Parents play an important role in raising children, modeling healthy behavior and providing an active support system for their children. Abuse among children involves taking legal and illegal drugs. Tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs, hallucinogens, designer drugs and marijuana are typical drugs of choice for children. Shaping attitudes toward drug use is the key to stopping it, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Significance
Children have abundant access to drugs. The Drug Policy Alliance notes that drugs are "readily available to America's high school students." Nearly 75 percent of high school students consume alcohol one or more times per year, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and nearly one in 10 has periods of depression, which are frequently linked to alcohol and drug use.
Considerations
The American Academy of Pediatrics states that "much of what children learn about drugs comes from parents." Nearly 25 U.S. States and the U.S. Virgin Islands have laws in place to protect children whose parents manufacture methamphetamine in home laboratories or expose their children to distribution or sale of illegal drugs. Studies confirm that illegal drug use or misuse of prescription drugs by parents, even in small quantities, establishes a tone and behavioral norm that a child incorporates into a personal lifestyle.
Time Frame
Younger children face greater risk for substance abuse in families where drug use may be modeled by parents or other siblings. Parents of young children can set a positive tone by helping them to develop communication skills as well as emotional balance and self-control. Youngsters also have problems with social problem-solving, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, which states that peer pressure impacts older children to fit in with the group and use drugs. Parents and guardians have the ability to intercede in drug use, especially in younger children, before the problem becomes significant. Older children without such a background lack assertiveness and communication skills, have trouble making friends and fail to understand the gravity of drug use, each a trigger for potential problems for parents and caregivers.
Prevention
Parental support is key to reducing the risk factors of drug abuse and preventing children from taking drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Prevention involves recognizing the risk factors and working as a family to increase bonds and relationships. Open communication between guardians and children is critical to family prevention. Parents and children need to deal with difficulties as a team. The institute also recommends that families openly discuss drugs, substance abuse and the dangers of taking drugs.
Expert Insight
The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions parents that parents' and caregivers' actions speak louder than words. Taking medications for minor illnesses or occasional aches, regular use of sleeping pills, smoking cigarettes, frequent drinking and joking about drinking encourage children to view drug abuse as an acceptable fact of life. Boasting about the amount of alcoholic beverages consumed, hosting or going to parties where people drink to excess, and drinking and driving also contribute to distorted views of drug use by children, according to the academy.
References
- Child Welfare Information Gateway: Parental Drug Use as Child Abuse: Summary of State Laws
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Substance Abuse Prevention
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Preventing Drug Abuse among Children and Adolescents
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: InfoFacts
