How Do You Prevent Adolescent Substance Abuse?
Because of the social pressures and general confusion of the teenage years, some adolescents turn to substance abuse to relieve the confusion and pressure. While no method is foolproof, there are steps a parent can take to help prevent adolescent substance abuse in their children. Create a supportive and stable home environment for the adolescent child. Studies show that children are much more likely to have a substance abuse problem if there is divorce or violence in their home life. Talk to your children and make them feel comfortable enough to confide in you. Open lines of communication are essential in helping to prevent substance abuse because the abuse most likely is the result of another issue in your child’s life. If the child feels he can talk to you, it may alleviate some of the pressure in his life. Be a parent first and a friend second. Too many times parents want to be friends with their children and create a permissive environment that lacks proper boundaries. Therefore,
