Young people, alcohol and drugs - Parent Easy Guide

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Parents can play a role in keeping young people safe from the risks of using alcohol and drugs. What young people see you doing and your attitudes towards alcohol and drugs strongly influence the decisions young people make. Their attitudes towards alcohol and drugs are formed well before their first experience of them.

It can also help to talk openly and honestly with young people from a young age, and help them learn to make good decisions and solve problems on their own. It is never too soon to start.

Learning to make good decisions

It is usual for young people to experiment, take risks and test limits. However, their brain is still developing its decision-making areas, and they often act from emotions and impulses and can make unsafe choices.

Parents can help young people learn to make good decisions in any situation, and to understand risk and the potential outcomes of their actions. This is more effective than telling them to 'Just Say No'.

You could:

• talk about various scenarios and the options people have. Coming up with safe and healthy solutions helps young people learn they have choices
• let children practise making safe choices for themselves from an early age. As they grow up and become better at this, you can extend the areas they can make their own choices
• acknowledge when children and young people make good decisions
• help them learn from mistakes. Learning what happens as a result of their choices is often more effective than telling them what to do.

Building your relationship

Building a strong, trusting relationship with your child can help prevent substance misuse as they get older.

Some ways to build your relationship are to:

• spend time with children, talking, playing, having fun
• tell them you love them
• be involved in their lives
• get to know their friends and make them welcome in your home
• show you are genuinely interested in what interests them
• notice their strengths and the good things they do, and tell them.

Supporting young people to make good decisions that keep themselves and others safe is an important part of preventing problems with alcohol and drugs.

Being well-informed

It is important to know the latest facts about alcohol and drugs and their impact on young people. It is an area where knowledge and understanding changes rapidly and it is easy to become out of date. Myths are common in our community, particularly about drugs and addiction. When your young person sees you as calm and balanced and a source of reliable information, it can be easier to have important conversations. Some places to find good information are at the end of this guide.

When young people see you as well-informed, and you talk in a calm and balanced way, it builds credibility and trust and makes conversations easier.

Talking with children

Talking openly and honestly about alcohol and drugs from an early age will help prepare children and young people to deal with things that might arise. Encouraging healthy attitudes, especially before they start high school, can help protect them from any unhealthy attitudes they encounter.

You could:

• start talking with children early, in ways that suit their age and development
• find out what they already know. Schools start introducing this topic in age-appropriate ways from a young age
• take opportunities as they arise to give accurate,balanced information
• use TV, movies or people you see affected by alcohol or drugs to have a conversation. Help children think about what they might do in that situation.

Talking with pre-teens and teens

As children get older:

• be approachable and unshockable. Listen to their ideas even if you don't agree
• try not to interrupt or react in ways that stop discussion. They might worry about telling you things you need to hear
• show them where to get accurate information from reliable sources
• help them think about:
• their safety. Young people can be vulnerable if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, involved in the drug culture or accessing drugs
• the impact on their lives if they break the law
• risks to their health and wellbeing
• work out together a family agreement about alcohol and drugs. Make it clear the agreement is about safety and wellbeing, not about spoiling their fun. Agree on the response if agreements are broken. Involving young people in coming up with solutions if agreements are broken is more effective than parents deciding and imposing penalties. Review the agreement together as they get older and develop skills and maturity
• make sure young people can get home safely when they go out. Have an emergency plan. For example, a pre-paid mobile phone to call you, or permission to take a taxi and you'll pay. If this happens often, talk with them about what else might be going on
• acknowledge responsible behaviour. Your young person may be able to stay out a bit later or have an extra night out
• encourage their involvement in a range of activities, sports and hobbies.

Peer groups

Peer groups are very important to young people. They want to feel 'normal', to 'fit in' and belong with those of their own age. However, peer group pressure can be overstated. Most young people decide to drink or take drugs without being pressured, forced or tricked. They may choose a peer group because of what the group is doing. For example, how they dress, the music they listen to, or whether or not they drink or take drugs.

Support young people to have a number of friendship groups. They will have a bigger network to connect with if one group starts drinking or using drugs.

Alcohol

Many people think that because alcohol is legal it must be less risky, and getting drunk is just part of becoming an adult. However, most harm to young people comes from using legal substances such as alcohol, tobacco and medicines. More are involved in violence, hospitalised or die from alcohol-related causes than from illegal drugs.

The impact of alcohol

Some impacts of alcohol on young people include:

• damage to their adolescent brain, particularly the part dealing with emotions, memory and decision-making. This can affect learning and problem-solving and contribute to developing mental health problems. Those under 15 years are especially at risk
• the harms caused by drinking to excess, binge-drinking, taking risks and doing things they might regret later
• contributing to the three main causes of teenage death - injury, homicide and suicide.

While there is much harm caused by drinking alcohol, studies over a number of years show a shift in drinking culture, with more young people abstaining from alcohol or delaying when they start to drink. This is a positive trend, however there are still a lot of young people drinking before the legal age of 18 years.

Drinking at home

The earlier young people start to drink, the greater the chance they will have problems with alcohol later in life. Some people believe that letting young people drink at home, supervised by parents, does no harm and will help them drink sensibly later. This is not the case. It is best to delay drinking for as long as possible.

Alcohol at underage parties

If you are hosting a party at home for your son or daughter, the law says you must not give alcohol to people under 18 years unless their parent or carer has given you permission.

This permission requires you to:

• personally supervise the young person
• not be intoxicated yourself
• not allow the young person to become intoxicated.

All adults, even an adult sibling, need the parent or carer's permission to supply alcohol to a minor and must provide responsible supervision. See SA liquor law reform for more information.

You are a role model for children and young people. Be prepared to look at your own use of alcohol, tobacco, medications and other drugs.

Drugs

Many parents worry about whether their son or daughter is using illegal drugs and what they should do about it. They worry about the harms of drugs such as cannabis, heroin, ecstasy, ice or speed (methamphetamine).

How will I know if they are using drugs?

There is no easy, sure way to tell if a young person is taking drugs. Parents who know their child well may notice changes and wonder whether it is a sign of drug use. It may be, but it is important not to jump to conclusions. There could be other causes, such as illness, problems at school or with friends, or the impact of things going on in your family.

Changes may include:

• unusual or out-of-character behaviour
• mood swings that are more than the usual ups and downs of hormonal changes in adolescence
• being aggressive
• being withdrawn or avoiding being with the family
• a drop in school work or attendance
• dropping out of activities or sports they usually enjoy
• an unexplained or sudden change to a new group of friends
• big changes in physical appearance
• eating problems
• changes in sleep patterns
• valuable items or money missing at home.

If any of these are happening, there may be something going on for your young person. They may need extra help and support.

Some young people use alcohol or drugs to help them cope with worries or mental health problems. If you think this may be happening it is important to get help. Doctors, counsellors or services in this Guide are good places to start.

Raising your concerns

If you are worried that your son or daughter might be using drugs, it is important to talk with them. How you handle these conversations will make a difference to how they respond.

Most young people will let you know what's happening if:

• you stay calm and don't accuse or blame
• they see you as caring and supportive
• you ask at the right time
• they're not afraid they will be punished.

It can help to:

• talk when you are both in a reasonable mood and alone together. For example, driving in the car, but not when you're in a hurry
• open up the subject in an easy way. For example, 'I've noticed you haven't been yourself lately. Are things OK for you?'
• make it easy for them to talk. Try talking about someone else you know. You might say, 'I was talking to a friend about her daughter using drugs. She was very worried. What do you think she should do?'

Sometimes a young person will test out parents by talking about a friend when they really mean themselves. Your response will be important to them.

What if they are using drugs?

If you find your young person has used, or is using drugs, remember blame is not helpful.

• Don't react immediately. Give yourself time to calm down and think through what's happening.
• Try to avoid strong reactions and big arguments that could harm your relationship.
• Tell them you're concerned about their wellbeing and you think they might be using drugs. Let them know you want to help.
• Give them a chance to tell you what's happening without interrupting or lecturing. Find out what drugs are being used, how often and where they are being used.
• The best way to find out what's happening is to ask them - that is, by talking rather than by 'detection'. Don't go behind their back and search for drugs. The loss of trust will be greater than the benefit of anything you might find out.
• Ask if they want to stop using drugs. Are they able to stop by themselves or do they need help? How can you support them?
• If they are an older teenager, and don't want to stop using drugs you may have to come to terms with the fact that they're making their own life choices. You still have the right to say they are not to use or be under the influence of drugs in your home. Let them know you love them but make sure expectations are clear.
• Some parents tell their young person to give up drugs or they'll have to leave home. If you say this, be sure it's what you really want. While your young person needs to accept the outcomes of their choices, it is also important they have somewhere safe to go.
• If their drug use brings them into contact with the legal system give them moral support but allow them to face the outcome of their choices. Rescuing them, for example paying their fines, could result in them continuing to use drugs.

Make sure young people have reliable and accurate information about drugs, as well as services that can help if they want to stop using them.

Getting help

It's OK to ask for help - you don't need to handle this alone. If your young person is still at school, teachers may be able to provide information about any issues they are having and suggest strategies to support them. Your doctor, a health professional or the services in this Guide are also good places to find information and support.

If you think someone has passed out from drug or alcohol use, put them on their side and phone 000 immediately for an ambulance. Don't hesitate. Paramedics do not need to involve the police.

Contact

See parent information and support.

Related parent easy guides

• Violence towards parents
• Young people and parties
• Young people, emotions and wellbeing