Talking to Teens: Starting the Drug and Alcohol Conversation
Starting a conversation about drug and alcohol abuse is difficult for any parent. There is no one right way to approach a teenager, and parents are often unclear if their guidance even makes a difference. Although it can be an uncomfortable, rigid or seemingly unproductive discussion, talking to your children about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol does impact their judgment and decision-making skills.
The wrong move many parents take is by addressing drug abuse in a traditional, teacher-student fashion. “The Talk” is played out like a lesson, and doesn’t incorporate the methods of communication that work best with young adults. Your words are likely to fall on deaf ears or be confronted with a defensive and closed off attitude if you fail to recognize the differences in the way your child connects with friends, teachers and the world.
You may not be big on technology, but more than likely your teenager is. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America recently found that nearly one in four teens would prefer to have a serious conversation about drugs or alcohol using e-mail or cell phones. Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Partnership, says, “While nothing can take the place of an in-person conversation between parents and teens, for some parents, emails, cell phone conversations, and even texting can help start a conversation with a reluctant teen and reinforce talks you’ve already had—plus, parents can reach teens at times when use tends to be likelier—after school, on weekends and during unsupervised time.” Unfortunately, of the parents interviewed, only 3 percent would choose to communicate with their kids in this way.
The study reiterates the importance of texting in teen culture: Research shows that a large majority of teens rely upon messaging to stay connected with friends, and that a significant portion would not mind receiving texts from their parents. You might be hesitant or believe it’s impersonal to approach such a serious conversation using computers or cell phones, but it’s essential to consider how your teen is most likely to positively respond to your outreach.
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