Calhoun County, AL – Frequent Conversations About Drugs is More Beneficial
Teaching kids about drugs does not have to turn into a big thing. Frequent conversations and lots of little talks go a long way. These are meaningful conversations to have before they go back to school. Amid the opioid epidemic, it’s critical to have good information.
Social media platforms make it easy to access illegal drugs and have them delivered to your doorstep. Unfortunately, knowing what these drugs could be laced with is impossible. Talks about drugs and alcohol should include peer pressure, safe internet use, and fentanyl.
Alabama has experienced an alarming increase in the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths. From 2019 to 2020, fentanyl-related deaths increased from 193 to 428.
There are excellent resources available, like the Parent’s Guide to Fentanyl, and many others, to help prepare youth before they go back to school. Additionally, consider some of the following tips when speaking about drugs and alcohol:
- Have lots of little talks rather than one big talk. Frequent conversations help to build trust and strong communication. It also makes it much easier to speak about these topics when the conversations happen more often.
- Make your views and rules about drugs and alcohol clear and concise, and set boundaries. Yet, avoid lecturing, threatening, or using scare tactics.
- Listen to their opinions and answer their questions; the conversation goes both ways. Ask them what they know about drugs and fentanyl.
- Be a reliable source of factual information and look up information together. There are plenty of resources available.
- Be prepared to share personal experiences and help them become ready to manage peer pressure. Rehearse scenarios they may come across.
In addition, it’s a good idea to speak about online safety and using social media safely, such as not giving out personal information.
There are excellent social media tips and information to help parents. Everything is available on the internet. Online drug dealers often target teens because of their frequency of use on social media.
These conversations go a long way in helping young people make responsible choices, avoid bad situations, and stay informed about the real dangers associated with fentanyl and other opioids.
Marcel Gemme – Founder/CEO: SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education
Nonprofit #: 23090107
Marcel Gemme has been helping people struggling with substance use for over 20 years, most recently with the creation of SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education. He focuses on a threefold approach in his work that includes education, prevention, and rehabilitation.
