Drug Education Parent Booklet

6 WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE USE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL? An insight into the pressures young people face can give parents an understanding of the reasons young people may use drugs and alcohol. This can help in responding in a constructive way. Below are some of the reasons young people give for using drugs and alcohol as well as some ideas for the starting conservations 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 the effect 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?” ● Let them know that most young people don’t use drugs and alcohol. You could refer to the statistics on page 3 of this booklet to highlight that by not using drugs or alcohol, they are part of the majority. ● 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 you are available to talk about these problems. ● Make it clear that you want to assist them to get the support they need. “It gave me more confidence” ● Explore whether there are other less risky ways to improve confidence and self-esteem. ● Share similar experiences where you found it difficult in social situations and explain things you did to gain more confidence. “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 helping them stay safe and healthy is your priority.