How to educate your child about drugs?
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Young people are at the highest risk of falling into the trap of addiction, which can be caused by many factors, ranging from family issues, emotional disturbances to peer pressure. Sometimes teenagers and young adults feed their curiosity by experimenting on the effects of drugs. Nevertheless, no parent would want to see her child becoming addicted to illegal substances. For this reason, it is vital to educate your child about drugs, and below are some of the ways on how you will be able to do so.
Research the facts about drugs
To educate your child about drugs, you must first put in the extra effort to research the topic. You may be surprised to find that there are now several types of drugs and illegal substances that can harm your child. Some of these even come in the form of candies or gummies that you would not mistake as a drug. This makes it easy for teens to acquire them without any adult suspecting that they have illegal drugs in their possession.
Other illegal substances are more popularly known through their slang names. One example is particularly tricky. A highly addictive substance, crystal methamphetamine, goes by the slang name ice. Anyone can minimize the risk of getting caught upon buying or selling the substance just by calling it ice. You can learn more about these drugs by referring to various online sources from reputable sites. In doing so, make sure to read carefully about the harmful effects of the drugs to an individual so that you will be able to explain it thoroughly to your child. And, keep in mind that you need to address this issue in an age-appropriate manner.
Begin education your child at an early age
As much as possible, begin educating your child early because they need to establish the concept of good and bad early on. In doing so, teach them which things or actions can cause them harm and which can be beneficial for them. As they grow older, explain this concept further and provide examples of the things that aren’t meant to be eaten or taken inside their bodies because it can make them very sick.
Also, explain to your children that drugs can disrupt the body’s natural functions, making them extremely dangerous. Define what drugs are and what addiction is in a manner that they will be able to understand. Make sure that you are strong in your viewpoint on drugs, but be open to answer questions your children may have. That’s why it’s important to prepare beforehand.
Keep communication lines open
It is essential to talk to your child about drugs time and again, but do so in an age-appropriate manner. Encourage them to ask questions because having an open dialogue with them is critical in educating your children about drugs. Make them feel that they can come to you for help anytime, and it is alright for them to tell you anything good or bad happening about their lives. Your child needs to establish that you are one of the safe persons to come to when they need help.
To encourage them to talk, you can create situations or examples in which drugs may be involved and give them an idea of what they should do. For example, if drugs are present at a party or if a suspicious individual tries to sell them gummies or candies. Talk to them too about what they see on television. It is often the case that it is quite challenging to reach out to your child when they enter the teenage years. Nevertheless, as soon as you have established an open line of communication, your child will be able to know how to approach you when something is troubling him, such as when peers are trying to pressure him into trying out drugs.
Know your child’s peers
No matter how much you try to shield your child from the dangers of the world, there will come a time when they need to be independent and learn to deal with situations independently or with their friends’ help. For this reason, make it a point to get to know the friends of your child. As they grow older, they will spend most of the hours of the day with their friends. If you can, also get to know the families of their friends to establish a connection with the people that your child spends time with. Teach your child to surround themself with people sharing the same values on illegal substances.
Praise them for the things they do right
Make sure that any good behavior or great choice doesn’t go unnoticed. When you validate your child for making positive choices, they will have a great chance to make more positive choices in the future. In this case, praise them for taking care of their bodies and choosing to be healthy, which can eventually become a habit as they grow older because it is already inculcated in them. When they have a solid foundation of positivity, they are less likely to try out drugs.
Set a good example
Children look up to their parents, and whatever it is that their parents do will seem right in their eyes. For this reason, strive to set a good example for your child by avoiding illegal substances yourself. Seek help in case you are also struggling with addiction and exert the effort needed for you to stay sober. Otherwise, continue being healthy and taking care of your body by eating healthy food. Exercising with your child can even prove to be a great way to spend some quality time.
To wrap things up, you need to have a good idea of the different types of drugs and their effects to explain the facts surrounding these substances to your child. As much as possible, begin educating them at an early age, and you can do this by ensuring that your lines of communication are always open. It is also a good idea to know your child’s peers and alongside this, make sure to acknowledge their good behavior or better choices. Most importantly, be a role model for your child.