|
There are no simple or complete answers to the question of how we, as parents, can help protect our children from drug use. A starting point is the maintenance of good, honest and open communication with our children. If we can achieve this then we can know where they are, who they are with and what they are doing and be more able to protect them.
Yet as parents we need to encourage our young people to take healthy risks and learn to be independent. We can not know everything that our teenage children are doing.
However the parental influence can be positive if:
- There is a close bond with the child
- Education is valued and encouraged
- Stress within the family is managed well
- Parents spend quality time with their children
- Parents use a high warmth/low criticism parenting style
- Parents express clear expectation
- Family responsibilities are shared
|
 |
|
School can positively influence young people if:
- Teachers express high expectations
- Staff view themselves as caretakers and role models
- Teachers encourage social development
- School provides leadership and decision making opportunities
- Parents are involved in school activities and programmes
- School provides a range of extra curricula activities
The community can be a positive influence on young people if:
- Social norms and public policies support non-use of drugs among young people
- There is access to resources (housing, health care, child care, job training, employment, recreation)
- Provide supportive networks and social bonding opportunities
- Youth are involved in community service programmes
|
|
