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Goals/Objectives
Instructional Procedure
Focusing Event/Ice Breaker
See suggestions in Ice Breaker page
Teaching Procedure
Assess level of awareness concerning topic.
What have they heard about drug abuse in their area? What are some of their concerns? What are some ideas to keep their children off of drugs?
Facilitate discussion and participation.
Allow each person to talk without interruption. Make sure that attitudes are non-judgmental. Allow plenty of time for questions.
Drug Prevention By Age
Preschool
Help child develop problem solving skills, including choices about clothes to wear, and games they can play.
Praise them often for good behavior, and use consistent discipline when they misbehave.
It is important that they learn to tell right from wrong. This will help them to make the right decisions later.
At this age children think that anything not corrected is right.
Never call a child names, or tell them they are stupid.
Use positive discipline (see the Magic List)
If a child develops self-confidence at an early age they will be better able to resist their peers later on.
Elementary School
Teach your children that there are good and bad people in the world. Some people will want them to eat or drink things that are bad for them.
Tell your child that it is OK for them to talk to you about problems, even if someone has told them that it is a "secret."
Listen to your child, and try not to be judgmental.
Teach your children to say, "NO."
Tell them that it is OK not to talk to strangers, and teach them to tell you or a teacher if anyone tries to give them drugs.
Find out what programs your school offers to help children to stay off of drugs, like DARE.
Do not wait to teach your children about drugs, and do not lie to your children about drugs. Your children will find out about drugs somewhere, and it is better if they hear about them from you. If you lie to them, they will find out, and you will lose their trust.
Middle School
Involve your children in activities like DARE, or Boy and Girl Scouts
Find activities that increase self-esteem, like team sports.
Be available for your child to ask questions, and answer them truthfully.
Be aware of who your child's friends are.
Children at this age like to form "clubs." Be interested in your child's clubs, and find out what goes on in them.
If there is no one at home when your child gets home from school, see if there is someplace else they can go where they will be supervised. Churches and other organizations offer after-school care.
Junior High
This is the age when most children are exposed to drugs.
They can get drugs from many sources, including friends or older children.
Most children are curious about drugs, but don't want to try them.
If they ask you questions about drugs, answer honestly, but do not threaten or blame your child.
Be honest about your fears and feelings when you talk to your child.
High School
By the time a child gets to high school it is too late to talk to them about drugs. They have already been exposed, and probably know peers that use drugs.
Parents have much less influence over their children than peers do.
They have seen how some kids can take drugs and seem to be OK, so they think that the scary stories that they have heard are not true.
Teens want to fit in and be cool, so it is important that they have groups in their lives that do not use drugs.
Be involved in your teen's life. Know who their friends are, and what they like to do. Know where your children are, especially at night. Check up on how they are doing at school, and if they are having problems.
Boredom is a major reason that children use drugs.
At Any Age
Be consistent when disciplining your child.
Your child needs to be involved in increasing numbers of activities as the years go by. Find out what they like to do, don't involve them in something just because it is easiest for you.
Your child needs to excel at something: school, sports, music, church activities. Help them to find something, and encourage them.
Be honest with your child. It is very difficult to regain trust once it is lost.
Most children progress from smoking to drinking to drugs.
Most children first get cigarettes and alcohol from family members. They take them from what is around the house.
If a child lives in a house where a parent is doing drugs, it is very likely that they will start to do drugs too.
If you do drugs, how will your child be able to believe you when you tell them drugs are bad.
If you drink, do so in moderation. Explain to your child that they will have to make decisions about drinking when they are older, but right now it is not OK for them to drink.
If you think that your child has a problem with drugs or alcohol, get help.
If you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, get help.
Some places that can help you
American Council for Drug Education- 1-800-488-DRUG National Institute on Drug Abuse- 1-800-622-HELP
Dallas Inter-Group Association of Alcoholics Anonymous- 214-239-4599
Narcotics Abuse 24 Hour Help Line and Treatment- 1-800-234-0420
FORMATIVE CHECK/PARTICIPATION
Drug Abuse
Using the phone book each member of the group will find a number for an organization that they think could help them with drug prevention. As a homework assignment they will call that number and ask them if they have drug abuse prevention programs for children. The group members will report back to the group next week.
Have group members role-play with other group members. Have them pretend to talk about drug abuse prevention to children of different ages.
CRITICAL CONCEPTS
It is important to start talking to your children about drugs at an early age. Children are being exposed to drugs at a younger and younger age.
Be consistent in discipline and honest when dealing with your child. It is very difficult to regain trust once it has been lost. Children will do what you do, not what you say. Your child needs things to master. Help them to find something to be good at. Help to build their self-esteem. A good self-esteem will give them the strength they need to help them resist taking drugs. CLOSURE
Have plenty of time for questions and answers. Allow the members to approach you in private. Read an uplifting story or quote.