Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking

What are the warning signs of an alcohol or drug problem?
Drugs and alcohol have become the thing to do among many adolescents today. If your child seems to have low self-esteem or seems depressed, they are more likely to use alcohol or drugs to feel better about themselves. Although experimentation is normal through the teen years, it is easy for a problem to develop. If your child has an alcohol or drug problem they may have a lasting cough, have red eyes, have mood changes, behave irresponsibly, use poor judgement, withdraw from the family, be argumentative, suffer a drop in grades, skip school, change friends, or change their lifestyle such as music or clothes. If you begin to notice changes at home try talking to your teen's teachers. If you suspect your teen has developed an alcohol or drug problem, talk to them about it openly. Be careful not to invade their privacy as this will push them further away. For more information or advice on what to do contact your local health department or a local branch of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Is it okay to let my child experiment with alcohol at home?
Legally it is ok in most states to let your children drink in your home while you are present. However, it is absolutely against the law to let other children drink in your home. Many parents will allow their teenagers to throw parties at their house supplying the alcohol as long as none of their guests are driving. Although you may think you are doing your teen a favor, YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW. Driving drunk is not the only danger for teens under the influence. Impaired judgement is a major side effect that could lead to teens doing things they would not normally do such as smoke cigarettes, try drugs, or engage in risky sexual activity. Since teens are usually inexperienced when it comes to drinking, it is easier for them to have too much to drink sometimes resulting in death. It has also been proven that alcoholism runs in families, by allowing your child to drink at home you may be contributing to a future problem. There are many consequences that need to be looked at before you decide to let your child drink.

I smoke, how do I get my child to listen when I tell them not to?
Many parents worry that they will appear hypocritical. But it is a parent's responsibility to promote healthy behavior in their children. You can still share with your child the health risks involved. Most of all it is important to be honest with your child. If you regret that you do smoke, tell your child this. Share with them your addiction, the difficulty in quitting and the challenge of abstaining from smoking. Emphasize to them that while it is easy to start, it is extremely difficult to quit. It may be helpful to outline the negative health problems that come along with smoking as well. By admitting your own weakness to cigarettes it will show your child that you are not perfect and that you can make mistakes. Your child will see you as more human and will be more willing to listen to you. The best thing a parent can do is to quit using tobacco products. This will eliminate the second-hand smoke your family is exposed to and it will improve your own health. It is never too late to quit. Parents are a child's most important role model, so children of non-smoking parents are much less likely to smoke.

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