to release the burdens and anxieties that they hold.

There are techniques though that will help teens become more stress-resistant. Having healthy eating habits and regular exercise have been proven to de-stress teens. Aside from the usual physical exercise, meditation and relaxing exercises, like yoga, also helps. In their diet, teens should avoid excessive caffeine intake as this can promote emotions such as anxiety and agitation.

From time to time, teens should learn to break away from stressful situations by having fun with family and friends or by listening to soothing and calming music or by getting into activities that they enjoy doing such as painting or photography. If something is just too big a task, the work can be broken down into smaller and attainable goals to avoid being too pressured and strained.

Finally, parents should teach their kids to feel good about themselves. No matter what the task might be, whether big or small, teens should learn to appreciate what they have accomplished rather than demanding perfection in every task that they do. Teens should always have a positive outlook that will help them become more productive in their lives.

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5 Ways to Detect Teen Substance Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on July 19th, 2011

As parents, you would have to be sensitive and observant about the ways of your teen as he goes through the critical periods of his life.

teen drug abuseThere are times that parents think their kids are into life-threatening substance abuse habits. But for some, they often refuse to look into their teen’s true situation for the sake of not losing “trust” and “privacy” in the family. Parents would often feel they are going beyond the boundaries that define their child’s independence. Due to these apprehensions, teens often go into such activities and sometimes, parent intervention becomes too late.

Once a child is into substance abuse, it’s difficult to deal or fix the situation. This is why a parent’s role should not be taken for granted in helping kids avoid making their own mistakes. Here are some ways that could help parents detect teen substance abuse.

1. Being a parent, you must educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of teen substance abuse. This way, you could easily tell if something is wrong.

2. Get to know your kid’s friends. You will gain much information about what your child is doing through his friends.

3. Check their laundry. It’s a good way of going through your child’s stuff without having the guilt feeling that you do not trust them enough. Be on the lookout for anything left in their pockets and for some abnormal marks on their clothing.

4. Be a friend who’s ready to listen. Make your child feel at ease with you when he talks about his problems and the things that disturb him.

5. Do you know that a simple hug can open the window in determining your child’s troubles? Yes, when you do give them a hug, you can smell and feel if your child just smoked or took certain drugs.

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Anti-Drug Advocates Stress Importance of Parent – Teen Communication

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Drug Addiction, Raising Healthy Kids on June 24th, 2011

Representatives from the National Substance Abuse Awareness have once again emphasized the importance of opening communication lines between parents and teens to help fight drug and alcohol abuse.

Deputy Director Steven Cline had the opportunity to talk with school counselors and police officers on drug abuse issues mostly focusing on the recent prescription drug abuse scare. Though marijuana and alcohol are still the top substances abused by teens, prescription medications are making their way into the top of the list.

teen drug abuseIn a feature on The Daily Item, Cline and fellow advocate Amy Bloustine stressed that parents play the biggest role in disciplining children and keeping them out of harm’s reach. They said that discussions on substance abuse should start at home, with parents and children having good communication in such a way that they could interact when talking about these problems.

With prescription drug abuse becoming a trend in circles where teens often belong, parents would have to equip themselves about the subject and know the possible steps they could take whenever they encounter a situation as such. Parents should include other dangerous drugs like heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana if they intend to educate their kids about drug abuse.

At present, the Lynn Police Department is doing their best to help reduce prescription drug abuse in their area. Citizens are encouraged to surrender any unused medications they have at home and make sure that their medicine cabinets at home are properly locked and strategically put in places where kids and even some visiting friends could not have easy access to.

In a report from the Daily Item, Federal Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Anthony Pettigrew says that in the 26 years that he has been in service, he has seen a substantial increase in the amount of prescribed medications being abused. He says that prescription drugs are sold illegally from $0.50 to $1 a milligram.

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Home Rules to Discipline Teens

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Raising Healthy Kids on June 5th, 2011

One of the most effective ways to deal with teens, and sometimes adults too, in a household is to have a set of rules that everyone should follow.

teen disciplineHome rules are not made to deter any fun and enjoyment that teens should have while they are growing up. These adult expectations from teens in the same house are meant to serve as a clear condition for teens to be held accountable for their actions and behavior. It makes resolving family issues and teen problems a lot easier and keeps children disciplined. By stating clear violations with corresponding consequences, kids will definitely think first before they do something irrational.

While it serves as guidelines for teens, home rules can also be a binding contract between parents and their children. It reminds both parties of their roles in maintaining harmonious family relationships. It’s a fact that the adolescent stage is one of the most difficult and complicated time for a child. This is why having a system of rewards and punishment helps in inculcating discipline among them.

One of the most alarming issues that home rules should include is those of drugs and alcohol matters. These should be put in one of the top spots of the list. Drugs and alcohol abuse are the top adolescent problems today, and it is important that kids know what they’ll get if they involve themselves on these dangerous habits. In the home rules, parents should say what they expect from children with regards to the subjects and what punishments they can implement if ever a child violates.

Likewise, privileges and rewards should be included in the home rules when a child exhibits the best behaviors. It’s up to the parents to determine what these treats are and they should see to it that they stay true to what they promise.

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Teen Marijuana Use Could Lead to Brain Problems

Posted by Drug Free in Raising Healthy Kids, Tobacco Abuse on June 4th, 2011

In a research done by scientists at the Federal University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, adults who started smoking pot before they were fifteen years old exhibited serious brain problems. Their attention span, impulse control, and their ability to plan and execute tasks have been affected with the early onset of pot addiction in their lives.

teen marijuana abuseThose who take marijuana later on in life were less vulnerable to such irreparable damages to the brain.

In a feature on CBS News, Dr. Maria Alice Fontes shares “We found that early-onset, but not late-onset, chronic cannabis users had deficits in their cognitive functioning. Adolescence is a period in which the brain appears to be particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of cannabis. The brain before the age of 15 is still developing and maturing, so exposure to cannabis during this period may be more harmful.”

What researchers in Brazil found out was also supported by Dr. Karen Bolla from the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She co-authored the study and confirms that brain development is a continuing process until the early twenties. The substances found in marijuana alter some of the brain’s chemical and structural balances resulting to cognitive problems.

The findings of the research can be very troubling for Americans. In 2009 alone, statistics showed that 7% of 8th graders and 16% of 10th graders already had pot exposure according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This could translate to adults having uncoordinated brain skills in the future.

The same message is once again flashed right in front of teens who still experiment with marijuana. At their age, brain development is critical, and putting in some dangerous substances in one’s system could mean complications later on in life.

Details of the research can be found in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

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