How should I respond if my teenager asks me whether or not I ve ever used drugs?
Although parents may feel uncomfortable being asked this question by their child(ren), it provides families with an excellent opportunity to discuss alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. If the answer is “I never used,” it is important to encourage conversation about what issues and decisions your child is currently facing that may have prompted him/her to ask you about your past use. It is also a good time to discuss family position, rules and consequences relating to substance use. If, however, you did use drugs in the past, it does not mean that you are hypocritical to expect your child to abstain from using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. An analogous example might be the use of seatbelts: many adults grew up without using seatbelts, yet expect their children to buckle-up every time they get in a car because there is evidence that it reduces a person s risk of harm. Few parents feel hypocritical asking their child to “do as I say, not as I did (as a teen)” in this situation becaus
