Drugs, Alcohol, and Teens

16th Dec 2009

News

We all worry about our children when it comes to a lot of different things but the misuse of drugs and alcohol by teenager is sure to strike most parents hearts with dread. The biggest problem is there is so much about this issue that we ourselves don't know all the answers

What age should they be when you discuss alcohol and drugs with them? How much information should we give them? Is any of this discussed at school? What are legal highs?

We can't give direct advice about how to inform your children about drugs and alcohol, because there are many organisations and web sites that are better at giving advice. But we have brought together a helpful list of various links below to help get you started.

We do suggest two things though.

1) Get informed. If you know what you are talking about with as many facts as you can find it should be easier to discuss any worrying behaviour you have witnessed or are worried will happen.
2) Always encourage your children to speak to you about anything. Even things you do not want to hear! Children that are happy to discuss things like this with their parents openly are less likely to do it.

Alcohol

We have seen stories in the papers about drunken teenagers and if you go down to the seafront on a summers evening you will most likely see at least one passed out, so we know it's out there. Do you worry that could be your child or do you see it is a rite of passage? Do we as parents set the right example with our own relationship with alcohol?

Below are some links and a Triple P sheet (attached at bottom of page) we hope will help educate you and assist you in starting a discussion with your teenager.

http://www.drinkingandyou.com/site/uk/child.htm

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/WorriedAbout/DG_10026211

http://www.ru-ok.org.uk/index.html

http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/alcohol.html?tracking=P_RelatedArticle

http://www.gotateenager.org.uk/default.aspx?page=drugsandalcohol&taggroup=3

http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/servlets/wrapper/worried_about.jsp

http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/talking-to-under-18s/parents

Drugs

There has been a lot in the news about drugs. Certain drugs have been reclassified recently and there has been so much debate about what is dangerous that sometimes the issue seems more clouded. Many of us don't even know what the classifications mean or what they do to the body and mind of the person taking them.

Information on the different types of drugs and their potential dangers can be found on the links below.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/WorriedAbout/DG_10026450

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/WorriedAbout/DG_10026212

http://www.pada.org.uk/index.php

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/talk_about_drugs.html

http://www.addaction.org.uk/

http://www.release.org.uk/services/helpline

Legal, but are they safe?

Recently the dangers of so-called ‘legal high's has hit the headlines here in Brighton and Hove with the death of a 14 year old girl. (http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/commentandanalysis/4763946.We_need_to_teach_Brighton_and_Hove_children_about_dangers_of_legal_highs)

It isn't enough that us parents have to worry about our children doing illegal drugs and drinking underage, but now there are websites and stores in town that sell these ‘legal highs' and most of us had no ideas these existed until recently.

http://www.talktofrank.com/search.aspx?search=legal+highs

If you have discovered that your child has an alcohol or drug abuse problem these sites may help you understand and get them help.

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/

http://www.ukna.org/

The links below are for the support of families of people with drug and alcohol problems

http://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/

http://www.adfam.org.uk/