Young people today aren’t really any different from past generations. What’s different now from 100 or even 50 years ago is that the variety and potency of addictive substances are more pervasive and (to a degree) acceptable than ever.

Peer pressure

What friends do has a great impact on your child’s behaviour during the turbulent teenage years. If friends are experimenting with alcohol or doing drugs, your child will be under great pressure to do so as well. Get to know your child’s friends. Nurture an open relationship. Talk to them about their friends and what they are doing.

Curiosity

Driven largely by culture today, drugs, alcohol and other addictive substances can look fun and cool. Teens see their friends and even family members high and assume it’s okay to experiment. Acknowledge this curiosity openly and make sure they understand the real consequences of getting involved with addictive substances.

It’s available

Experts say that the best place to obtain drugs is in high schools in the suburban, middle class areas of our cities. Controlled drugs are available online without prescriptions. Studies show that youth under the age of 18 are getting drunk, using illicit drugs, smoking marijuana and misusing prescription drugs at an ever increasing rate. Addiction has no social, economic or geographic barriers. Don’t be fooled.

Lack of self-esteem and personal problems

Unhappiness and hostility at home, parents not tuned into their children, pressures at school, boredom, guilt over sexual relationships and rejection by the opposite sex are only a few of the things causing kids’ problems and stress. Helping your child deal with and overcome such problems is what good parenting is all about.

Other factors that at first seem to be unrelated to substance abuse such as being sexually active can open doors to experimenting with illegal substances. It’s therefore important to address all aspects of your child’s life — their physical, emotional, social and sexual development — to ensure they grow up healthy and drug free.

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