Concerned About Drugs?

If you find out or suspect your teenager is using drugs, don’t panic.

It is clear that parents cannot prevent teenagers having access to drugs. Research suggests that more than half of young people have tried cannabis by the time they are 18. However, fewer than 10% have experimented with 'hard' drugs and for most it is part of the rebellion and exploration of adolescence rather than a life choice.

Some tips for parents

• Accusing, arguing or threatening generally won’t help. Wait until a quiet time and say, “I’d like us to talk. I’m worried you might be using something. Will you tell me what’s happening?”.
• It helps to start talking with your children about drugs before they’re teenagers and to encourage their school to do so too. Check that the information is clear and adequate and that they have the opportunity to discuss and explore the issues.
• Whether or not your child uses drugs depends on a range of factors that parents can influence, such as their self esteem, your own attitudes to and use of drugs and alcohol, and opportunities.
• Many teenagers use drink and drugs because they think everyone else is doing it. Discuss this and rehearse with them ways of resisting pressure.
• Teenagers may start using drugs because of problems or anxieties that are overwhelming them. Get support on dealing with these issues by calling Parentline Plus, free, on tel: 023 8064 5900, or speaking to specialist agencies such as the National Drugs helpline on tel: 0800 77 66 00, Young Minds on tel: 0800 018 2138 or FRANK.
• Get drugs into perspective and learn about the different types and their effects. The FRANK website is a good place to start.
• Teenagers tend to live up, or down, to your expectations. The more positive, loving, respectful and affirming you are to them, the more they will respond and listen to you.
• Being the parent of a teenager is hard work. Allow time for yourself and don’t feel totally responsible for your children’s choices or well-being.

Useful websites

For the Winchester based drug and alcohol agency for young people see http://www.winremix.org.uk

Adfam - National organisation working with and for families affected by drugs and alcohol http://www.adfam.org.uk/

Parents Against Drug Abuse - National organisation that delivers support and services to the families of substance users http://www.pada.org.uk/

Families Anonymous - A world wide fellowship of relatives and friends of people involved in the abuse of mind-altering substances http://www.famanon.org.uk/

Young Minds - National charity committed to improving the mental health of children and young people http://www.youngminds.org.uk./

Frank - an independent government funded web site of information about drugs & alcohol http://www.talktofrank.com/home_html.aspx

Parentline Plus is a national charity that works for, and with, parents http://www.parentlineplus.org.uk/