Substance Use & Prevention

Illegal Drugs
1. The best way to prevent an addiction to an illegal drug is not to take the drug at all.
2. Communicate. Talk to your children about the risks of drug use and abuse. Listen. Be a good listener when your children talk about peer pressure
3. Preventing drug relapse
  1. Avoid high-risk situations. Don't go back to the neighborhood where you used to get your drugs. And stay away from your old drug crowd.
Alcohol
1. You can help prevent teenage alcohol use. Start by setting a good example with your own alcohol use. Talk openly with your child, spend quality time.
2. Signs and symptoms
  1. Loss of interest in activities and hobbies and in personal appearance.
  2. Bloodshot eyes, slurred speech,
  3. problems with coordination and memory
3. Long-term alcohol use can cause serious health complications, affecting virtually every organ in your body, including your brain.
Prescription Medication
1. Your doctor may prescribe narcotics to relieve pain, benzodiazepines to relieve anxiety or insomnia, or barbiturates to relieve nervousness.
2. Doctors prescribe these medications at safe doses and monitor their use so that you're not given too great a dose or for too long a time
3. Use care when taking an addictive prescription drug. Your doctor may prescribe narcotics to relieve pain, benzodiazepines to relieve anxiety or insomn

Resource summary

	Created by nimali.alwis about 11 years ago