Parents As Drug Educators

Susan, Janice and Laura attended the same school in a large town in Newfoundland. Because they were the same age and lived in the same part of town, they often walked back and forth to school together. One afternoon, while talking about last week's dance, they were approached by one of the boys in Susan's class, offering them a "toke."

None of the girls had tried marijuana before or for that matter had even been invited to try it. Each girl had a decision to make.

While being coaxed, a flood of thoughts raced through Janice's mind. She felt that she should have been ready for this, because her parents had been very interested in helping her make healthy choices when it came to drugs.

No amount of preparation will make this kind of situation a particularly easy one for young people like Janice. There are, however, several ways that her parents may have helped her - perhaps in ways she wasn't even aware of.

The most direct way is through actually teaching the child. Because many parents think of teaching as lecturing or preaching, they don't feel comfortable playing the part of a teacher. However, parents are more effective as teachers when, instead of lecturing, they share their ideas through conversation.

Sharing in this case also means taking the time to listen carefully to what the child is saying. This kind of "drug education" needs to occur in an atmosphere that is accepting and open to ideas. Parents should become informed about drugs through pamphlets and other materials enabling them to be able to pass on clear and accurate messages - for example - "Beer has alcohol in it and alcohol makes your body feel relaxed and lazy. So I only have a drink when I have nothing important to do and have time to enjoy myself. I never drink when I have to work or drive a car."

The most useful time to try sharing information is to use what is called a "teachable moment" when the topic arises naturally in the home. In most homes there are plenty of such occasions - for instance, when someone in the family is taking medication, or during a beer commercial on television.

A beer commercial for example, may allow an opportunity to question the message of the advertisement by suggesting, "they seem to be telling us that in order to be popular with others, we should drink their beer. What do you think?" Once again, it's important to remember that the "teaching" be an open exchange of ideas.

Of course, sharing views on healthy drug choices will take hold best when the parents actually show their children healthy attitudes towards drugs by the choices they make in their own lives - which brings us to a second way parents can influence their children - setting an example.

While it is less direct than sharing information and ideas with children, setting a healthy example, is considered to be an even more effective way to "educate" a child. Children watch adults very closely and learn many ways of acting by imitating their parents. So, the way in which a parent uses drugs (e.g. alcoholic beverages or prescribed drugs) is usually as powerful an influence as anything the parent may say about the topic.

If parents wish their child to learn caution and moderation with respect to drugs, the most promising way is to model that behaviour themselves. As a well known verse points out, "children learn what they live." If for example, a child lives with overdrinking at home, he/she may adopt a similar pattern of misuse.

While there are other ideas to consider, parents who arrange time to exchange views on drug use with their children while modelling healthy behaviour themselves are on the road to becoming effective drug educators.

For additional information, please contact one of the following Addictions Services Offices.