The Basics
Talk to your child about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Knowing the facts will help your child make healthy choices.
What do I say?
When you talk about tobacco, alcohol, and drugs:
- Teach your child the facts.
- Give your child clear rules.
- Find out what your child already knows.
- Be prepared to answer your child’s questions.
- Talk with your child about how to say “no.”
Get more information on keeping kids healthy and drug free.
The Basics
When do I start talking with my child?
Start early. By preschool, most children have seen adults smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol, either in real life, on TV, or on the Internet. Make sure your child knows right from the start that you think it’s important to stay safe and avoid drugs.
Here are more reasons to start the conversation early:
- Many kids start using tobacco by age 11 and are addicted by age 14.
- Between ages 9 and 13, kids begin to think that using alcohol is okay.
- Some children are already abusing drugs at age 12 or 13.
What if my child is older?
It’s never too late to start the conversation about avoiding drugs. Even if your teen may have tried tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, you can still talk about making healthy choices and how to say “no” next time.
Get more tips to help your teen stay away from drugs and alcohol.
The Basics
What do I need to know about prescriptions and other medicines?
When you talk to your child about the dangers of drugs, don’t forget about drugs that may already be in your home. Prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drug abuse is when a person:
- Takes too much of a drug
- Uses a drug when it’s not needed
- Takes a drug prescribed to someone else
When not taken safely, prescription and OTC medicines can be just as addictive and dangerous as other drugs. Make sure to talk to your kids about the dangers, and store medicines in a locked cabinet.
Share this Web site about prescription and OTC drug abuse with your kids.
The Basics
Why do I need to talk to my child?
Research shows that kids do listen to their parents. Children who learn about drug risks from their parents are less likely to start using drugs.
When kids choose not to use alcohol or drugs, they are also less likely to:
- Have serious trouble in school
- Get hurt in a car accident
- Be a victim of crime
- Have a problem with addiction as an adult
If you say nothing, your child may think it’s okay to use alcohol and other drugs.
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