Youths against Drugs and Substance Abuse
Bethel Pentecostal Church has delivered workshops to help you improve your knowledge and awareness about drugs and alcohol.
Please come along to our Drug Awareness Workshop specially designed for young people and parents.
The workshops aims to:
- Provide relevant, up-to-date information about alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and legal highs in a safe and familiar environment
- Offer strategies for parents to have open conversations with their children about drug and alcohol misuse.
- Promote ways parents can help children make positive, healthy choices
As well as a practical presentation and informal learning activities, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and find out where to go for more information and support.
Drug and Alcohol Information for Parents and Carers
The importance of drug education Whilst drug and alcohol education is an important part of the school curriculum, to be really effective children need to learn at home too. This leaflet provides some key facts on alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and New Psychoactive Substances (the group of drugs formerly known as ‘legal highs’), tips on how to talk about this sensitive subject and details of where to go for more information and support.
How should I talk to my child? You don’t need to be a drugs expert to help your child learn the skills to make healthy choices. Worries about getting it wrong, not saying the right thing and not knowing enough can make it easier to say nothing, but it is important to keep talking. Starting early and encouraging conversations makes it more likely that your child will come to you if there is a problem
Do start the conversation early so that children learn to speak openly. Don’t save things up to have one ‘big talk’. Do take the opportunity to have everyday conversations. Use social media, news, TV etc as a prompt. Don’t use threats or scare tactics; the evidence is they don’t work. Don’t present your opinions as facts. Only give correct information and if you don’t know, say. Do set clear rules and boundaries. Your child should know your expectations. Don’t be confrontational. Explain your point of view and listen to theirs. Do take the opportunity to learn together, starting with the websites suggested on this info sheet.
Young people drink or take drugs for lots of different reasons including curiosity, boredom and wanting to fit in as well as to gain any perceived benefits. Research shows that parents can help reduce the risk by providing a positive role model at home and reinforcing the fact that not all young people try drugs. Make sure you know the basic facts about drugs and alcohol and where to go for advice and support in Tameside. · Get to know your child’s friendship groups and their parents · Encourage out of school hobbies, clubs and activities · Encourage independence and a sense of personal responsibility for choices made · Place limits, expectations and consequences on behaviour
All drugs carry risks. In young people, who are not yet fully grown, the effects can be especially unpredictable and dangerous. The human brain begins to develop in the womb but is not fully formed until well into adulthood and early drug misuse can impact on growth and development. As well as risks to physical and mental health, intoxication increases the risk of accidents, arguments and fights. Teenagers are also more likely to engage in unprotected sex, which can lead to early pregnancy and the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Any of these
Potential indicators of substance misuse: · Loss of interest in sports or favourite activities · Lack of interest in appearance or personal hygiene · Dramatic mood swings, excessive tiredness, lethargy, changes in appetite · Sudden changes in established friendship groups · Taking time off school · Dilated pupils, red eyes, bad skin · Spending, stealing or borrowing money, coupled with a refusal to explain how/why.
Don’t panic. If you think or know that your child has been using drugs, it’s natural to feel worried or angry, but losing your temper or making hasty decisions is unlikely to help. Try to remain calm and listen. Offer support. Never challenge your child if you think they are drunk or have been using drugs, this is only likely to make things worse. Make sure they are safe of any immediate danger and wait until later to talk things through. Get help. If it is a medical emergency call 999 and try to give as much information as possible.
Please see the full training in PDF
Parental Drug and Alcohol Awareness Workshop
by