Are You Ready to Protect Your Child from Teenage Substance Use?

Children are the future. Let’s protect them from substance use.

Our parenthood journey starts out with our precious young children ready to explore their environment.

Our children look to us, their parents, to be their protectors against all that will threaten them in the world.

As they grow, we try to keep our children close and, it can, at times prove challenging. Drugs and alcohol should NOT send our children down a devastating detour in life that prevents them from reaching their goals in life.

I hate to admit it, but when I started on this journey, I thought I was protecting my children, but I realized too late that I could have done more. We try to do the best we can at the time, but sometimes we realize later that it was not enough. With addiction, recovery can occur, but it is prevention that will really stop this disease in its tracks.

We are gambling with our children’s lives when we don’t become proactive at the very first moment we suspect substance use. Our children should have every opportunity to get through their teenage years intact and be equipped to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

That is why it is so important to understand that teen alcohol and drug experimentation of any kind can lead to addiction. Not everyone who tries cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana becomes addicted to harder drugs. However, but most who have crossed the line to addiction started with one of those three substances.

Read the advice from these three amazing people who share their wisdom on what you can do to prevent your child from teen substance use.

From Susan Scheff:

1. Communication is the key to prevention.

Whenever an opportunity arises about the risks of drinking and driving or the dangers of using drugs, take it to start a conversation.

2. Have a conversation, not a confrontation.

If you suspect your teen is using drugs, talk to them. Don’t judge them, talk to them about the facts around the dangers of substance use. If your teen isn’t opening up to you, be sure you find an adolescent therapist that can help.

3. Addiction in the family?

Do you have a family member struggling with addiction? Sadly 1 in 4 have families have been affected by addiction. Genetics is one of the risk factors. Talking often with your teen about how drug dependence can negatively affect their life is critical.

4. Don’t be a parent in denial.

There is no teenager that is immune to drug use. No matter how smart your teen is, or athletic they are, they are at risk if they start experimenting. Keep your teen constructively busy, whether it is with sports, music or other hobbies. It will help keep them less at risk for drug use.

Don’t be in the dark thinking that because your teen is pulling a 4.0 GPA, and on the varsity football team, that they won’t be dragged down by peer pressure. Go back to number one — talk, talk, talk — remind your teen how proud you are of them. Let them know that you are always available if they feel they are being pressured to do or try something they don’t want to.

5. Do you know what your teen is saying?

Listen or watch on texts or emails for code words for certain drug lingo. Skittling, Tussing, Skittles, Robo-tripping, Red Devils, Velvet, Triple C, C-C-C-, Robotard are some of the names kids use for cough and cold medication misuse. Weed, Pot, Ganja, Mary Jane, Grass, Chronic, Buds, Blunt, Hootch, Jive stick, Ace, Spliff, Skunk, Smoke, Dubie, Flower, Zig Zag are all slang for marijuana.

6. Leftovers.

Are there empty medicine wrappers or bottles, burn marks on their clothes or rug, ashes, stench, etc in their room or if they own a car, in their car? Teens (and tweens) either take several pills or smash them so all of it is released at once. Be sure to check all pockets, garbage cans, cars, closets, under beds, etc. for empty wrappers and other evidence of drug use. Where are your prescription drugs? Have you counted them lately?

7. Body language.

Tune into changes in your teen’s behavior. Changing peer groups, altering their physical appearance and/or lack of hygiene, eating or sleeping patterns changing, hostile and uncooperative attitude (defiance), missing money or other valuables from the home, sneaking out of the house, etc.

8. Access to alcohol.

Look around your home. Is liquor easily accessible? Teens admit getting alcohol is easy-and the easiest place to get it is in their home. Know what you have in the house and if you suspect your teen is drinking, lock it up! Talk to them about the risks of drinking, especially if they are driving.

9. Seal the deal.

Have your teen sign a contract to never drink and drive. Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) provides a free online contract to download. It may help them pause just the second they need to not get behind that wheel.

10. Set the example, be the example.

What many parents don’t realize is that you are the leading role model for your teen. If your teen sees you smoking or drinking often, what is the message you are sending? Many parents will have a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverages, however, the teen needs to understand you are the adult, and there is a reason that the legal drinking age is 21.

From Jan Rao of Wind in the Willows:

We cannot expect our teens to respect us or listen to anything we have to say unless we set the model for good behavior.

What does that mean “good behavior”?

• It means being respectful, in any situation.
• It means lowering our voices as they raise theirs.
• It means being consistent with what we are asking.
• It means controlling our own emotions even when we want to scream.
• It means holding to the limits that we have set.
• It means “holding” to the limits that we have set… 

From Timothy Shoemaker, from MPowered Parent:

Do Their Laundry Occasionally:

This non-intrusive technique often yields the first clues of substance use. Check shirts for vomit, pants for urine, and pockets for left-overs.

Give ‘em a Hug:

Embrace your child when you see him. Whether via hug or handshake, take a moment to evaluate the sights, smells, and mannerisms he comes home with.

Do Your Homework:

If your child was drunk, could you tell? What about high? Brush up on signs and symptoms so you can tell the difference.

Know Their Friends:

Friends say a lot about our own values. This is particularly true for teens. What are their friends doing?

See The Signs:

Incense, eye drops, body spray, and breath mints are common cover-ups. Also be alert for expressive T-Shirts, doodle-art, and alcohol branded merchandise.

Ask The Right Questions:

Instead of asking, “Are you using drugs?”, try “Do you know anyone who uses drugs? How do you feel about that?” Explore the topic of drug use from a comfortable distance.

Get It In Writing:

Written family agreements are essential. Eliminate confusion, illuminate goals, and accentuate expectations. Only three months at a time!

Dial-In:

You’re going to need some help. Familiarize yourself with the local, and internet-based, resources on this subject. This is a constantly evolving topic.

Pound the Praise:

Instead of, “You better not drink!” Try “I’m so proud of my sober daughter!” It’s easy on the ears, and it works better.

Know When to Be a Friend:

Let your teen know that it’s okay to talk to you if she needs to. Talk about the risks of drug and alcohol use, reveal the examples, and remind your child of your shared responsibility to defend each other from substance use.

Take the time to educate yourself and protect your child from teen substance use. 

Thanks for reading!

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