Drugs and Young Children

Drugs have to be one of the things that worry parents the most. And, it should! We live in a time when drugs are easy to get, even at a young age, and they can have long-term, damaging results. Believe it or not, the perfect time to start focusing on teaching your children about drugs is when they are in elementary school.

Talking To Kids About Drugs

Drugs are an important issue because of the magnitude of damage they can do. Not to mention they are also illegal. Children who do drugs may begin having difficulty in school, problems with personal relationships, health problems, or even die as a result of drug use. The best thing a parent can do is to make prevention a high priority.

When it comes to drugs and your young children, keep these tips in mind:

• Maintain open communication about drugs by discussing what they are, what they look like, and what they can do to a person who uses them. Kids need to know how dangerous drugs can be.
• Discuss what your child should do if someone offers her drugs at school, the park, etc. Role playing will help her learn how to respond. She also needs to know that she should inform an adult in charge if someone has offered her drugs.
• Pay attention to who your child's friends are and who has alone time with her. Drugs can easily be offered to children in a safe and trusted environment by an older sibling or babysitter.
• Be sure to keep all prescription drugs in your home locked up and out of the reach of children. Today's kids take prescription drugs that are often easily obtained from medicine cabinets and home cupboards.
• Be aware that many children use inhalants to get high. These are chemical vapors that are inhaled and come from gases, aerosol cans, and many household chemical products.
• Set a good example for your children by not allowing any illegal drug activity in your home at any time.

If you suspect your child has done drugs, speak with her calmly, but immediately. If she has done drugs, find out where she got them and speak with parents, school officials, or other appropriate authorities to report the issue. You may also want to speak with the school counselor or your physician if your child has done drugs.