How to Talk to Your Teen About Drugs & Drug Addiction

How to » TeeN ABOUT DRUGS & DRUG ADDICTION TALK TO YOUR Some days, it's difficult to talk to your teens at all, let alone get them to actually listen. It may feel like you're from two different planets. Regardless of the difficulty, the talk about drugs and drug addiction is one you can't afford to skip simply because it's awkward or uncomfortable. There are a few simple things you can do that will make the conversation a little more comfortable for both of you. More importantly, it can help the message get through to your teen. Engage Your Teen In Conversation Fill me in oN youe chemistry lab 'test, who is your partnER? >> Don't ask questions that will only get you yes or no answers. Instead, ask specific questions that require more than a short response. This forces your teen to stop and think. Then it invites conversation between the two of you. The more practice you have conversing with one another, the easier it will be to broach serious topics like drugs and drug addiction. The Medicine Abuse Project offers a few great sample questions you might want to use to open the door to conversation with your teen. If you want them to listen to you, listening skills to them." 12 Don't Talk "At" show pRoper Your Teen >> This is perhaps the most important part of “the talk" with your teen. Kids don't like being talked at. They don't like being lectured. The Seattle Children's Hospital, Research, and Foundation recommends repeating back what you've heard and offering empathy for your teen as many of them feel misunderstood. The shock of your empathy often makes them more receptive to what you have to say. 3rD Use Current Events TeeNS Need to Understand & Pop Culture To Make Your Point that there aRe serious CONSegueNces for drug use. >> The news is filled with stories showing examples about the consequences of drug use, abuse, and addiction. You can use stories from the past, like Amy Winehouse's over-dose, to stress the serious consequences of long-term abuse of drugs and/or alcohol. Or bring up more current events like Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans, Lindsey Lohan or Amanda Bynes. These real-life examples present the consequences in a way many teens can understand when seeing people their age, or even people they lok up to, suffer. 04 Keep Your Cool >> Teens test parents to see what they can get away with, However, this is one conversation you can't afford to let them control. You must remain in control and keep your cool throughout the conversation. Don't let your teen derail it or make it about your past. Keep the conversation on topic and keep it short. The longer it goes on, the greater the opportunity it is to get off topic and lose control of the conversation. 57 Don't Reveal Your Past Drug Use Did I tell you about that time your mom and I went "to Woodstock? >> A recent study by researchers at the University of Urbana-Champaign has revealed kids were less likely to think that substance abuse was bad if their parents shared their own stories of drug use, even if they shared that they regretted using drugs. Avoid Accusations >> Don't accuse your teen of doing drugs at this point – even if you suspect. Make the conversation light and invite your teen to talk to you openly, without the threat or fear of judgment or punishment. The goal is to get help if there is a problem and to make sure your teen knows he or she can trust you if or when the time comes that help is needed. ask your teen if they feel the cÔNsequences of driugs are portRayed on the show Realistically. Watch Television With Your Teens >> Television provides all manners of "teachable" moments. When you watch television with your teens, even the painful but incredibly popular shows, you'll see many opportunities to start conversations with your teen about drugs and their consequences. According to The Parent Toolkit, you should ask your teen what he or she thinks about drugs after watching the show when it's relevant. Use this as a moment to reaffirm your position on drug use and see where they stand. Teens face a lengthy list of challenges in today's society. Drugs use and addiction add new challenges. History has taught us that prevention is the best cure. Talk to your kids today and talk to them often about the real dangers of drug use and addiction so that when the time comes they'll have an easier time turning down drugs or coming to you for help and advice if necessary. Feel free to reach out to one of our counselors at RehabCenter.Net for more information on talking to your teen about drugs and drug addiction. RehabCenter.net