Last Updated on September 23, 2020 by Ellen Christian
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Are you struggling with how to talk to teens about drugs honestly? Kids today are a lot more street smart and aware than we give them credit for. While I regularly kid my son that he thinks I was born at the age of fifty, he knows better. There are times that I think he knows more than I wish he did, but there are also times when he thinks he knows more than he does.
How to Talk to Teens About Drugs
If you ask my son, he thinks he knows everything there is to know about drugs and alcohol. After all, he and his friends talk about it and see it discussed on social media and on television. But, not everything he knows is correct. I want to be certain that he understands the difference between myth and reality. Each year, there is a week-long observance that brings together teens and scientific experts to shatter myths about substance use and addiction. This year, it is happening January 23-29, 2017. The event is sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). They are both part of the National Institutes of Health. National Drug & Alcohol Facts WeekSM (NDAFW) was started in 2010 to counteract the myths about drugs and alcohol that teens often hear from the Internet, TV, movies, music, or friends. The number of SHATTER THE MYTHSTM,SM community-based events has grown dramatically. There were more than 2,000 held last January throughout all 50 states and several international sites. One of the resources used during this week-long event is the “National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge.” This is a 12-question multiple choice quiz that teens and adults can take to test their knowledge about drugs. Parents can take the IQ Challenge and use the results to start a conversation with their teen about drugs and alcohol.
What’s next?
You may think that you know everything there is to know about drugs already or that your kids do, but are you sure? I like to think that I’m a fairly educated parent, but I took this quiz, and I was surprised that I didn’t get all of the answers correct. Here’s a question that might stump you. Which illegal drug has a negative effect on the brain cells that defend your brain against infections? I got this one wrong. So if you don’t know what it is, don’t be too surprised. The answer is methamphetamines which are also known as meth, chalk, ice, and crystal. Understanding the difference between truth and myth will help you have an honest discussion with your child or teenager about drugs. Head over and see what you know about drug and alcohol facts by taking the National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge. Now that you know how to talk to teens about drugs, I hope you’ll sit down with them today and have the discussion. If you suspect that your child or teen has a problem with drugs or alcohol, I urge you to speak to a professional.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
Heading over to take the quiz! Facts shatter myths right? And how will I know what I don’t know unless I read and get informed. Thanks for the advice.
Glad to help, Shelley!