Parenting Practices Help Reduce the Chances Your Child Will Develop a Drug Or 6 Alcohol Problem
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PARentinG PractiCeS Help Reduce the Chances Your Child will Develop a Drug or 6 Alcohol Problem Here are 6 research- supported parenting practices to set you on the right path. Get Started PARentinG PractiCeS Help Reduce the Chances Your Child will Develop a Drug or 6 Alcohol Problem o one ever said parenting would be easy. When children hit the n teenage years, the challenges are great. There are more significant threats showing which parenting tips are most effective that can affect their health and safety, like (and which are not). drugs and alcohol. And, unfortunately, Parents often think that friends are more helpful and reliable resources are scarce. important to their teenager than they are. But So when you are nervously sitting on your studies and clinical experience suggest that couch at 1 a.m. waiting for your 17 year parents can influence their teens. old to come home, please know that you Here we share with you our expert opinions are not alone. Most parents go through on parenting behaviors that are important in this angst. preventing your teenager from using drugs and alcohol. These recommendations are based on One very common complaint from parents is, a sound review of scientific research. However, “We didn’t know where to go for help” or “We there are no guarantees — even the smartest, were too ashamed to ask.” An Internet search best-skilled, most caring parents in the world can provide thousands of websites offering have problems with their children. parenting advice, but the information across these sites is not consistent or consistently Information alone is unlikely to solve complicated good. So how do you know what advice to problems and nothing takes the place of a good follow? clinical opinion for serious issues. But getting reliable information is an important first step. When raising a teenager, it is natural to feel Despite how powerless you may feel, we want that there is little you can do to change his or to encourage you: Don’t give up on your her behavior. But there is scientific evidence teenager or your power as a parent. © 2012 Treatment Research Institute and The Partnership at Drugfree.org 1 Here are 6 ways to help you reduce the chance that your teenage child will drink, use drugs or engage in other risky behavior. Build a Warm & Supportive 1 Relationship with Your Child PROViDe BASiC neeDS Be a Good Role Model When 2 We all know that the first job of it Comes to Drinking, taking any parent is to keep their child Medicine & Handling Stress healthy, safe and developing properly. That means providing your child with the basics: Know Your Child’s Risk Level 3 Proper nutrition 4 Know Your Child’s Friends Housing Clothing Monitor, Supervise & Set 5 Health Care Boundaries Monitoring (ex: Regular checkups, 6 Have Ongoing Conversations dental care, etc.) & Provide information About emotional Supports Drugs & Alcohol Home and neighborhood Safety Read on to learn more » © 2012 Treatment Research Institute and The Partnership at Drugfree.org 2 BUiLD A WARM & 1 SUPPORtiVe ReLAtiOnSHiP WitH YOUR CHiLD Children who have a warm and supportive relationship with their parents are less likely to use drugs or alcohol. esearch shows it’s 7 Things You Can Do to especially important to have Maintain a Close Relationship with Your Child: R a supportive relationship when your child is young.[1] But it’s 1 Regularly discuss shared interests also essential to maintain a close (Example: Sports, music, art, technology, movies). Take time to learn relationship with your child during about your child’s hobbies to help bond the teen years. One reason is that with him or her. by being close with your child, you’ll 2 face less conflict when it comes to Engage in extracurricular activities with your child. (Example: Together, monitoring his or her behavior and you and your teen train for a race; [2] social life. volunteer at a soup kitchen; cook dinner; attend a free concert.) For healthy teen Not surprisingly, studies show that extracurricular activities use our families who argue, fight and treat Idea Generator. each other badly and parents who 3 Maintain low levels of anger and are degrading and physically punish emotion when talking with your teen their children have unsupportive (Example: Keep a cool head, speak relationships with their children. calmly, try not to be defensive, give This increases the risk for drug praise and positive feedback). [3] and alcohol use. Continued on page 4 » © 2012 Treatment Research Institute and The Partnership at Drugfree.org 3 7 Things You Can Do to Maintain a Close Relationship with Your Child: 4 Work through challenges together (Example: If your child had an argument with a close friend and feels his world has fallen apart, talk about how he feels, what might make him feel better, and what he can do to re-engage with his friend.) Remember: “Warm and 5 Strive for honest and direct communication with supportive” does NOT mean your child. Find more tips for having a conversation “lax or lenient.” regarding drugs and alcohol. Just as research shows that 6 Offer encouragement for achievements — parents who discipline by both large and small — and be sure to attend at least hitting and degrading their child have children at an some of your child’s activities so he knows what he’s increased risk for substance doing is important to you. If you miss your child’s abuse, permissive/lenient activities frequently, you might be sending him a parents who allow their message that what he does isn’t important. If you miss children to do what they your child’s activities for reasons out of your control want when they want (Example: Your work schedule makes it impossible), (because they either don’t then be sure to ask him about what happened. want to deal with a child’s behavior or they don’t 7 Allow your child an appropriate degree of want their child to be angry with them) also place their independence. Keeping your child sheltered or being children at increased risk. a helicopter parent presents problems of its own. Let her go out with friends, but in the right settings. Let An effective parenting strategy is to be warm her negotiate with you about what is expected of her, and supportive but to also her curfew, what her chores are, and when they need set (and stick to) clear to be completed, etc. When there is a healthy two- boundaries and limits, so way interaction between you and your teen and your children can learn to be expectations are clear it will help her learn to navigate responsible for their actions. the waters without you. © 2012 Treatment Research Institute and The Partnership at Drugfree.org 4 Be A GOOD ROLe MODeL WHen it 2 COMeS tO DRinKinG, tAKinG MeDiCine & HAnDLinG StReSS Research shows that when it comes to alcohol and other drugs, children are likely to model their parents’ behaviors — both healthy and unhealthy ones. [4] our attitude about drugs and sure to dispose of unused prescription alcohol can also influence your drugs properly (example: Use a drug- Y child’s attitude about drugs take back program.) and alcohol — and have an effect on Don’t save prescribed medications for when his or her future behavior. Here are they may come in handy, use it later without three ways that you can be a good role a doctor’s consent, or share the medications with others. model for your child. 1 if you choose to drink alcohol, 3 Children learn behavior by consume small amounts with a meal observing their parents’ behavior. or for a celebratory occasion. that means your child picks up on the way you cope with stressful situations Don’t become intoxicated in front of your and how you manage your emotions. children. Drinking alcohol in excess around When you are overwhelmed, try your children or using illicit drugs increases exercising or using other stress the likelihood they will develop alcohol or drug management techniques in order to problems. teach your children that they do not need to drink or use drugs to cope 2 When it comes to prescription with life’s problems. Here are tips on drugs, be sure to follow the how to handle stress. instructions properly. Do not use leftover prescription drugs in your Don’t use alcohol as a coping mechanism or house for casual, non-medical use. to relieve stress. (Example: Saying to your kids, it’s also important not share your “I had a rough day — I need a few beers or a prescription medications with other joint to relax.”) family members or friends. And be © 2012 Treatment Research Institute and The Partnership at Drugfree.org 5 KnOW YOUR CHiLD’S 3 RiSK LeVeL Several decades of research shows that some teens are more at risk for developing a substance abuse problem than other teens. Why is that? Well, there is no single factor. However, the more risk factors a teen has, the more likely he or she will abuse drugs or alcohol. Conversely, the fewer the number of risk factors, the less likely he or she will develop a drug or Do: Think about your child’s alcohol problem. Also, it’s important to recognize risk factors and review them at that even children raised in the same home may least annually (Example: On your have varying levels of risk. child’s birthday). If your child’s risk factors are high or increase over time, watch more carefully It is important to keep in mind that risk factors for behavioral, psychological and do not determine a child’s destiny.