PREVENTING DRUG ABUSE The Signs to Watch For Drug abuse and dependency are some of the toughest battles that anyone can face. Nearly everyone has had firsthand experience or watched a loved one battle drug addiction. I’ve lost a close loved one to a drug overdose and watched a sibling struggle with drug abuse for decades. Seeing the toll it took on their lives was devastating at times. If you’re a parent, you probably want to do everything in your power to keep your children away from drugs. One of the best ways to do this is by making yourself a resource for your children. Make yourself available to your children, so they feel comfortable talking to you about things that are happening in their life. If their friends are doing things they shouldn’t, you may hear about it and will be able to intervene to hopefully prevent your child from joining the destructive activity. It can be difficult to tell if your child is on drugs since many symptoms of drug use are similar to teenage and young adult behavior. Watch for changes to their personality. They may appear to be more withdrawn, hostile, secretive, or less motivated than in the past. Check for signs on their body by looking at their eyes to see if they’re red or glazed over. If they are wearing long sleeves in hot weather, it could be a sign that they’re hiding something under those sleeves like needle marks. Your kids may be staying out later and feeling worse physically each day. Your senses are one of the best ways to tell if your child is on drugs, so use them. If you find they are using drugs, do not be confrontational in your approach. Try to be understanding and explain to them the dangers of drug use. If that doesn’t work for you, you can always reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) national helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or text your zip code to 435748.
PROTECT YO FROM BULLYING, MANIPULATION, AND SEXUAL The internet has changed a lot about how our world operates. While there have been many positives that come with the internet, there are many negatives. Bullying, manipulation, and sexual harassment are all incredibly prevalent across the internet, especially on social media. And it’s affecting our kids. If you’re a parent of a teenager, it’s crucial that you know what to do if you think your child is being bullied or harassed online.
If your child is being cyberbullied or harassed, they may appear more withdrawn or depressed than usual. According to cyberbulling.org, nearly 37% of kids aged 12–17 have been victims of cyberbullying at some point in their lives. If you think your child is being cyberbullied, there are things you can do to stop it before it gets worse. Talk with your child about cyberbullying and assure them that if they become the target of a bully, they can
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