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This Article is From Our January 2012 Advice & Tips

Drug use, Why do kids start ?
From Our Parenting Class, Guiding Good Choices

The pain associated with the use and/or abuse of drugs by a child is a horrendous experience for both parent and child. By understanding some of the basics of why kids tend to use drugs, you can gain a head start in helping your children learn how to make good choices in life, especially when it comes to saying “No” to drugs.

Several Suggestions:

1. Studies show that drug users have low self-esteem; you should help your children learn to feel important and successful.
2. Children are more likely to say “No” to drugs if they feel loved and wanted.
3. Saying “No” to drugs is easier for children who feel a sense of belonging and acceptance at home and at school.

The Guiding Good Choices parenting class explores drug use in greater depth and why kids start using and how we can try to prevent drug use by our kids. The class also discusses when to start talking about drugs and how to teach kids refusal skills.

Refusal Skills taught in class follow five easy steps:

1. Ask questions
2. Name the trouble
3. Identify the consequences
4. Suggest an alternative
5. Move it, sell it and leave, but leave the door open

The class teaches parents how to teach refusal skills to their children. Our professional staff is eager to help parents learn how to talk to their kids about drugs and arm parents with the knowledge of how to teach their children to say “No” to drugs. For more information or just to talk about this subject call 443-735-kids or 410-632-1100

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For more information on current classes being offered or to learn more about stress, please call the Worcester County Health Department – Office of Prevention @ 410-632-0056