Introduction
Recent surveys show that we are making progress in our national battle against some drugs.  Casual use is declining, attitudes are changing, and we know more about what works to prevent drug use by our young people.  As parents, we can build on that progress in our own families by having strong, loving relationships with our children, by teaching standards of right and wrong, by setting and enforcing rules for behavior, by knowing the facts about alcohol and other drugs, and by really listening to our children.

Teaching Values
Every family has expectations of behavior that are determined by principles and standards.  These add up to “values.”  Children who decide not to use alcohol or other drugs often make this decision because they have strong convictions against the use of these substances – convictions that are based on a value system.  Social, family, and religious values give young people reasons to say no and help them stick to their decisions.
Here are some ways to help make your family’s values clear:
 

Communicate values openly.  Talk about why values such as honesty, self-reliance, and responsibility are important, and how values help children make good decisions.  Teach your child how each decision builds on previous decisions as one’s character is formed, and how a good decision makes the next decision easier.  Look for conflicts between your words and your actions.  Remember that children are quick to sense when parents send signals by their actions that it’s all right to duck unpleasant duties or to be dishonest.  Telling your child to say that you are not at home because a phone call comes at an inconvenient time is, in effect, teaching your child that it is all right to be dishonest.

Make sure that your child understands your family values.  Parents assume, sometimes mistakenly, that children have “absorbed” values even though they may be rarely or never discussed.  You can test your child’s understanding by discussing some common situations at the dinner table; for example, “What would you do if a person ahead of you in line at the theater dropped a dollar bill?”

Setting and Enforcing Rules Against the Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Parents are responsible for setting rules for children to follow.  When it comes to alcohol and other drug use, strong rules need to be established to protect the well being of a child.  Setting rules is only half the job, however; we must be prepared to enforce the penalties when the rules are broken.

Be specific.  Explain the reasons for the rules.  Tell your child what the rules are and what behavior is expected.  Discuss the consequences of breaking the rules: what the punishment will be, how it will be carried out, how much time will be involved, and what the punishment is supposed to achieve.
Be consistent.  Make it clear to your child that a no-alcohol/no-drug use rule remains the same at all times – in your home, in a friend’s home, anywhere the child is.
Be reasonable.  Don’t add new consequences that have not been discussed before the rule was broken.  Avoid unrealistic threats such as, “Your father will kill you when he gets home.”  Instead, react calmly and carry out the punishment that the child expects to receive for breaking the rule.

Getting the Facts
As a minimum, parents should:

• know the different types of drugs and alcohol most commonly used and the dangers associated with each;
• be able to identify paraphernalia associated with each drug;
• be familiar with the street names of drugs;
• know what drugs look like;
• know the signs of alcohol and other drug use and be alert for changes in your child’s behavior or appearance.
• know how to get help promptly if you suspect your child may be using alcohol and other drugs.

Parents who are clear about now wanting their children to use illicit drugs may find it harder to be tough about alcohol.  After all, alcohol is legal for adults, many parents drink, and alcohol is a part of some religious observations.  As a result, we may view alcohol as a less dangerous substance than other drugs.  The facts say otherwise:

• Many teenagers have a drinking problem.
• Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of death among young people 15 to 24 years of age.

Children and Alcohol
About half of all youthful deaths in drowning, fires, suicide, and murder are alcohol-related.  Young people who use alcohol at an early age are more likely to use alcohol heavily and to have alcohol-related problems; they are also more likely to abuse other drugs and to get into trouble with the law.  Young people whose body weight is lower than adults reach a higher blood alcohol concentration level than adults and show greater effects for longer periods of time.
We know that smokers are 10 times as likely as non-smokers to develop lung cancer and 3 times as likely to die at early ages from heart attack.  In fact, in 1985, smoking was the leading cause of early death among adults.  Nicotine, the active ingredient in tobacco, is as addictive as heroin, and fewer than 20 percent of smokers are able to quit the first time they try.  Despite these facts, many children use these products.

Facts on Tobacco

• Young people who use cigarettes are also at great risk for all other drug use.
• Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 harmful substances, many of which cause cancer.

Talking With and Listening to Your Child
Don’t wait until you think your child has a problem.  Many young people in treatment programs say that they had used alcohol and other drugs for at least two years before their parents knew about it.  Begin early to talk about alcohol and other drugs, and keep the lines of communication open.
Don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t have all the answers.  Let your child know that you are concerned, and that you can work together to find answers.
Be a good listener.  Listen closely to what your child says.  Don’t allow anger at what you hear to end the discussion.  If necessary, take a 5-minute break to calm down before continuing.  Take note of what your child is Not saying, too.  If the child does not tell you about problems, take the initiative and ask questions about what is going on at school or in other activities.  Young people need to know that they can rely on their parents for accurate information about subjects that are important to them.  If your child wants to discuss something at a time when you can’t give it full attention, explain why you can’t talk, set a time to talk later, and then carry through on it!
Give lots of praise.  Emphasize the things your youngster is doing right instead of always focusing on things that are wrong.  When parents are quicker to praise than to criticize, children learn to feel good about themselves, and they develop the self-confidence to trust their own judgment.
Give clear messages.  When talking about the use of alcohol and other drugs, be sure you give your child a clear no-use message, so that the child will know exactly what is expected.  For example, “In our family we don’t allow the use of illegal drugs, and children are not allowed to drink.”
Model good behavior.  Children learn by example as well as teaching.  Make sure that your own actions reflect the standards of honesty, integrity, and fair play that you expect of your child.
Communication.
Effective communication between parents and children is not always easy to achieve.  Children and adults have different communication styles and different ways of responding in a conversation.  In addition, timing and atmosphere may determine how successful communication will be.  Parents should make time to talk with their children in a quiet, unhurried manner.  The following tips are designed to make communication more successful.
Listening
Pay attention, Don’t interrupt, Don’t prepare what you will say while your child is speaking, Reserve judgement until your child has finished and has asked you for a response.
Looking
Be aware of your child’s facial expression and body language.  Is your child nervous or uncomfortable – frowning, drumming fingers, tapping a foot, looking at the clock?  Or does your child seem relaxed, smiling, looking you in the eyes?  Reading these signs will help parents know how the child is feeling.
Tips
 During the conversation, acknowledge what your child is saying -move your body forward if you are sitting, touch a shoulder if you are walking, or nod your head and make eye contact.
Responding
“I am very concerned about…” or “I understand that it is sometimes difficult…” are better ways to respond to your child than beginning sentences with “You should,” or “If I were you,” or “When I was your age we didn’t…” Speaking for oneself sounds thoughtful and is less likely to be considered a lecture or an automatic response.
If your child tells you something you don’t want to hear, don’t ignore the statement.
Don’t offer advice in response to every statement your child makes. It is better to listen carefully to what is being said and try to understand the real feelings behind the words.
Make sure you understand what your child means. Repeat things to your child for confirmation.