Parents play key role in prevention

To the editor:
Families strive to find the best ways to raise their children to live happy, healthy and productive lives.
Parents are often concerned about whether their children will start or are already using drugs such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and others, including the abuse of prescription drugs. Research supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has shown the important role that parents play in preventing their children from starting to use drugs.
•Communication. Good communication between parents and children is the foundation of strong family relationships. Developing good communication skills helps parents catch problems early, support positive behavior and stay aware of what is happening in their children’s lives.
•Encouragement. Encouragement is the key to building confidence and a strong sense of self and helps parents to promote cooperation and reduce conflict. Many successful people remember the encouragement of a parent, teacher or other adult. Consistent encouragement helps youth feel good about themselves and gives them confidence to try new activities, tackle difficult tasks, develop new friendships and explore their creativity.
•Negotiation. Negotiating solutions offers parents a way to work together to solve problems, make changes, promote and improve cooperation and teach youth how to focus on solutions rather than problems, think through possible outcomes of a behavior and develop communication skills.
•Setting Limits. Setting limits helps parents teach self-control and responsibility, show caring and provide safe boundaries. It also provides youth with guidelines and teaches them the importance of following rules. This is a two-step process of setting rules and then following up. Testing limits is a natural part of growing up, but it presents a special challenge for parents. Often the first reaction may come from fear for a child’s safety, or anger at being disobeyed. Establish appropriate consequences when youth break rules. Youth may get angry, act out or become angry when parents enforce consequences. This is part of the child testing the parent and their limits. Don’t react; be consistent with the rules, and follow-up.
•Supervision. Supervision is the centerpiece of effective parenting during childhood. When youth begin to spend more time away from home, monitoring their behavior and whereabouts is challenging. Supervision helps parents recognize developing problems, promote safety and stay involved. Have clear rules and regular communication, check up on the child and be consistent. Know the child’s schedule, call at varying times, have the child check-in, surprise the child with a random visit/call and remain in communication with adults who regularly interact with the child.
•Knowing your child’s friends. Childhood is a period of major growth and change. Youth tend to be uncertain about themselves and how they “fit in,” and at times they can feel overwhelmed by a need to please and impress their friends. These feelings can leave children open to peer pressure. Knowing your child’s friends and peers helps parents improve communication, reduce conflict and teach responsibility. Help children see what qualities they should value in friends — such as honesty, school involvement and respect.
Kristi Henry
Jay County Hospital
On behalf of Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition