No parent wants their child to develop a drug problem. As parents, however, we sometimes enable or encourage our children to use mood altering chemicals by:
- Not talking about tobacco and drugs
- Misusing/abusing legal drugs, such as alcohol, in front of our children
- Misusing/abusing prescription medication in front of our children
- Watching and laughing at TV sitcoms that include adults misusing/abusing mood altering chemicals
When parents avoid talking about alcohol, tobacco and prescription medications with their children because “I don’t know what to say,” or “My child would never use drugs, so I don’t have to worry about it,” the parent is setting the child up for potential use and misuse of drugs. Children need and want adults to set limits for them. Children need to see the parent role modeling safe and legal use of alcohol and prescription medicine. According to the Hemet Valley Recovery Center, “prescription medication misuse is the most common substance related problem among older adults, with alcohol running a close second.” The Partnership for a Drug Free America, reports that “one in five teens abused a prescription pain medication.”
What Parents Can Do To Help Keep Their Child Drug Free
Don’t pretend that your child is not capable using alcohol, tobacco or non-prescribed prescription medication.
Begin and continue to talk to your child about illegal drug use. There are numerous television, radio and media ads that parents can watch and use to help children to avoid drug use. Instead of watching TV sitcoms that laugh at use and abuse, watch public service documentaries and drug avoidance productions that not only inform, but help build family unity when it comes to drug prevention.
Speak with your child’s school counselor, school nurse, school social worker or school health teachers to gain insights, information and prevention models that parents can use at home to help reduce the chances of drug use and abuse. Ask for a copy of the school drug prevention curriculum. Discuss the curriculum with your child.
Become a good role model for your child. Child who witness their parents using and abusing drugs are more likely to use and abuse drugs too.
I have a friend that 16 yr old son is smoking pot and wants to know what he can do to send him somewhere to get help.His mother and father are divorced and she is going through another divorce and is living with grandparents which are really jerks and verbally abusive to him.What counseling can he go to?
Hi Mike:
Encourage your friend to contact her son’s school counselor. The counselor can provide out of school counseling options. Her call can be anonymous.
Scott
ScottCounseling.com
This is probably the worst possible thing you can do. Why? The school is obligated to protect the welfare of the child and could be obligated to notify child protective services to investigate why the child is using drugs. Is it because of a neglectful mother.The school is under no obligation to protect privicy on the contrary if they do nothing they are liable themselves if the child od’s and dies.
Mark’s comments above brings up two great concerns shared by many:
1) The school counselor’s role, and
2) Child Protection Services.
The school counselor’s role:
Professional school counselors provide culturally competent services to students, parents/guardians, school staff and the community in the following areas:
• School Guidance Curriculum – This curriculum consists of structured lessons designed to help students achieve the desired competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge and skills appropriate for their developmental level. The school guidance curriculum is delivered throughout the school’s overall curriculum and is systematically presented by professional school counselors in collaboration with other professional educators in K-12 classroom and group activities.
• Individual Student Planning – Professional school counselors coordinate ongoing systemic activities designed to help students establish personal goals and develop future plans.
• Responsive Services – Responsive services consist of prevention and/or intervention activities to meet students’ immediate and future needs.
Parents and other community members can contact the school counselor anonymously or go on the school counseling website to receive resources in their local community to help their child who is using or addicted to drugs.
The Child Protection Myth
Many people believe that when child protection is contacted that they show up with the police, bang down the door and remove the child. On the contrary. Only a very small percentage of children are removed from the home…and, if they are, in most cases, it’s temporary. The majority of calls to child protection do not end in an investigation, but options for help or referral to another resource.
To see what Child Protection Services is all about, Google “your county” then Child Protection Services.” or read this:
Child protection is used to describe a set of usually government-run services designed to protect children and young people who are 18 or under and encourage family stability. These typically include investigation of alleged child abuse, child protective services, foster care, adoption services, and services ****aimed at supporting at-risk families so they can remain intact.
Most children who come to the attention of the child welfare system do so because of any of the following situations, which are often collectively termed child abuse:
* Neglect including the failure to take adequate measures to safeguard a child from harm and/or gross negligence in providing for a child’s basic needs
* Emotional abuse
* Child sexual abuse
* Physical abuse
* Psychological abuse
Again…Child Protection does not exist to “investigate why the child is using drugs,” but to provide help options if necessary.
Great discussion! Your thoughts???