Helping Teenagers Avoid Substance Abuse

Spending quality time with family strengthens your teenager’s sense of family pride which is an effective way in helping teenagers avoid substance abuse.

Teenagers undergo a crucial stage of development where the pressure of acceptance as well as rejection can be too much to bear. Because not all teenagers are able to intelligently distinguish factors that create negative impact on their decisions, they are caught up following what others are doing for the sake of peer acceptance. How do you  help teenagers avoid substance abuse?

Anyone can help teens prevent substance abuse. But if you have a family member with this issue, then you are in the best position to help.

Communicate your point well

Communication is the first step. By explaining to the teenager the consequences of using drugs or alcohol and how important it is to always maintain a healthy lifestyle, the teen will gradually get your message. However, talking to a teenager about substance abuse should be done in the right and comfortable time for the involved youngster. An advising person should also consider working with nurturing adult to share the responsibility of talking to the teenager.

Do not lecture or scold

Discussions with teenagers should not include extended and boring lectures but should first allow the teen to speak about his or her feelings and opinions about substance abuse. You must also be ready to answer their queries about the same topic. Do not scare the teenager and never start a confrontation. Instead explain in detail how alcohol and illegal drugs can affect him or her socially, physically, mentally and emotionally. Explain how substances can negatively affect appearance, health, safety, and his or her future. Media messages like websites, movies and TV programs can also be effective in helping teenagers avoid substance abuse.

Teach them to say “No”

Teach the teens how to effectively deal with peer pressure. Teens who start using drugs and drink alcoholic beverages because of the pressure they receive from friends.

Teens easily submit to the pressure since they don’t want to be left out or ridiculed by their friends. In this case, tell your teenager to just find another set of friends that have good values and also to remember to always say no to peer pressure. You can also advise your teen with a good excuse and other responses which he or she can plan ahead of time.

Parents of teenagers, as well as close relatives, should help hand in hand in constantly reminding teenagers of the negative consequences of drug abuse. At the same time, family must provide the teenager with a well-balanced life and see to it that the teen is contended with the privileges in life received such as right living conditions, schooling, good food or balanced diet and constant nurturing.

Encourage teens to pursue a hobby

As parents, keep in mind that no teenager is free from drug or alcohol abuse regardless of how smart or athletic he is. It is very important to keep your teenager constructively busy in sports, music or other hobbies to keep his minds off from even thinking of abusing a substance.

Know your teenager’s friends

You must also be vigilant on who their teenager are hanging out, what kind of words they are using or if they are using coded words for drugs. They must also be observant on what are in the rooms, bags of their children without the teenager knowing that you have been spying on them. The parents should also be observant on the teenager’s body language such as the way they dress, physical appearance, sleeping patterns, hygiene and any change in his or her attitude.

Teenagers become prone to negative peer influence if they don’t feel loved or appreciated in the family. Spending quality time with your family will strengthen your teenager’s sense of family pride and that is already an effective way in helping teenagers avoid substance abuse.

Leave a Comment