What to do when you begin to say “I Think My Child Is Using!”
Your First Step: Ask!
If you think your child may be drinking or using drugs, the first and most important thing you can do is to come right out and ask. Research says that when parents talk openly about drugs and drinking, children have better self-control and develop more negative perceptio
ns of these risky behaviors. The work you put into opening the lines of communication with your child now can amke all the difference for their future.
The thought of teens using drugs is not a comfortable one for most parents. You don’t want to believe that your child could be involved in using drugs or alcohol, but you also don’t want to ignore the possible early warning signs. What steps should you take to address the issue? Don’t just ask yourself, “Is my teen using drugs or alcohol?” If you suspect that your teen may be using drugs or drinking, your first step is a simple one — ask him.
Through a series of short videos available at , experts share insights on how to prepare for talking with your teen about drug or alcohol use. Get tips on the best time to have the conversation, and practical advice on what — and how — to ask if your teen is using drugs, and how to prepare for the answer.
Not only is it OK to ask your teen whether he or she is using drugs — it may be the best thing you can do to help your teen. Research shows that kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use. By talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol, you can help them make better choices and live safer, healthier lives.
Second Step: Look for Signs and Symptoms
Remember a sign is what you can obviously see, a symptom is what you are told or deduce from observation.
Knowing what to look for is a huge help in determining whether your child is drinking or using drugs – If you’re familiar with the signs of drug use, that knowledge can aid you in gathering evidence and starting the conversation. Here you’ll find a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol use:
Keep in mind: Many of these signs of drug use or alcohol use – in isolation – may be just normal teen behavior. Mood swings or changes in behavior are a standard part of growing up as teens make the transition from childhood to adulthood. However, as you start to recognize more and more of these signs and symptoms in your teen, a picture of drug or alcohol use may begin to become clear.
Third Step: Learn the Risk Factors
Do you know the risk factors for drug use? What makes some kids more likely to use drugs or alcohol than others? Some common factors that can lead to a higher risk of teen drug use and drinking are: rebelliousness, having friends who drink or use drugs, or a history of addiction in your family. However, these are far from being the only factors that put teens at risk. Knowing the common factors that often accompany drug and alcohol use by teens can help you understand when to be more aware, when to start a conversation with your kids, or take action to change a potentially harmful situation. Risk factors fall into 5 major categories: Individual, Peer, Family, School and Community. Within each section at you’ll find suggestions for what you can do to help your child.
Fourth Step: How to help them cope
Today’s teens are in a very different environment – with pressures, technology and priorities vastly changed – from when you were a teenager. Here you’ll find out some of the most common situations in which teens drink and use drugs – and what you can do about it:
Fifth Step: Dispel the Myths!
Find out the truth behind common drug and alcohol myths and misperceptions
Have you ever heard any of the following myths about drugs?
* My kid and his buddies having a beer on the weekends is no big deal.
* They’re just experimenting.
* The safest place for kids to drink is at home.
* I would know if my kids were using.
* Of course my kid has cash, a car, a credit card, a cell phone and a computer – so, what’s the big deal?
These drug myths aren’t just a case of bad information; they can be downright dangerous for the people who believe them. Passed off as common wisdom, these drugs myths justify, excuse or ignore bad behavior and leave the door open for teen substance abuse.