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Help Children Avoid Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco

Children who are close to their parents are least likely to use tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.

Get Involved

• I will establish "together time" and make it part of my regular weekly routine for doing something special with my children.
• I will know where my children are going, whom they'll be with, and what they'll be doing. I will get to know their friends and their friends' parents.
• I will be there after school when my children get home or arrange for an adult to look in on them.
• We will spend time together as often as we can. Mealtimes are good times for families.

Learn to Communicate

• I will be absolutely clear with my children that I don't want them using drugs and will talk often about the dangers and results of drug and alcohol abuse.
• I will be a better listener, ask questions, encourage them, ask for their input, and not react in a way that will cut off further discussion.
• I will give honest answers, not make up answers if I don't know, and will offer to find out for them.

Walk the Walk

• I will be a role model, the person I want my child to be. I will show compassion, honesty, generosity, and openness.
• I know that there is no such thing as "do as I say, not as I do." If I take drugs, I can't expect my child not to.

Lay Down the Law

• I will create rules and discuss in advance the consequences of breaking them. I will avoid making empty threats or letting the rule-breaker off the hook. I will avoid harsh or unexpected new punishments.
• 1 will set a curfew when necessary and enforce it.
• I will have kids check in at regular times.
• 1 will call parents whose home is being used for a party and stop in to say hello to make sure that adults are supervising.
• I will let my children know they can leave a party where drugs are being used by calling me or another adult to pick them up.
• 1 will listen to my instincts.

Praise and Reward

• I will reward good behavior consistently and immediately, as well as express my love, appreciation and thanks.
• I will accentuate the positive, emphasize the things my children do right, and resist the urge to be critical.

1. Give Your Baby the Best Start in Life
2. Nurturing Your Child: Coping with a Crying Baby
3. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
4. Prevent and Stop Family Violence
5. Family Violence Hurts Children: Fast Facts
6. Help Children Avoid Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
7. Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome
8. Alternatives to Lashing Out at Your Child
9. Safety in the Game: Making Your Child the Top Priority
10. A Car is Not a Child's Toy
11. Keeping Kids Safe: Safety Where Children Are
12. Children and Water