The very idea alone of your child using drugs is frightening, and parents often feel helpless and ill-equipped to deal with it. Cathy Karassellos, Clinical Psychologist at Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre Atlantis gives the following constructive steps parents can take:
1. Listen to each other and encourage open communication in the family.
2. Educate the family about the effects and risks of using drugs, and what resources are available.
3. Choose wisely about your own use of substances, eg alcohol, medication.
4. Take an interest, ensure you always know where tour child is, who they’re with and that they are well supervised.
5. Discuss substance use in an honest, caring environment, where children feel free to share the pressures they face.
6. Set clear boundaries on behaviour.
7. Be consistent in applying consequences if limits are broken.
8. Offer understanding and unstinting emotional support to your child.
9. Monitor yourself, being aware of how you may be making it easier for problems to continue, eg by not following up if their behaviour seems unusual.
10. Get support if you are concerned there may be a problem – know where to get help and don’t be afraid to ask.
