• Educate yourself on alcohol and the different types of drugs and other dangerous activities youths participate in.

• Take any opportunity —— like driving to school or watching TV together —— to talk to your kids and let them know what is important to you.

• Know what your kids are doing and who they are doing it with.

• Praise and reward good behavior.

• Monitour your child — Kids who are not watched by their parents are FOUR times more likely to use drugs.

• Try to be with your children between 3 to 6 p.m., the most critical time of the day for “latchkey” kids.

• Get to know other adults in your child’s life — teachers, coaches, friends’ parents.

• Know who is driving your child. 30% of students report that they’ve ridden one or more times in the last month with a driver who had been drinking.

• Respect your teen, give them privacy and space to be an individual.

• Know what users leave behind: small pieces of foil; a spoon, possibly burnt in appearance; empty cans of dustoff, or other aerosol can products; cutoff straws or rolled-up dollar bills; empty plastic bags lying around; or unexplained injuries or punctures on the body.

It is not always easy to tell if your child is using drugs because many signs and symptoms are common for youth. Some warning signs include:• Skipping classes or not doing well in school• Unusual odors on their clothes or in their room• Hostility or lack of cooperation• Physical changes (red eyes, dilated or constricted pupils, runny nose)• Borrowing money often or suddenly having extra cash• Lack of interest in activities• Change in friends• Increased secrecy about possessions or activities

• Availability of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in home, school, or community• Family history of the problem• Family management problems• Family conflict• Favorable parental attitudes and involvement in crime, alcohol and drugs• Problem behaviors• Alienation and rebelliousness• Friends who engage in the problem behavior• Lack of clear enforced policy on the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs• Lack of commitment to school

1 Establish and maintain good communication with your child2 Get involved in your child’s life3 Be a positive role model4. Monitor your child’s activities5 Teach your child to choose friends wisely6. Make clear rules and enforce them with consistency and appropriate consequences

2/3 of kids aged 13-17 say losing their parents’ respect and pride is one of the main reasons they don’t use drugs.