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Back to school prep should include a refresher on healthy life choices

Fear tactics don含羞草研究社檛 prevent drug use, but open communication can
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Set your kids up for success in all areas of their lives this school year!

含羞草研究社淪tudies show alcohol experimentation starts and cannabis exposure is starting ,含羞草研究社 says Chantal Vallerand, Executive Director at Drug Free Kids Canada. 含羞草研究社淭hat can be hard to read, but it含羞草研究社檚 not all bad news. Studies also show that parents are for young teens and even young adults. That means you have a lot of sway with your kids and how they navigate their teen years.含羞草研究社

Set your kids up for success this fall by creating an open dialogue around drug and alcohol use. Creating a safe environment for kids and teens to ask tough questions is one of the best ways to help them make healthy choices this school year.

around substance use should start long before the teen years, Vallerand says.

含羞草研究社淪tart healthy habits early by teaching toddlers that while vitamins and medicine taste good and are an important part of keeping them healthy, they can also make them sick if taken without permission from you,含羞草研究社 Vallerand says.

By the time kids are entering kindergarten they should be able to identify dangerous household products.

含羞草研究社淲hen talking about the packaging labels with images like 含羞草研究社榝ire hazard含羞草研究社, 含羞草研究社榩oisonous含羞草研究社, 含羞草研究社榗orrosive含羞草研究社, or 含羞草研究社榚xplosive含羞草研究社, try using words like 含羞草研究社榟urt含羞草研究社,含羞草研究社檅urn含羞草研究社, or 含羞草研究社榮ting含羞草研究社 so they know what those labels mean,含羞草研究社 Vallerand says. 含羞草研究社淎lso be sure to place harmful products and all medicines somewhere safe, so they can含羞草研究社檛 be accessed by young children.含羞草研究社

Parents and caregivers can start more honest and fact-based communication by age nine.

含羞草研究社淲hen starting more serious conversations remember that fear tactics generally don含羞草研究社檛 work,含羞草研究社 Vallerand says. 含羞草研究社, keep conversations light and casual. The goal is to create a safe environment around these topics so they feel comfortable coming back to you with future questions.含羞草研究社

Create a substance use prevention plan

含羞草研究社淪ubstance use is often masking underlying struggles with healthy coping mechanisms,含羞草研究社 Vallerand says. 含羞草研究社淎 good prevention plan should include helping your teen find healthy coping mechanisms for stress. If your teen is showing signs of struggling with their mental health, consider getting them sooner rather then later.含羞草研究社

Research shows that who admitted to having used over-the-counter medication without a prescription say they got them from home, as a direct result of parents and guardians not securing medications. A amongst youth is that pills from home are safer than street drugs.

含羞草研究社淩emind your teens that all types of over-the-counter medication, including pain medication, prescription medication and natural medication are dangerous when used improperly,含羞草研究社 Vallerand says. 含羞草研究社淜eep it secured safely in your home at all times and return any unused or expired medication to your local pharmacy含羞草研究社

Parent and youth support

Educate yourself so you含羞草研究社檙e prepared to answer questions your kids have about drugs and alcohol. Get the information you need to educate and support your child online at .

Concerned your child might be experimenting already? Find support by phone at 1-866-381-1511 or through live chat . Drug Free Kids Canada含羞草研究社檚 is available 24/7 offering answers to all of your questions and concerns.

For more information visit and follow them on , and for additional support and resources.



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