How to Prevent Teenage Drug Use

Education is an important tool in preventing your teen from using drugs. As a parent, you must take an active role in preventing your child from experimenting with these substances. This is especially important during transitional periods, such as a divorce, moving to a new city and going through puberty, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. By learning about the warning signs and how to deal with them, you can help keep your child away from drugs.

Instructions

    • 1

      Identify the risk factors. Consider your family's drug history, any aggressive behavior your teen exhibits, his level of self-esteem and his friends' drug usage when determining whether he falls into a high-risk category, suggests Mayo Clinic.

    • 2

      Ask your teen what she thinks of drugs. Avoid turning this into a lecture, as you should speak to your child like an adult learning about her views on the subject, Mayo Clinic recommends. Use the information she gives you, along with nonverbal clues, to determine the likelihood her using drugs.

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      Give him reasons to avoid drugs. Do not attempt to scare your teen away from drugs by using shock tactics, but rather give useful information for him to consider. Explain how drug use can affect grades, athletic performance and appearance, especially if it leads to a serious addiction.

    • 4

      Look at content in the media. Turn movies and television shows that depict drug use into an opportunity for discussion with your teen, Mayo Clinic recommends. Ask her opinion on the drug use in these films and give your own opinion, too.

    • 5

      Implement clear rules on drug use. Inform your teen that using drugs of any type is not permitted and that punishment will follow if he breaks these rules, suggests HealthyChildren.org.

    • 6

      Teach your teen how to say "No." Consider the different ways in which others will offer her drugs and come up with ways to for her to refuse, HealthyChildren.org suggests. Remember that peer pressure can influence teens greatly when developing these methods of refusal.

    • 7

      Avoid using drugs yourself. Make your child aware that you do not touch drugs because of their dangers. Remember that your actions will speak louder than your words, so set a good example for your teen.

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