Talking to children about drugs and alcohol – What works?

One of the biggest fears for parents and carers is drug use amongst their children. In 2007 the NHS information centre found that 25% of pupils in England had reported using drugs at least once.

For concerned parents, its sometimes easy to focus on the quarter of young people reporting lifetime drug use, not the three quarters who have never tried it. Even for the majority of young people who report not using drugs its still an issue parents, carers and professionals must face, no matter how difficult and uncomfortable the conversation can potentially be.

Talk about it, but do it carefully......

Talking about any issue is always a good idea, a 'problem shared is a problems halved' has always been a positive piece of advice.

But often parents and professionals often feel un-empowered and lack confidence when discussing this issue, often feeling that their children know more than they do.

When talking to young people about drugs always consider the following:

Do

·                 Explain confidentiality

·                 Listen

·                 Use open questions

·                 Be informed

·                 Try to understand

·                 Empathise

·                 Focus on the person's needs not just the drug

·                 Be realistic

Dont

·                 Judge or criticise

·                 Condone illegal use

·                 Be entirely negative

·                 Jump to conclusions

·                 Overreact or get angry

·                 Be shocked

·                 Use slang terms that you are unsure of

·                 Talk it through while someone is intoxicated

You know more than you think......

Statistically, if your an adult and your reading this then you drink alcohol. Think about the reasons why you and most of the adult population use alcohol, go on make a list in your head. Done? Good, well it probably went something like:

1.relax

2.socialise

3.because of stress

4.enjoyment

5.peer pressure.

Now think about why young people use drugs, lets take cannabis for example, same again make a list in your head. Good, well it probably went something like:

1.relax

2.socialise

3.becaus......

You get the idea. We are not dealing with a subject which is as alien as we first thought, and the reasons for young peoples use is not always negative, the uncomfortable truth for many is that cannabis use is as much about relaxation and enjoyment as having an evening glass of wine.

I must stress the above is not an attempt to condone young peoples drug and alcohol use, far from it, it's about rationalising and discussing a difficult and challenging subject.

Further support

In a short article such as this we are limited in the advice that can be given, when drug and alcohol concerns do manifest one of the best ways to deal with them is to talk to a professional.

Across the country young person specific drug and alcohol agencies exist to provide effective advice, information and treatment for young people, local authority websites should have information on these local services.

In addition specialist providers of training and support exist to provide additional services to carers, parents and professionals.

The real message is if you need further support or don't feel comfortable call in a professional, you wouldn't try and build a house on your own would you?

Mark Bowles

www.thetrainingeffect.co.uk

Mark Bowles is founder of The Training Effect, a training and outsourcing company specialising in the public sector.