Why is it a Must to talk to your Kids about Substance Abuse?

One look at the morning newspaper and you are filled with news about how kids as young as ten years old these days are getting exposed to drugs and alcohol. And believe it or not, almost all kids at present, even if they are not aware of the detrimental effects of drugs, have some idea about it that makes them curious. Besides, the popular movies and adverts are rife with images that promote drinking and smoking as a fun and cool way of life. All of the scenarios combined make it evident that parents now, more than ever, need to talk to their young ones about the curse of substance abuse.

Our experience with the young minds has made us realize that it is best to have a discussion with your child early on, possibly in the pre-school years itself. It is always better to hear the gory details from the parents than getting the wrong information from peers and the internet. Research has shown that children who get to learn about the facts of alcohol and drugs from their parents are remarkably less likely to venture along that path.

However, what is generally seen is that parents tend to hesitate to talk to children about the matteras they either feel awkward or are just not sure of the right way of doing so.They, thus, either avoid discussing the topic or straightaway tell the kids never to do drugs without making them know the reason behind it. We, at the JP International School, believe that both theaforementioned ways are wrong as avoiding the topic will make them gather wrong information from unwanted sources or will otherwise make them adamant enough to give it a try.

Here, we are sharing below some of the tips on the right ways of talking to your kids about substance abuse:

Confront them at an early age

During the school years, children are strongly attached to their families and look for parents’ approval in all the initiatives that they take. Thus, this is the right time for you to teach your kids the importance of developing a healthy lifestyle by saying no to drugs. Sit with your child and make him/her understand all the facets of substance abuse and how it can affect their lives.

Set clear boundaries and expectations

The fact of the matter is that most kids understand that their parents do not want them to do drugs but what they fail to fathom is the reasons behind it. Deliberate with your kids in clear expressions and set strong boundaries regarding the use of drugs. You also need to keep in mind to not send confusing messages about prescription drugs by doling out medicines at home in any ailment. Act as their role model and show them that even prescription drugs are not okay to take without a doctor’s intervention.

Point out real-life examples of issues

The effectiveness of teaching by examples comes in handy even in case of imparting the lessons for keeping them away from substance abuse. You can talk to them about someone they know who has or had similar problems and how it affected his or her life. The horrific real-life examples of drug abuse are aplenty and it gives them an idea of the risk factors.

Discuss the messages shown by media

There are some music videos, movies, and TV shows that glamorize the use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. Make them understand that these shows might make drugs look cool or trendy but they fail to show the real downside of the matter. Encourage the child to open up with you and ask questions and share his/her concerns regarding the things that he/she sees or hears on TV.

Train them in building up problem-solving skills

Research has shown that many kids give in to smoking or alcohol to run away from the problems that they are facing. This is why it is necessary to inculcate problem-solving skills in them from a young age and teaching them that the quick fixes like drugs can never be long-term solutions to a problem.

Underline the health issues related to the matter

A child’s mental and physical health is at the biggest risk in the matter and that is the most important point that needs to be kept in mind. Discuss the health consequences of substance abuse just as you would talk about the effects of diabetes or jaundice. The child should understand that taking drugs provide more dire results than any common disease that they can have.

We, at the JP International School, one among the Top CBSE Schools in Greater Noida, have always taken a strong stand against all forms of drug abuse in the teens and tweens. We believe that the school and the parents need to come together to deal with this grave matter and to that end, we have deliberated with parents and children on several occasions regarding the issue. Our mentors try to instill the ideas of staying away from drugs among the young ones at an early stage and they always attempt to keep the lines of communication open so that the children can feel free to come up with any concerns and queries that they have regarding drug abuse.

- JP International School