#20. Teaching Children about Drugs
Parents can play a very important role in immunizing their children against possible drug abuse in the future. They can make them aware of the facts about drugs to help them avoid their use. Whenever children feel hesitant about discussing issues and their inner thoughts with their parents, they will try approaching sources they think they can trust despite the fact that they are very unreliable.
Children are obviously innocent and those who do not have proper awareness are more likely to get involved in drug abuse and engage in behaviour that compromises their overall well being. This is the reason why parents should be educated about various drugs and their effects, so that they will be able to clear all the possible misconceptions children might have. It is important to include talks of drug abuse when discussing various basic health issues with your child. You need to remember that as a parent, you are a role model for your child, and your views can actually discourage your child from actually going near drugs.
Discussions on drug abuse should begin when your child starts going to school, even though you might feel a bit nervous about having a talk about this topic in the first place. You need to keep in mind that the groundwork has already been laid considering the fact that children do get prescribed with antibiotics and medications which are classified as drugs by medical authorities. You should teach them that one needs to be really responsible when taking these substances. Apart from that, whenever an advertisement promoting cigarettes comes on television or elsewhere, you should use the opportunity to talk about the kind of harm smoking does to one's body.
This discussion can then lead to conversations about drug abuse. Make sure that you keep calm at all times and be patient. As your children grow older and are at least 8 years old, it is recommended that you have them tell you how they feel about using drugs. Be nonjudgmental at all times and listen to them very carefully without contradicting them at any point since that would encourage them to be honest with you about it. At this age, you can expect your child to discuss openly various subjects that are sensitive, and hold regular conversations since as children grow up, they usually do not talk so openly anymore.
You can start casual conversations by discussing topics such as the use of steroids in professional sports or current events, and have them express their feelings. Such discussions should continue on a regular basis till the time your child turns at least 12 since by then he will be entering his teenage years. He will probably have come across other children who are also involved in drug and alcohol abuse, and they will no doubt encourage