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From the Desk of Bill Cirone...
May 7, 1999
Helping children stay off drugs
The Drug-Free Resource Net has provided a variety of suggestions for parents in helping their children stay off drugs. While none of the ideas is a silver bullet, guaranteed to make a difference, all are reasonable and helpful suggestions that deserve parents' attention.
For example, the material urges parents to make sure that the information they offer fits their children's age and cognitive level. When a six- or seven-year-old is brushing his teeth, parents can say, "There are lots of things we need to do to keep our bodies strong and healthy, like brushing our teeth. But there are also some things we shouldn't do because they can hurt our bodies, like smoking or taking medicine when we are not sick."
An eight-year-old can understand a simple lesson about specific drugs, like marijuana or alcohol. If you're watching TV and marijuana is mentioned, take advantage of the chance to ask your child if he knows what marijuana is. Say it's a bad drug that can hurt your body. If your child has more questions, answer them. If not, let it go. Short, simple comments, repeated often enough, will get the message across.
For older children, you can provide the same message, but add more details. Explain to a 10- to 12-year-old what marijuana and crack look like, their street names, and how they can affect the body. Don't be afraid to talk tough. Cocaine and crack are very dangerous and illegal drugs that can kill a user, if he takes them just once. Say so.
Teach children to follow rules. Setting a family policy toward drugs won't do much good unless your children already know how to obey rules. Start by setting up and expecting them to obey rules for everyday situations.
For a five-year-old, the rule may be that she must always hold mommy's hand when crossing the street. And always give a reason: "there is lots of traffic and I don't want you to get hit by a car."
For an eight- or nine-year-old, a rule might be no throwing balls in the living room because there are too many things that could break. For a 10- or 11-year old, dictate no TV until after all homework is done because it's important that students concentrate on their assignment and TV is too distracting.
Once children know there are rules and consequences they are more likely to listen when parents set firm rules about drugs and alcohol.
Also, remember that you are always a role model. Take care not to pop pills, even over-the-counter remedies, indiscriminately. Your behavior should reflect your belief that drugs must be used both responsibly and sparingly.
© Santa Barbara County Education Office
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