BLOG: Try these 5 expert tips to discourage use of alcohol, drugs

The No. 1 question we, as experts at the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition, get from parents is “How do I keep my kid off drugs?”

We get it. Every parent wants the best for their child. They want their child to succeed, and they know that drug use is a roadblock to that bright future. 

Prevention is key, so here’s a few tips on how to start:

1. START THE CONVERSATION WHEN THEY'RE SMALL.

   Talk to your kids about decisions and drugs long before they may ever have the chance to use them. This means start talking to your kids as young as 8 or 10 years old about the dangers of drug use and misuse. Tell them that their brains are still growing until they are in their mid-20s and any alcohol or other drug use will damage their growing brain. It’s important to equip them with as many facts as you can. 

2. BUILD THEIR SOCIAL NETWORK.

   No, we are not talking about making sure they have an active Snapchat.  Do your best to make sure your teens have connections at home, school and in the community. At school, get your kids involved in an afterschool activity like a club or a sport. At home, have family dinners four or more nights a week to get your kid talking. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found kids who have dinner with their families are less likely to drink or use other drugs. Need tips to get the dinner convo started? Try these from The Family Dinner Project. Volunteering at a local nonprofit organization or being involved in a faith-based organization is a great way to connect your child with the community.  

3. LET THEM KNOW THAT MOST TEENS ARE DRUG FREE.

   That’s right! Most teens do not drink alcohol or use drugs. Believe it or not, that statistic includes marijuana. According to a recent Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, when Palm Beach County middle and high school teens were asked if they used drugs in the last month, 97 percent said they did not misuse prescription drugs, 90 percent said they did not use marijuana, and 80 percent said they were alcohol free. If teens get the message that most of their peers are making good choices, they are more likely to also make that positive choice.

4. MAKE THE RULES AND BE CONSISTENT.

Most teens know that their parents would not be happy if they found out they were drinking or using drugs, but they don't know what would happen if they used.  First, let them know that you expect them to live a drug-free life and the positive advantages of that choice. Next, set up your family rules about use and misuse of drugs. Tell them the consequences and be consistent if they break the rules.

5. LOCK UP AND/OR DISPOSE OF MEDICATION.
The teen brain is like a sports car with unreliable breaks. One of the parts of the brain that is still growing is its ability to make good decisions and not take unnecessary risks. Teens may decide to take prescription medications to get high or try to deal with a problem, like focusing on schoolwork. Take that decision out of their hands by making sure that prescription medication is locked up. If you have expired medications, drop it off at one of our local drop boxes open year-round. You'll also save the environment by protecting our land and water sources from being filled with old medicine. Find your closest drop box via Children's Services Council's free app, SafeMap. Click here to download it for iOS or click here for Android.

As you know, parenting is a full-time job, but the good news is that teens still cite their biggest influence as their parents. So you have the opportunity to make a big impact, be educated, prepared and invest the time and energy early. It will be worth it!

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 Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition is a local advocacy group created to give parents and youths the tools to live drug and smoke free.