Being a parent is more than being your child’s friend. You are your children’s first line of defense against the dangers of drug and alcohol use, and the first resource they have to learn the tools to resist dangerous choices.
The following pages are resources and strategies you can use to deter your children from using drugs and alcohol, ensure that they are in safe and secure environments, and give them the skills to handle challenging situations.
Monitor teens while they are in your home
Set a curfew and consistently enforce house rules
Inquire of another parent about a gathering or party to verify safe situations and supervised homes
Welcome telephone calls at your home verifying supervision of gatherings at your own home
Check amount and levels of open alcohol beverages in your home
Attempt to meet your child’s friends and their parents as their environment changes
Call authorities or other parents to report unsafe situations, parties or gatherings
Help your child figure out how to handle risky situations with a plan of action
