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Curious
Concerned
How can I begin to talk to my
  children about drugs?

Drugs in the home
Understanding the risks
Getting on their wavelength
I'm OK, you're OK
Your own drug use
How much trouble can they
  get into?

What are these drugs?
  Basic info


Very Concerned


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Drugs in the Home

Your home contains many potentially harmful substances:
medicines, aerosols, cleaning products, for example.
Some can be addictive or poisonous. Some are used as drugs by children.

What can you do?

  • Demonstrate responsible management of your own drug use
  • Agree on no-smoking areas in the house
  • Keep alcohol and medicines secure
Being aware of potential dangers is not being judgmental or over-protective. These are sensible precautions with potentially dangerous substances.

With young children (under 8’s)
  • Point out poisonous and harmful substances in the house so that they recognise them
  • Keep such substances out of reach and away from food
  • Explain how medicines (tablets and liquid) can have adverse effects, if taken incorrectly or by the wrong person
  • Encourage your child to ask about the food and drink they consume: what's in it, what’s good for them, what’s potentially harmful?
With older children (8-13)
  • Make sure they can distinguish between foods and poisons, medicines and drugs.
  • Explain the difference between illegal and legal drugs
  • Tell them the effects that drugs have on the body
  • Tell them that medicines are drugs but drugs aren't always medicines
  • Tell them of the dangers of unmarked containers and unknown substances
With young adults (14 plus)
  • Be aware of harmful but potentially inviting substances such as aerosols
  • Challenge any obvious movement or possible use of them
  • Have rules which you can all keep to e.g. on smoking or drinking in the house, or taking medicines

What to do next:

Learn more about the risks – Understanding the risks
Find out how to improve communications with your children – Getting on their wavelength
Find out more about the drugs themselves – What are these drugs? Basic info
Read more about the effects of drugs – What are these drugs? The detail
Read more about what the law says – Drugs and the Law
Find out how you can get help – Who else can help?

 
picture of mother smoking in the house