How to Prevent Drug Use
Drugs are a problem everyone is aware of, with frequent discussions on TV and plenty of information available. The drug problem is getting worse every day. Despite the horrific consequences and the fact that drug use leads to addiction, some people still fall into this harmful dependency. This happens most often during adolescence, when hormonal changes are intense. During this period, teenagers are emotionally unstable and can easily be persuaded to try synthetic drugs, often believing they are harmless. After overcoming their initial fear, teens may try increasingly dangerous types of drugs.Adolescence is a time filled with strong emotions and a desire for new experiences. If teenagers face stressful situations such as misunderstanding from parents, unrequited love, conflicts with peers, and other challenges, the risk of drug addiction increases significantly.
Why do people use drugs? Drugs can create an illusion of harmony or indifference, by stimulating the production of pleasure hormones. This traps users, creating a so-called "high" and providing an escape from reality.
Of course, not all teenagers rush to take drugs; certain conditions must be present, and these are not always linked to poverty. Affluent families face this problem too. Therefore, parents must be vigilant to protect their children from this life-destroying misfortune.
Situations that may lead teenagers to consider "trying drugs":
- Over-controlling parents. Teens naturally seek independence. If parents control their every move and don't allow self-expression, it causes stress. A teenager may rebel by doing forbidden things just to prove they are grown up and capable of making their own decisions.
- Permissiveness is the opposite extreme. The teenager does whatever they want, with no guidance or correction, which can be especially problematic in wealthy families where teens have easy access to money. In this context, trying drugs becomes a "game" to them.
- Dysfunctional families. In families with alcohol abuse or frequent arguments, children may seek out forbidden experiences—like drugs—to escape and feel temporary joy and calm.
- Single-parent families. If a child grows up with a single mother unable to provide adequate attention or mature love, the child may feel neglected. The mother may be distracted by personal relationship issues, leaving the teenager feeling constant tension and eventually seeking relaxation elsewhere.
- Parents being too busy. This issue affects all social classes. Some parents are so occupied with work they forget about their children, leaving them with relatives or nannies, who may not provide the necessary love and understanding.
- Using drugs to improve school performance. This is a modern problem where teens use psychotropic substances to boost memory and concentration. Wrong dosages can lead to both substance and psychological addiction.
- Bad company. Teens who feel inadequate among their peers may try to fit in with asocial or aggressive groups. To gain acceptance, they may try anything—including drugs—not out of desire, but imitation and peer approval.
- The promise of bliss. Drug dealers may lure teens at parties by offering a single "free try," especially when alcohol is present. Under the influence, teens are more likely to experiment, mistakenly thinking one time won’t hurt.
- Escaping reality. Teens struggling with internal crises, heartbreak, or poor communication with parents may seek ways to escape emotional pain. If a dealer crosses their path, they may succumb to the temptation.
- Coercion into drug use. In some dangerous environments, a drug dealer might force a teenager to use drugs and later recruit them as a dealer. This is especially common in high-risk areas.
Advice:
As shown above, a wide variety of internal and external factors can lead a teenager to drug addiction. To help prevent drug abuse in your family, take our unique Parenting Mentor Test. The results will help you understand your child's risk factors and what steps you can take to protect them.
Fortunately, drugs are still less common than smoking. Everyone knows drugs cause addiction and irreversible physical and psychological harm. Furthermore, drug use and distribution are illegal, and most teenagers fear these consequences.
It is often mentally unstable individuals who turn to drugs as an escape from life’s hardships. Teenagers, like adults, can struggle to cope with difficulties.
How to raise a teenager who won’t even consider using drugs?
- Show understanding! Every teenager needs understanding. They face internal conflicts and need to know you will listen without judgment or ridicule, even if their worries seem silly to you. If your child feels understood, their anxiety will diminish significantly.
- Encourage strength of character! Children should not be raised to be weak. Healthy disagreements are natural in any family; let your child express disagreement—even if you’re wrong sometimes. Disagreements should be handled intellectually, not emotionally, allowing all sides to express themselves calmly.
- Demonstrate your love through actions! Children should feel truly loved for who they are, not just hear it said. Express love through actions: a mother’s care, occasional help tidying their room, or a father’s involvement in activities such as hiking, fishing, or attending important events like their sports games. This “love in action” is especially meaningful for teenagers.
- Prioritize communication! Always make time to talk when your child reaches out to you. Have both serious conversations and casual chats. For instance, after a movie, ask your son or daughter how they liked it and what they thought. Seek their opinion, but don’t force communication or they may withdraw emotionally.
- Provide essentials! All parents have a responsibility to provide housing, food, and clothing. Even those in lower socioeconomic situations can raise strong-willed, decent children. While financial status isn’t the key factor for drug issues, your child shouldn’t go hungry or wear torn clothes. Help reduce their anxieties by providing affordable, nice clothing so they don’t feel inferior to peers.
- Lead by example! If you want your child to grow up well-adjusted and avoid drugs, be a role model yourself. Constantly strive to improve yourself—children learn from their parents first.