Page 5 - Talking with young people about alcohol and other drugs - DEN + ALDAF 2019

Drug Education for Find accurate Set rules and Drug Education for
Young Children information safety plans Older Children

It can be difficult to talk together
For young children, drug education is about setting about alcohol and other When raising young For older children from
the foundations for resilience, self-esteem, and drugs when you’re not people, it’s important to about 8 years of age,
making choices. This kind of preventative education feeling confident about set rules and boundaries. drug education is about
can begin as early as preschool. your own knowledge. Talk to your young person continuing to build the
You don’t need to be an about the rules you need life skills they will need as
expert, but it helps to know
Medicines and safety. Young children can begin where to find accurate to set and why you set adults, and giving them the
learning about drugs in the form of medicines. Talk information and to brush them. If you talk with opportunity to think about
about: up on topics that you feel your young person about and practise keeping
the reasons and allow
• When they can take medicine (with a parent’s unsure about. them to help set fair themselves safe around
help, when the doctor says) Some great sources of consequences for broken alcohol and other drugs.
You can begin introducing
• Where medicines are stored (high and out of information are on the rules, they are more likely basic facts about alcohol
reach) back of this pamphlet. to feel ownership over and other drugs.
• What to do if they find medicine (don’t take it, them and then be more
tell an adult) likely to understand and Talk about safety plans. Have young people describe
follow them. Make sure
• What to do if they feel unwell (talk to an adult, you help them develop and practise plans that can be used if they find
have a rest, drink some water) Chatting ways to get out of sticky themselves in a situation involving alcohol and other
drugs that makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
• What a poison label looks like and what it means situations and let them
tips know you’re there to Practise safe choice strategies they can use as they
get older.
Relationships. Learning good social behaviours help.
and developing strong relationships are protective Talk about the basic facts. Continue talking
factors for young children. about medicines, including the responsible use of
Discuss the good Continue to over-the-counter medications, and start talking
Practise taking turns, and the bad about other drugs: legal (e.g. alcohol, caffeine,
waiting patiently, chat over tobacco, paracetamol) and illegal (e.g. cannabis,
asking permission, It’s tempting to only talk time party pills). Talk about some facts; where these
about the bad side of
learning about alcohol and other drugs, drugs come from and what they do in the body.
differences and but that’s only one side of
celebrating what the story. People use drugs Explain your Drug Education for
makes your child for many reasons. Young beliefs
special and unique. people will recognise this Young people Young Adults
Talk about healthy and want to hear both instinctively look to their For teenagers and young adults, drug education
choices. sides. parents for guidance involves helping them make informed choices,
If a young person on how the world works providing reassurance, and continuing to build
Choices. Give your young child practice with understands why and how to be a good resilience and skills they will take into adulthood.
decision making by giving age-appropriate, simple someone might want adult. Take the time to
choices and talk about each one, e.g. why they to use drugs, they will explain your beliefs and Keep communication open, and start talking about
made certain choices, the consequences of their be better equipped to how you feel, and share values – your own, the values of your young person,
choices, and the risks that might impact their choice. understand their own the evidence that you and values that friends and other family members
desires and think critically look to, and talk with might have.
about what they perceive your young person about
as the benefits and risks. what they think.