How to inform one's children of drugs problems?

Swiss institute for the prevention of alcoholism and other drug addictions

Like most of the parents, you worry about the drugs problem.

You are wondering  about this topic?

You are trying to build a preventive attitude towards your children?

Thanks to real examples, this leaflet will give you a few hints aiming at helping you.

Like you, we are convinced that drug prevention begins within the family, in the relationship between grown-ups and children, through the encouragement of self-esteem.

Recent studies have clearly shown that the earlier the prevention begins, the more efficient it is.

It is not unavoidably necessary to be a specialist in drug addictions to talk about this subject with your children.

What matters more is discussion, attentive listening and mutual trust.

The everyday gestures and words  enable you to create a link preventing your child from becoming a drug addict.

Even if you wish your child success in life, a development of his intelligence, his gifts and his abilities, and a job in which he will be happy, do not forget that he is required a lot in school and that some children just cannot overcome the pressure.

A child may have the impress that too much is demanded from him and that he has nothing to do in school.

He is likely to underestimate his worth and even to suffer from a depression.

You have to support your child, to help him believe in himself.

When your child's behavior is undoubltely worrying, it could mean a latent drugs problem.

However, there is neither an obvious warning sign of the beginning of a consumption of of an uncontested addcition, nor a plain hint that someone takes drugs.

Striking evidence such as an unaccountable decrease of school marks, small thefts or even repeated delinquent accounts do not necessarily make up the proof of a drugs consumption or addiction.

Such behavioral problems can also be linked to puberty or other short-term difficulties (for instance overtiredness or the end of a love affair).

The best way of knowing it consists in speaking at once with your child.