It is shocking for a parent to think that their child could ever be involved with drugs, but the statistics prove that more children are experimenting with drugs at an earlier age than ever. And sadly, many of the drugs that are out there today are common prescription pills that you might take to alleviate aches and pains, anxiety, or even overworked or pulled muscles.
Oftentimes children think that if a medication is prescribed by a doctor that it is safe or that it ‘can’t be that bad’ when the truth is prescription pills are very dangerous when used by children and for anyone other than the intended patient. Of course there are also other drugs that children are experimenting with, such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy, and others.
As a parent, you hate to think that your child could use drugs, but knowing the signs and how to take action is important because it very well could be your child that finds himself with an addiction from simply trying to be cool or giving in to peer pressure. Children use drugs for a variety of reasons. It doesn’t imply that you’ve done something wrong or failed as a parent.
It simply means that your child took a less desired route for one reason or another and that it is time to help them while you still can!
Some of the most common reasons for children experimenting with drugs include:
●Peer pressure from people at school and/or friends
●Some children wan to escape from life and the realities of it
●Problems at home
●Problems with friends or with close relationships
●Curiosity
●Don’t be Naive
Don’t be naive to the fact that your child may be doing drugs. Turning the other cheek isn’t going to make the problem go away or change the fact that you suspect that something is going on. Before you know it the problem that your teen is experiencing can spiral out of control and take a major toll on everyone in the family. If you suspect that your child is using drugs, take action quickly!
Know the Signs
While the signs of drug abuse vary according to the type of drug being abused, they all share a few similar traits that may help you better realize that there is some sort of problem going on, even if you cannot pinpoint it exactly yet.
Signs of drug use/abuse include:
●Hanging out with a new group of friends /rarely associating with old friends
●Grades aren’t sufficient/ falling behind in school
●Seems quiet, reserved, doesn’t want to talk
●Mood swings/ Anger problems
●Spending money/ stealing money or items from the house
●Change in attitude
Parents may feel that they have lost all control over their child if there is a drug or alcohol problem. Conflicts at home seem to worsen and your child may rebel against you more than ever, despite your best efforts. Home drug test kits are available at many drug stores and online. If you suspect that your child is using drugs, you can use one of these kits to learn the truth.
Kits test for various substances, whether it is marijuana or something else that you are concerned about.If you find a positive result, talk to your teen and immediately seek help before a problem develops. There are many ways to get help for your teen but the longer the problem persists, the worse that it will be for everyone.
How to Prevent Drug Use
It is never a given that you can prevent your child from using drugs, but there are a few things that you can do to reduce the odds that your child will use one. As a parent it is your duty to do as much as you can to teach your child about the dangers of drugs. They are a problem today more than ever and the risks of drug use are very much real.
Here are a few things that you can do to help minimize the risk of your child or teen using drugs.
Talk to your Teen
Understanding drugs from your teen’s point of view is a very helpful way to ensure that drugs do not become a problem in your life. Don’t lecture your child when you have the talk. Instead, tell them what you know about drugs and listen to what they have to say. When you listen there is a lot that you can learn.
Discuss Drugs
Talking to your teen about drugs isn’t an easy conversation but it is one that can prevent hassles later down the line. Talk to your child about the dangers of drugs and what they can do to you. Be prepared to discuss your own drug usage with your teen because they will be curious!
Pay Attention
The most important thing that you can do to help minimize the risk of teen drug use is to pay attention. Know the signs, know what your child is up to and be involved in his or her life!
Traumatic childhood can lead to drug abuse
Making Safety a Top Priority
There is no denying the fact that the dangers out there are very real and your child is susceptible to them all. Luckily you can implement so many strategies that help protect your little ones and keep them safe at any age as long as you are willing to take the necessary steps for that added protection. Making safety a top priority in your life shouldn’t be difficult. As a parent, your biggest concerns in life revolve around your children.
Knowing that you are doing all that you can to keep them safe provide a peace of mind that every parent needs to feel. The first step in protecting your child is to understand that there are dangers out there. So often parents fail to realize the dangers, or think they’ll never happen to them. This train of thought may very well lead to your child encountering more dangers in life than necessary.
While there is never a 100% sure-fire way to prevent any of the dangers lurking out there from affecting your child, you can do more to protect them and it is certainly far more beneficial than simply turning the other cheek and pretending the dangers don’t exist. When you understand that dangers surround us everywhere that we go and dedicate yourself to taking the proper precautions to avoid them it is much easier to sleep soundly at night.
Your children will listen to you if you are willing to start the conversation. It might be difficult and sometimes a bit uncomfortable, but it is not impossible.
Teaching Safety to your Child
Here are a few tips that can help you teach safety to your child. Implementing the tips provides parents with peace of mind and certainty that their child will be okay even when they’re not with their child.
Listen to your child. If they tell you that something isn’t right, pay attention to what they are telling you and take the appropriate measures. Building a child that is confident and who will talk to you requires that you listen and understand. Never push your child’s feelings to the side.
Give your children the tools necessary for success. When they know how to trust their gut instincts and stand up for themselves, it will help them in many different areas of their life.
Good judgment is something that you can help teach your child and doing so is beneficial in every area of their life.
Teach your child how to swim! Swimming is an activity that most young children enjoy, it is a great form of exercise, and knowing how to swim may very well save your child’s life or that of another individual!
Ensure that your child wears a safety helmet whenever they ride a bike, scooter, skateboard, etc. Helmets provide the best protection against skull and brain fractures and your child should understand their use isn’t optional; it is mandatory.
Talk to your children. Even on occasions when it seems that they’re not listening to a thing that you say, they’re actually taking in more than you realize. The more talk that you do the better but remember that you need to keep the conversation kid or teenfriendly to keep from sounding like the ‘annoying nag.’
Securing your Life
Your home is a place of comfort and safety for your child. It is important that they feel comfortable and to help make this possible there are many additions that you can make to your home. Remember to keep it age appropriate. If you have toddlers in the house, you obviously need safety latches and locks whereas these items are unnecessary if your kids are pre-teens.
But, some items are useful for all homes, regardless of the age of the kids inside.This includes:
Home Security System
Home security systems have greatly advanced over the years. These days they provide the utmost in safety and security that allows you to keep an eye on things no matter where you go. These systems are versatile and more affordable than you might imagine.
It might be possible to get a free home security system with free installation if you choose the right company.Monthly monitoring is only a few bucks per month. And, let's be honest, it's definitely nice to know that you are protected!
The Buddy System
The buddy system works! As previously discussed, teaching your child to never go out alone can prevent mishap from occurring. A person is less likely to become a victim of a crime if together in a team or group setting. Your child should understand that going out with at least one other person is important, and that they should always let an adult know where they are going to be and who they are going to be with at all times.
The Truth about People
When your child is old enough, let them know the truth about some people in this world, but start this conversation in a way that doesn’t terrify them. You can let them know that there are bad people in this world who will say or do anything they have to in order to get what they want. Help them determine when a person is lying and to use
their gut instinct if something simply doesn’t feel right to them.