Parents.

Prevention. Never Too Early and Not Too Late!

Good prevention doesn’t start in high school; it starts from the moment of conception and throughout your child’s life.

Staying healthy and avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use during pregnancy can help ensure that your child begins life with a healthy start. Through avoiding your child’s exposure to tobacco smoke, you also help ensure an environment that allows for your child’s healthy development.

The following are other points to consider throughout the childhood and early adolescent years. Some of these ideas may help you in setting a good foundation to prevent the risks for later substance use or gambling problems.

First Steps (2-5 years old)

1. Allow time for you and your child to develop your child/ parent relationship.

   Playing, talking, reading a book, or any other activity you do with your child can help build a strong relationship.

   This can strengthen important bonds and attachment between you and your child from an early age.

2. While alcohol or other drug use may or may not be a conversation you will have at this age, it is important to point out the variety of poisonous or harmful substances in your home.

   Keep chemicals such as bleach, household cleaners, and pesticides, out of reach of your child. Explain to your child that these are poisons and can cause harm.

3. This might also be a good time to explain the importance of medication safety.

   Discuss with your child how medicines are used when someone is sick and must only be taken from a parent or trusted adult.

4. Pre-school kids are keenly interested in play and it’s at this age they learn valuable skills in getting along with other people.

   Teach your child the importance of sharing, telling the truth, fairness and being nice to others.

5. Children will begin to learn how to deal with their feelings and emotions during this time.
   
   It’s important for parents to really pay attention to what your child is saying and acknowledge their feelings. A simple nod or other acknowledgement as well putting a name to your child’s feelings is an important step to helping them deal with feelings.

   Play can also be used to help your child deal with frustrating situations and problem solving.

6. Children are beginning to learn the concepts of rules and instructions at this age.

   Playing board games or doing activities that require following instructions or rules can help develop this understanding.

1. Kids require social and emotional coping skills.

   They need to understand how to deal with their feelings and how to relate to other people and get along with others. While many of these skills have already been taught in the earlier years, it’s important to continue to support your child in this learning.

   Kids who do not learn appropriate ways to get along with others or who do not learn helpful ways to deal with emotions, can be at a greater risk for future substance use or gambling problems.

2. At this age kids are becoming more aware of their world and are beginning to handle some responsibility.

   Kids learn through experience and may not have a solid understanding of potential consequences

3. It is important that kids have rules that can help guide their behavior and give them clear and reasonable expectations.

   Parents need to be clear and consistent with rules and consequences and avoid being either too strict or too lenient.

4. Questions about substance use or gambling will likely come up during this period.

   It’s important to be honest and clear to their questions.

   Be prepared for questions such as why do people smoke and drink or why is it only adults are allowed to drink? Explain that sometimes people drink because it helps them have fun or that people smoke because their body tells them they need it.

   Be prepared for how you might respond but keep your responses simple and honest.

5. Children at this age are very interested in their bodies and how it works.

   Discuss how making good choices such as eating good foods, getting plenty of sleep or brushing your teeth can keep you healthy.

   Contrast this with things people may do to harm their bodies such as smoking, taking drugs or drinking too much.

6. This is a good time to talk about some of the social influences that kids might experience.

   These may include advertisements that try to get kids interested in buying something or influences from other peers to try out new hobbies, interests or activities.

   While children are more influenced by their families at this age, peers are beginning to play an important role.

    

1. This is an important time for parents to focus on increased drug prevention efforts.

   It is at this age that many kids begin thinking about or being confronted with tobacco, alcohol and other drug use situations.

   Studies suggest the earlier kids begin using alcohol or other drugs, the more likely they are to develop problems.

2. Parents should be aware of the current alcohol, other drug use and gambling statistics.

   The Newfoundland & Labrador Student Drug Use Survey provides a great deal of information about student drug use and gambling behavior. In 2007, alcohol, cannabis and tobacco were the top three drugs of choice reported by NL students.

   The average age for first consumption of alcohol was 12.9 years, 13.5 for cannabis and 12.6 years for smoking a cigarette.

3. Parents need to learn more about the drugs and gambling that their kids are exposed to.

   Refer to our section on ‘Drugs’ for more information. This will assist you in providing your child with clear and honest messages on the risks of gambling and using drugs.

4. Kids at this age are beginning to learn more about problem solving and making decisions.

   Many of their interests and activities are determined by what the group thinks.

   While this is normal, it’s also important to encourage children to think for themselves and make up their own mind on what they like.

5. Self-image becomes very important at this age and this may be dependent by how much they feel accepted by peers. Continue with your own messages to support your child’s self esteem and confidence.

6. Discuss messages your children are given about alcohol, other drugs and gambling from TV, Internet, music, and advertisements.

   Explore what these messages might mean to your child and separate myths from reality.

7. Encourage your child’s participation in positive and healthy activities that allow them to form new friendships and have fun with one another.

   Assist them with homework or school projects and encourage them to become involved with activities that keep them well connected with school and community groups.

8. Discuss and practice with your child ways of dealing with alcohol and drug use situations. Remember to support your child in thinking of ways to respond and what they could say, where they could go, and what they could do to help in a variety of situations.

    

1. This is a time of great change for kids.

   They are going through the adolescent years and trying to get a feel for their interests, friends and where they fit in the world. Teens may try out different clothing styles, musical interests, friends and hobbies.

   It’s important to continue to reach out and connect with your child although they may not want to be around you as much as before.

2. The early teens are often an emotional time for many teens. They may have a shaky self-image and constantly wonder whether they are okay or if they measure up.

   Being available to offer strong emotional support as well as being a good model of adult behavior is especially important at this stage.

3. This may be a time for experimenting with alcohol, other drugs and gambling.

   Your child’s decision to experiment can be affected by a number of things including how risky they perceive alcohol, other drug use or gambling to be, as well as their perceptions of how common it is to use drugs or gamble.

   Ensure your child has a good understanding of the real risks associated with alcohol, other drug use and gambling.

4. Challenge the notion that ‘everyone drinks or uses drugs’.

   According to the 2007 NL Student Drug Use Survey, 11% of students in grade 7 report alcohol use and less than 5% report cannabis use. In grade 9 that number jumped to around 50% for alcohol use and less than 30% for cannabis use.

   While there is a big increase between grade 7 and 9, the numbers clearly show that ‘everyone’ does not use alcohol or cannabis.

5. Get to know your child’s friends as well as their parents. Share your expectations about behaviors and develop consistent expectations and rules around curfews, un-chaperoned parties and other social activities.

6. An important point for parents is to monitor your child’s activities.

   Know where your child is.

   Knowing where your kids are and with whom they associate with has been known to decrease the chances of kids becoming involved in problematic substance use or gambling.

7. You might wish to help your teen plan a supervised party or other activities or events that reflect a no-alcohol / no-drug use focus.

8. It is important that parents understand that many kids will experiment with alcohol and other drugs at this point.
   

   This does not automatically mean your child has or will develop an alcohol or drug problem. Remain calm and collective but address your concerns directly with your child.
   
   It’s important to allow your child to experience consequences that come along from their alcohol or other drug use. Use this as a learning opportunity and encourage and explore how they can make better choices in future.
   
   Threatening to forever ground your child or shrugging off and condoning their use may not be the most effective means of responding. Continue to monitor your child and watch for signs that suggest their use is placing them at risk.
   

1. Many teens at this age are very independent and may spend much of their time with peers or dating partners.

   Parents still play an important role at this age as they transition from the responsibilities of teenage years to young adulthood.

   The transition out of high school can be difficult for many teens and it’s important that parents continue to offer emotional support and guidance.

2. Many teens at this age choose to use alcohol, cannabis and tobacco.

   According to the 2007 Student Drug Use Survey, around 80% of youth in grade 12 report having used alcohol in the previous year. Less than 47% of grade 12 students report cannabis use, while a little more than 25% report tobacco use.

   Teens from grade 10 to 12 report using alcohol more frequently and in higher amounts. It’s important that parents provide messages about the risks of problematic substance use as well as the dangers of mixing alcohol or other drugs with driving or sexual activity.

3. Parents also need to be aware that teens at this age are more likely to report other drug use including cocaine and ecstasy use.

   In 2007, 14 % of students report past year ecstasy use while 8% report cocaine use. Parents need to read up on these drugs and be aware of the red flags to indicate potential problems.

4. The following are some key warning signs to watch for.

   If your teen exhibits several of these together, you may wish to seek out professional support.

   • Sudden and unexplained changes in mood or behavior
   • Loss of interest in previous activities such as school, sports, or recreational/leisure activities
   • Withdrawal from friends / family
   • Attendance, performance or school discipline issues
   • Negative change in personal hygiene or appearance
   • Looking fatigue, depressed behavior or change in eating habits
   • Missing alcohol, money or valuables from the home
     
     

5. Should you have concerns that your child may have an alcohol, other drug or gambling problem, please reach out for help.

   Addictions Services offices are located across the province. Please click here for an office nearest you.

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