Preventing youth alcohol and drug use
Childhood and the teen years bring exploration and greater independence. It’s also a time marked by social influences. With this comes exposure to drugs and alcohol. That’s why it’s important for parents to communicate with their children early and often about the dangers and risks of substance use.
Recognizing risk as a part of life for adolescents
Risk-taking isn’t always a bad thing. Taking risks helps kids and teens learn, develop skills, and experience new things. Teenagers are especially hardwired for risk, but as they grow, they also get better at assessing risk.
Still, the teen brain isn’t fully developed. Teens often take on greater risk during new experiences. Their risk tolerance is higher than that of an adult. This higher risk tolerance, combined with peer influence, makes alcohol and drug experimentation tempting for teens.
Alcohol and drug experimentation consequences
Substance use is risky. Drinking alcohol can compromise judgment and motor skills. It can make you vulnerable to dangerous choices and accidents. Street drugs and unknown pills can be lethal. And for those with a family history of alcoholism, drug use, or underlying mental health vulnerabilities, exploration can quickly become a problem.
The human brain continues developing through our mid-20s. Repeated alcohol and drug use in early life can affect how the brain develops. Long-term substance use can have harmful and lasting effects on the brain. It can negatively impact your ability to think, feel, and behave.
Then there are the dangers of fentanyl. In recent years, the illegal production and distribution of fentanyl have caused an increase in overdose deaths across the United States, including here in Monterey County.
Fentanyl is incredibly potent. Even the smallest amount can be deadly. Fentanyl is cheap and easy to produce. It is readily available on the black market in the form of pressed pills made to look like legitimate prescription opioids. These deadly and deceiving pills are prolific among youth, especially teens. Having open and honest conversations with your kids about the dangers of fentanyl can save their lives. Don’t try to shield them from the realities of fentanyl. Instead, be honest about the deadly dangers of the drug.
Keys to prevention
Building positive relationships between children and their parents and caregivers is a good way to prevent youth alcohol and drug use. It’s important that you understand developmental stages, have age-appropriate and timely conversations, and offer support.
Below are five tips to prevent youth alcohol and drug use.
1. Communicate early and often
Talk with your kids about the dangers of drugs as soon as you think they are ready. Base your communication on your child’s ability to understand the subject. In most cases, discussions about drugs should start no later than the fifth grade.
Many kids are exposed to drugs in middle school when their adolescent brains are more inclined to experiment. Talking about drugs often — and before middle school years — makes conversations about substance use feel more natural in middle and high school.
Approach these conversations with open ears, minds, and hearts. Use movies, news, sporting events, or TV shows that involve alcohol or drugs. This can help you discover what your kids know and hear. You can also take the approach of simply saying something like, “When I was your age, I would sometimes see and hear about kids in school drinking or doing drugs. Do you and your friends see that at school?"
2. Delay or prevent use for as long as possible
The earlier someone experiments with drugs and alcohol, the higher their risk of developing a substance use disorder. If their first use of alcohol or drugs is before puberty, there’s a multiplied risk of developing an addiction. Prevent or delay alcohol and/or drug use for as long as possible with early, open communication.
If you have a family history of problematic alcohol or substance use, share this with your kids. Talking about aunts, uncles, or grandparents’ experiences is very powerful. Explain that family history may make them more vulnerable to developing a dependency.
3. Practice saying no
Guide your teen through social scenarios where they might encounter drugs and alcohol. That way, they aren’t shocked when it happens and know how to say no. Preparing ahead of time protects them from heat-of-the-moment decisions.
Brainstorm how they might gracefully exit the situation and save face in front of their friends. Practice different ways of saying no that get the point across and are true to their personality. Teach them to think more broadly because temporary discomfort or worries about being left out or labeled will pass. The ultimate reason youth should say no is that they care about their future.
4. Set ground rules
Communicate your expectations about substance use and the consequences of breaking the rules. Communicate and review the rules at least twice a year so teens don’t forget them. Consistently enforcing rules sends a message and reminds your teen what will happen if they break them.
Even though kids need to know and respect the rules, plan for an emergency because safety is first and foremost. Make sure your child knows that if an uncomfortable or unsafe situation arises, they can ask for your help. They must feel comfortable calling and asking for help in a vulnerable situation.
5. Prioritize family bonding at mealtime
If you don’t have shared family meals, make it a priority to start. Eat together as a family at least three times a week. Research shows the importance of eating meals together as a family and highlights the social, emotional, and physical health benefits to both you and your children.
One of the biggest rewards of regular family meals is having time together to talk about your lives and strengthen parent-child relationships. Bonding helps children and teens feel comfortable discussing alcohol and drugs because they know you are there for them. Be open to talking about things they’re curious about and ask what they hear at school or from their friends. Let them know they won’t be in trouble for talking about it
Don’t stop at mealtime bonding. Spend time with your kids doing activities you both enjoy. This strengthens your connection and helps to initiate conversation.
Discover more tools for parents
If you think there’s a problem
If you notice addiction symptoms or think your child might have a problem with substances, talk with your pediatrician, family doctor, or child’s therapist or psychiatrist (if they have one) about your concerns.
