Why would teens be interested in trying Crystal Meth? Maturing teens need to develop better ways of taking risks, especially when faced with situations involving drugs. But if they don't have a good understanding of boundaries, they may think it is okay to experiment with drugs such as crystal meth, not realizing the potentially deadly and hazardous haelth effects.
Drug use among teens typically starts with casual use. Because of the pattern of rush and crash that develops from the use of crystal meth, teens may quickly become addicted. You can get addicted to meth with the very first use.
So, what's a parent to do? Here are some ideas:
- Be involved with your teen's activities, friends and other important adults in their
lives. Being informed and monitoring your teen's relationships and behaviors will
help you distinguish between possible signs of meth use and typical changes in
behavior. - Follow through--consistently--with rules and consequences for behavior. Teens
need expectations. So when parents follow through, teens will learn they're ac
countable for their choices.
- Discuss with teens what's happening in their world. If a teen feels secure within
the family and comfortable sharing their opinions, they are less likely to give into
pressure from friends. Tell your teen to use you as an excuse to get out of an
uncomfortable situation, such as: "No way, my mom and dad won't let me go!"
- Combine the realities of his or her world with the information you have to help
guide relevant and useful conversations. If you don't know the answer to his or
her question, help your teen find the answer. Deciding whether or not you share
your own experiences with drug use is a personal choice. Either way, face-toface
conversations are critical. - Model the values and behaviors that you hold important for your family. Modeling
may not seem immediately effective, yet has a lasting impact on the values
that teens develop, and the choices they make about meth use.
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