Voicing out your opinion
When substance abuse is involved, a clear line of communication between you and your troubled teenager is gold. At present, the ages of experimentation with substances are getting younger and younger, and because of this talks with your teens about substance abuse should be made earlier. Getting involved in your adolescent’s school program for drug/alcohol prevention would be a good idea. Many school programs against substance abuse welcome the willing participation of parents in forums for teachers and parents. Express yourself and share ideas that might help out other teenagers as well. If you feel that your teenager may be embarrassed at the idea of you voicing out your opinions, then you may opt to use a less outward approach like discussing your own ideas with a member of the program and letting him/her do the talking for you.
A big issue out there for troubled teenagers is the increasing pressure they continuously deal with to abuse alcohol or drugs once they reach higher levels in middle school. Here is where a clear line of communication is worth gold. Its purpose is to help your child defend him/herself when peer pressure rears its ugly head.
Helping your teen battle against peer pressure
Parents, it’s a jungle out there! And sadly, just the answer “no” may not be enough to keep the peer pressure off his or her back. Instead, it’s important to offer your teenager alternative ways or different approaches to make sure that “no” means no to his or her peers. First step, it’s vital to create an action plan. Once you’ve thought this through and prepared one that you believe suits your teen. You can begin further steps toward your child’s wellness.
Stand your ground, parents!
A teen who is presently engaging in substance abuse requires more than just a “talk” with the parents or implementation of more rules. If he or she is just getting into the drugs or alcohol scene than in order for him or her not to sink even further, a parent must implement stricter supervision. You must keep your teen’s behavior in check by making sure your child lets you know where he or she is and when. He or she should respect curfews as well, and it wouldn’t hurt to ask the parents of a kid having a neighborhood party about it before you let your teen go.
At times, parents may make the mistake of showing even the slightest tolerance for unruly behavior. If he or she senses this, your teen may attempt to bend the rules more and more, maybe even bit by bit leading to his or her control of the household!
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