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Alcohol, marijuana and other drugs are prevalent in today’s society. They’re present and easy for kids to access. Regardless of where you live or your economic situation, your child will be exposed. So how can you prepare your teen or young adult to avoid use and abuse? Is it better to let them have some exposure at home, in a safe environment? What can parents do-that actually works-to prevent drug use? Richard Capriola is an addiction counselor and today he talks to Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to answer these questions. They discuss the 6 essential areas parents need to focus on to prevent drug use and alcohol abuse, what research says about consumption at home, and more.
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A Favorite Quote from the Show:
No child is totally protected from being exposed to alcohol or drugs. They are all vulnerable to getting caught up in substance use.
High Points From Our Conversation on Parenting to Prevent Drug Use:
6 essential areas parents need to focus on to prevent drug abuse:
- Communication—not just hearing your child’s words but hearing the feels behind the words
- Encouragement—trust us, be open with us—builds trust, lets kids not feel judged
- Negotiation—allow more negotiation as they get older
- Setting Limits—parents need to set clear limits
- Supervision—it’s important to supervise teens and to do it in a healthy way
- Friends—know your child’s friends
Open, curious communication creates an environment of trust which allows our children to open up to us.
Active encouragement and support helps to build trust and helps our teens to not feel judged.
Parents role moves into more of an advisory role as our children become teens and young adults.
If you have a child who very openly introduced you to their friends then suddenly they become secretive about their friends it’s a warning sign that there’s a behavioral change. It’s an indication that it’s time to do a little investigating.
No child is totally protected from being exposed to alcohol or drugs. They are all vulnerable to getting caught up in substance use.
These 6 areas create a protected environment.
Ask questions from a place of curiosity. Don’t interrogate them. Be honest and curious. Let them see your fears because it lets them know those feelings are okay.
Negotiation is a give and take. It happens differently at different ages and takes trial and error.
Some things are not negotiable such as using alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, etc.
Parents can set limits too tight when they are scared.
Some parents are of the opinion that if their child drinks alcohol it should happen at home. This isn’t a good idea. Research shows these kids tend to drink more when they leave home.
Marijuana damages developing brains and our children’s brains don’t develop fully until 24 or 25.
Kids who use marijuana are likely to become addicted and are more vulnerable to moving into other drugs.
Observe your child and determine how much supervision they need based on their actions.
When we see our child doing something that endangers them our reaction is often anger or slamming down limits and consequences. We need to pull back, listen, share our feelings and move forward from there.
Resources:
Is Your Family Protected From The Opioid Epidemic? | Jamie Nicole Dalton | Episode 61
The Truth About The Opioid Epidemic | Sam Quinones | Episode 91
Dealing With Teenagers’ Risky Behavior | Jon Mattleman | Episode 126
What Do I Need to Know About Vaping | Kandi L Walker | Episode 159
Our Guest Richard Capriola:
Richard Capriola has been in the mental health/addictions field for over two decades. He has been licensed in Illinois and Texas. He recently retired from Menninger Clinic in Houston, one of the nation’s top psychiatric hospitals, where he was an addictions counselor for adolescents and adults diagnosed with psychiatric and substance use disorders. He received his master’s degree in substance abuse counseling from the University of Illinois.
To learn more or connect with our guest visit https://helptheaddictedchild.com/
From Our Sponsor:
Want to improve your communication and build a better relationship with your teenager? Get the free email series How to Talk to Your Teen at MightyParenting.com
About
Sandy Fowler is passionate about helping people live better lives. She uses the lessons she's learned in her parenting journey along with her extensive work in stress relief, wisdom of experts and the valuable stories of other families to help parents get real, relevant information about raising teens and parenting young adults in today's world.
717 St. Joseph Dr #202
St. Joseph, MI 49085
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