Developing A Family Drug and Alcohol Policy

The survey also found that teens who have tried marijuana say their friends had the most influence over their decision. Teens who have chosen not to smoke pot say their parents influenced them the most. According to Joseph A Califano Jr., "Parents have more clout than they think. They should use it".

www.AtHome-DrugTest.com encourages parents to establish a "Family Drug and Alcohol Policy". Many parents have told us that this approach has really helped them open up the lines of communication with their children.

Based on this feedback, we present the following guidelines for your review and consideration in establishing your own Family Drug and Alcohol Policy.

1. Establish your family’s drug and alcohol policy when your children are in the 4th or 5th grade. However, if your children are older, apologize for the late start but still initiate a family drug and alcohol policy. It is never too late to provide your children with guidance when it comes to the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
2. Spend time learning the facts about drugs, alcohol and tobacco as well as the problems associated with their use. Many parents are not knowledgeable about today’s drugs and the effects they have on their children. You should be aware of the major issues before you have discussions with your children.
3. Let your children actively participate in the process. Start by asking questions to encourage them to tell you what they already know about drugs and alcohol. It is critical that you listen to what they are saying. If they mention something that you are not familiar with, have them explain it to you. Keep the conversation positive and focused on setting the policy. (If you learn some alarming facts about drug use at your child’s school or with their friends, do not get upset and storm off to action. You will have many opportunities in the future to get with school officials or neighborhood groups to correct the problem.)
4. Inform your children how you feel about drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Explain in detail the dangers involved with their use. Provide them with information on how to handle situations when they are exposed to drugs or alcohol. Encourage them to come to you anytime to talk about drugs and alcohol. Encourage them to research the subject on the Internet or in the local library and prepare a report for school.
5. Let your children know the consequences if any of the Family Drug and Alcohol Policies are broken (extra household chores, the loss or reduction of their allowance, restricted use of telephone and television privileges or eliminate perks such as the participation in extra curricular activities at school, the use of the automobile or the loss of financial help with college for older children).
6. Consider making random drug and alcohol testing part of the family policy. Letting your children know at an early age that they may be subject to random testing will make it easier in the future. Testing will not become an invasion of privacy issue but rather just one of the policies your children have previously agreed to. Random testing may also help them when confronted with drugs by their peers. It may be enough to relieve the peer pressure if your child, when tempted to experiment by their friends, can make a statement like: "My parents have this drug and alcohol policy which includes random testing at home, I just can not take any chances".
7. Document the major expectations and penalties. Make sure that everyone understands the issues; it will help to avoid problems in the future. Continue to have conversations with your children through their school years about drugs, alcohol and tobacco. This will serve to reinforce what you expect from them and allow for the opportunity to make any adjustments in your family’s policy that may be required as your children grow older.

Parents must provide children with knowledge and support when it comes to the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, otherwise they will learn from other sources. RapidCup.com supports parents in their fight against the use of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco. 

Click here to find more Parenting Tips: Advise on Drug and Alcohol Prevention in the Home

Back to Family Corner