Picture this: One day, your child asks an unexpected question. (No, it’s not where babies come from. Though, they will ask that eventually and better to ask you than someone online or even their own age.) No, your child simply asks, “What are drugs?” Your first instinct might be to water things down or hope their school handles the hard parts of this conversation. But the mom who got this exact question recently was aware that her child’s school had just hosted a presentation about preventing drug abuse! If you’re worried about navigating conversations like this, you’re not alone, but having them is a necessity.
According to the Drug Free America Foundation, (https://www.dfaf.org/its-national-drug-alcohol-facts-week/) approximately 53 million people nationwide used illicit drugs over the past year. Some of these users started as young as 12 years old.
Additionally, research shows that 90% of addicts started using during their teenage years. This is why it is so important for parents to intervene early. Doing so can greatly help your child to make wise decisions when it comes to substance abuse.
Pre-teens and teens start using drugs for a variety of reasons, many of which are social. According to getsmartaboutdrugs.gov, students who do not view drug use as risky might use drugs to:
- Feel good
- Cure boredom
- Relieve anxiety
- Experiment
- Fit in
Data has shown that there are a variety of risk factors that increase a child’s likelihood of experimenting with drugs. These risk factors include:
- Bullying
- Low self-esteem
- Passive parents
- Parents/siblings experimenting with substance abuse
- Community-wide tolerance of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products
- Poor academic performance
- Lack of concern for risks
The chances that a child indulges in substance abuse increases with each additional risk factor present in their life. That’s why proactive parenting and prevention programs are so important. As parents, you are the primary role model in your child’s life. As such, they will examine your life and use it as a blueprint for theirs. By being open with them about the good, the bad, and the ugly of your experiences, they will glean knowledge from your successes as well as your failures. In turn, you will have the opportunity to bolster their resolve, to encourage wise decision making, to reaffirm their value, and guide them towards positive outcomes.
Outside of proactive parenting, prevention programs are the most important factor in reducing drug use nationwide. According to youth.gov, every dollar invested in an evidence-based prevention program reduces costs related to substance abuse disorders by nearly $18.00. These programs educate students on the harm drugs cause, while strengthening their network of support.
Our E3 Family Solutions team is actively involved in prevention programs. Our facilitators work with teens and parents in the community through our Equipping Youth (EY) and Empowering Parents (EP) programs as well as at the community level through our Drug Free Coalition – Sumter CAP. In our EY program, we provide students with risk avoidance strategies for the five activities the Centers for Disease Control says puts students at risk i.e. drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, violence and tobacco.
Our E3 Family Solutions team is actively involved in prevention programs. Our facilitators work with teens and parents in the community through our Equipping Youth (EY) and Empowering Parents (EP) programs as well as at the community level through our Drug Free Coalition – Sumter CAP. In our EY program, we provide students with risk avoidance strategies for the five activities the Centers for Disease Control says puts students at risk i.e. drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, violence and tobacco.
In our Empowering Parents program, we help parents understand what their students are going through developmentally, particularly brain development, and some effective strategies for enhancing their kids’ ability to make healthy choices and avoid risky activities. Additionally, our Drug Free Coalition, Sumter CAP, provides a variety of strategies, such as Friday Nights Done Right, Safe Medication Disposal and/or Storage, Hidden in Plain Sight, and No One’s House for the community. Please check out Sumtercap.org for more information on these strategies.
Now is always the best time to help our students understand what drugs are, how drugs affect their judgment, how they negatively impact their friendships and relationships, and ultimately realize that drugs are NOT the solution to feeling happy.
So, when your child asks you, “What are drugs?”, your honesty could make all the difference.
Students are less likely to engage in substance abuse if they:
- Have a strong bond with their caregiver and engage with them in active conversations about drugs and other risky activities
- Have a strong sense of personal value and self worth
- Spend time around positive role models
- Engage in sports, faith-based organizations, and community events
- Live in a community with a strong stance against drugs
- Attend a school with an effective prevention programs
- Have a clear understanding of the risks related to drugs
For more information about our programs or to request a presentation for your club, church or organization, please visit e3familysolutions.org.
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