|
Birth through Elementary School
 Early Steps.
A parent's actions even before birth are critical to helping a child
stay off drugs in later years. Drugs, including nicotine and alcohol,
can damage a fetus as early as three weeks after conception. And some
research suggests babies born to addicted mothers may be at higher risk
to addiction later in their lives.
First Lessons.
Long before your children are ready for school, begin teaching them
rulesfor behavior: honesty, fairness, respect for others and for the
law. And be an example: live by those values yourself.
Good Choices.
It's important to keep your children involved in family activities.
They should regularly join the family for dinner and be part of family
vacations and other activities. Teach your children to make the right
decisions on their own, and impart "don't be a follower" lessons. Teach
your children to say no.
Keep Communication Open.
Don't worry how you start the discussion about drugs with your kids.
Just talk. It may seem as though your children are not listening, but
don't give up. Better they hear about drugs from you, than from others
- including those who use and sell drugs.
Escape Routes. Give your children
reasons for saying no to drugs. Practice responses
with your children, such as, "No way. My mom would
kill me if I did that.". Teach kids to avoid places
where they may be pressured to use illegal drugs.
And if they do encounter drugs, teach your children
to leave the area.
Middle
School
Facts. Parents
should know the types of drugs their children might be exposed to and
the dangers associated with each; be able to identify paraphernalia
used with each drug; know street names of drugs and what drugs look
like; and be alert for changes in their child's behavior or appearance.
Setting Limits.
Many young people use drugs simply because their friends do. Get to
know your child's friends and their parents. Make sure your child
attends only drug-free, chaperoned events. Closely monitor your child's
whereabouts. If there is a last minute change of plans, always have
your child check with you first.
Keep Your Children Busy.
Research has shown than when teens are unsupervised and have little to
do, they are more likely to experiment with drugs. Keep your children
involved with hobbies and/or extra-curricular activities.
Stay Involved. Although
it may take personal sacrifice, a parent must continue to have direct
involvement with their children. Attend open house at school, scout
meetings, dance recitals, soccer games, etc. A parent has to be a part
of their children's lives to be aware of any changes in their behavior.
High School
Enforcing Rules.
Setting rules for a child is only half the job. A parent must be
prepared to enforce the penalties when rules are broken. Make sure your
child knows what the rules are, the reasons for them and what the
consequences will be if they're broken. Allow no second chances. For
example, should your child decide to disobey and drink alcohol, he/she
should not be trusted to drive a vehicle.
Consistency. Make it clear the "no drugs or alcohol" rule applies not only at home but everywhere child is.
 Keep Listening.
It's important that parents don't do all the talking. If you listen to
your children, you can learn a lot about what they think about drugs
and help them avoid pitfalls. Listening isn't as easy as it sounds
because kids at this age are not always in the talk mode. A parent must
be ready to drop whatever they are doing and listen when their kids are
ready to open up.
*Information
excerpted from a family guide developed by Reader's Digest in
association with the U.S. Department of Education, ABC Television
Network and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
(Click here to go to the Safe and Drug-Free Schools' web site.)
If you suspect your child (or anyone else) is using drugs, contact the Plano Police Department at 972-424-5678 or 972-941-STOP.
The Crime Prevention Unit provides an anonymous drug identification service
where persons may drop off a substance believed to be an illegal drug,
the Department will test the substance and confidentially report the
results back to you. For more information about drug abuse and services
provided by the Plano Police Department, contact the Crime Prevention
Unit at 972-941-2431 Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Other Drug Related Links:
Selecting a link below will take you from the Plano Police Department web site.
http://www.casacolumbia.org/
http://www.drugfreeamerica.org/index.html
http://www.pbs.org/closetohome
http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDAHome.html |