5. Preventing my child from becoming involved

Parents play a powerful role - learn about drugs
Love and affection at home
Consistent and fair discipline - a balance between love and caring discipline
Limit pocket money
Teach responsibility - consequences for actions
School - keep in touch with teachers, seek their co-operation
Seek opportunities for positive experiences at school and at home
Natural highs i.e. sport, music etc.
Stable family atmosphere
Open channels of communication at home - allow expression of feelings and thoughts
Boost their self esteem - don't criticise unfairly
Tolerance of youngsters' mistakes - help them to learn from them
Listen, support, advise and encourage
Good parental example, "do as I do, don't do as I say"
If in doubt seek help early
If there is a problem - early intervention is the key

Drugs are illiegal because they are dangerous - They are not dangerous because they are illegal.