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DrugsYou must make your own decisions about drugs, but hopefully the information here will help you...
Education about drugs.Educating children about the dangers of drugs is not always easy. What is the right approach? Is it best to be open and up-front about it, or to hope that if you do not mention them then your children will not become involved? There is no right answer as each approach will be different for different people.However, the general consensus of opinion is that it is best to be honest about drugs. Be sensible as a parent with regard to the drugs you take yourselves. For example, if you take prescribed sleeping tablets and your children see you take them, then it may be best to explain why you are taking them. Children will follow your example and if they get the impression that it is acceptable to take them, even if they are prescribed ones, then you could be setting a bad example. Drink and smoking are other areas that you need to take care with.
Where can young people get drugs?Most young people start trying drugs in their teenage years. Most of the time they get their drugs from friends, so being aware of the signs of influence could help to avert a potential problem (See also ed-u.com's advice on bullying because sometimes young people can be bullied into taking drugs against their will).Legal drugs such as solvents are of course much harder to control. Again, good practice at home goes a long way to reducing the risk of your child experimenting with these substances.
So how can a parent identify signs of drug taking?There is not usually a clear indication that someone is taking drugs, especially if use is infrequent. However, there are some signs that could indicate possible use, but you need to be careful not to assume that this is because of a drugs problem.Signs of drug taking could be:
Why do young people take drugs in the first place?There are lots of reasons why people take drugs. The old saying of "prevention is better than cure" is very appropriate here. If young people can be prevented from taking drugs in the first place then it is considerably easier to deal with.
Some examples of why young people take drugs are:They just thought it would be exciting to do. Certainly, there is often he perception that taking some drugs is a more grown-up activity. Smoking is another area where young people are very impressionable and it is the same with drugs. If you do have cause to talk to the young person about taking drugs then try to give them very good factual reasons why they should not take them, such as it can lead to very serious illness.Escapism. Some young people start taking drugs as away of getting away from every day problems. These problems could be being lonely, unhappy, having problems at home, abuse or bullying. It is important to try to make them realise that the drugs are not actually providing a solution. Also, try to deal with the cause of the problem in the first place. If, for example, the young person is being bullied into taking drugs, then try to deal with the bullying which would hopefully remove the root of the problem. Experimenting. Some young people will try drugs just to see what they are like. In this case it is important to try to remain supportive, no matter how difficult this may be to do. Sometimes, if you over-react it could make the young person realise that it is a good way of getting attention and could even make the situation worse. You will need to use your own judgement here. Parent's NoteIf your child is taking drugs it is highly unlikely that they will be willing to discuss it with you. This does not mean, however, that they do not feel worried about what they are doing and may actually want support. There are lots of reasons why they may be taking drugs and many things they are worried about it such as:
Drugs and the Law.Sentences for selling and supplying drugs are very severe. Persons under ten years old cannot be convicted of an offence. However, selling and supplying drugs is against the Misuse of Drugs Act and carries heavy penalties. Persons under seventeen years old are usually dealt with by a juvenile court. Maximum penalties for those persons over eighteen years old are life imprisonment.
Types of drugs.There are many different types of drugs and they can vary in their affects. Below is a list of the main ones but the most important thing is not necessarily to know a lot about drugs, but to be aware of the dangers of them and where help can be sought.Main drug types:Illicit drugs - Country profile: Transnational IssuesAfghanistan:
Albania:
Angola:
Antigua and Barbuda:
Argentina:
Armenia:
Aruba:
Australia:
Austria:
Azerbaijan:
Bahamas, The:
Bangladesh:
Barbados:
Belarus:
Belgium:
Belize:
Benin:
Bolivia:
Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Brazil:
Bulgaria:
Burma:
Cambodia:
Canada:
Cape Verde:
Cayman Islands:
Chile:
China:
Colombia:
Congo, Democratic Republic of the:
Costa Rica:
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