Heroin. Ecstasy. Marijuana. Alcohol. These aren’t just things “bad kids” use in the movies. They are readily available temptations found in nearly every middle and high school cafeteria in the country. Your kids may not be using drugs or alcohol, but they have likely been or will be offered to try some before graduation day. It will be hard for even the “good kids” to say no.
Pressure from friends, influential social media posts, and genuine childlike curiosity could lead your son or daughter to try illegal substances. More than one-third of American teens admit to smoking pot. More than half have tried alcohol, and the average age they take their first sip is 14. One person dies in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes in the United States, and many of those deaths are kids.
Maybe your child is young still. Maybe they are one of the “good kids” you’d never expect to do drugs. Those feelings may lead you to avoid having a conversation about them with your teen. But trust us, kids are talking about it. They’re even texting about drugs using emojis! Do you know what they all mean? You can’t afford to not know.
The drugs themselves are bad for kids, but there are more threats to consider than just the physical. Studies have shown that the earlier kids begin using alcohol and drugs, the more likely they will engage in sexual activity, have suicidal thoughts, and experience alcohol dependency as an adult. Substance abuse brings on behavioral changes and underperformance in school, too.
No matter how old your child is, today is the right time to sit down and talk with them about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol. If you don’t know what to say, that’s all right. Check out this video from our Child Safety Series and get involved today.
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “What do the kids at school say about drugs and alcohol?”