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Can you believe we’re already heading into the second full week of 2014? The kids are probably back to school, work schedules are busy and everyone’s ready for a great year ahead.
Our team wants to help your family have a healthy, safe and fun year, free from substances like alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs and synthetic drugs, so we’ve compiled a few helpful tips for parents.
Jumpstart a Drug-Free 2014!
- Reflect on your year as a parent during 2013. Which moments stand out? Do any common family problems seem to have a recurring pattern? (Join our upcoming parent workshops for help with those!)
- Take advantage of education available to parents. We offer free community presentations, educational webinars and helpful drug prevention materials (including our "Drug Guide" and "Partnering with Families") to help parents prevent their kids from turning to drug or alcohol. (Don't miss the 45-minute webinars we're offering Tuesday, January 14, and Thursday, January 16, for a quick overview of the drugs in our kids' worlds and tips to prevent our kids from using!)
- Review your family policy. Are there outdated parts? Maybe it’s time to make changes to reflect upcoming milestones (such as a new driver in your household).
- Do something fun together for a family each week (not just car rides to and from activities). Research shows that families with strong connections have kids that are less likely to use drugs and alcohol.
- Think about which events or milestones might be happening for your family this year. While events such as prom, spring break vacations or freshmen year preparations are very exciting times, there are opportunities for these celebrations and transitions to be dangerous if drugs and alcohol are involved as a way to celebrate or cope. The good news is that parents can prepare and implement prevention techniques in advance!
