Illegal Drugs - Parent Booklet

6 why do young people use drugs ? If parents have an insight to the pressures young people face, they may better be able to understand some of the reasons behind why young people use drugs and help them to respond in a constructive way. Below are some of the reasons young people give for using drugs and ideas for starting conversations with them: “Someone had some and I just thought I’d try it” - Ask if they knew what they were taking and discuss the effects of that particular drug; - Ask whether it was what they expected, and talk about the risks of continued use; - Try and find out if they felt pressured, and if so, discuss ways to handle similar situations in the future. “I always wanted to try that stuff” - Ask what made that particular drug appealing, and what they expected to get from it; - If they are happy to talk, you could discuss whether they have tried other drugs, and if so, why. “All my friends were doing it so I thought why not?” - Ask if they felt safe because their friends were using it; - Ask why they thought their friends used the drug; - It’s useful to discuss the importance of being able to make their own choices, even if these choices are different from those of their friends. “It made me feel really good” - Find out how they have been feeling in general, as this may be a good time to offer help and to find out if there is anything else going on, or if they want to talk about another issue; - Talk about less risky and healthier ways of feeling good. “All my problems from school, at home and in life just went away” -Let them know that you’d like to talk about any problems and discuss how to make things better; -Discuss whether the problems returned after the effects of the drug wore off and highlight that using only makes the problems disappear for a while; -Make it clear that you want to work together to find a better way of solving their problems. “It gave me more confidence” - Let them know that they don’t need drugs to be more confident; - Share similar experiences where you found it difficult in social situations and explain things you did to gain more confidence; - Consider ways in which you can help improve their confidence and self-esteem. “Well, you used drugs” - Be prepared for this type of response if this statement applies to you; - Acknowledge the dangers of illegal drugs and that you would think differently now about the choices you’ve made. “I don’t want to talk about it” - If they don’t want to discuss their use with you, offer to help them find someone else to talk to; - Reassure them that what you want is what is best for them and understand if they would prefer to speak to someone else outside of the situation.