Prevention Starts With Parents!
Parents hold a pivotal role in shaping their children's attitudes towards substance use.
Engaging in open dialogues about the repercussions of using cannabis and other drugs can significantly diminish the likelihood of a child engaging in such activities, thereby aiding them in making informed decisions.
Timing is Everything
Start a conversation with your child when you are both relaxed, resourced and in a good mood. Ensure you are somewhere where you both feel safe and can dive into uncomfortable topics without distraction or interruption.
Dialogue Without Assumption
Approach conversations with your child about substance use with an open mind, avoiding presumptions about their knowledge or experiences. Actively listen, encourage their viewpoint, and respond without judgment. Use open-ended questions to sustain dialogue, allowing them to express themselves fully before sharing your perspective.
Stay Calm
Maintain a balanced tone when discussing cannabis, acknowledging its common use for health purposes among various individuals your children may know. Educate them on responsible use and base the conversation on facts to prevent undue alarm.
Set Boundaries
Clarify your expectations about cannabis and substance use with your child, ensuring mutual understanding of the household rules and governing laws. Ensure you both understand the rules and make it clear they exist for their health and safety. Set definitive guidelines, such as avoiding car rides with drivers under the influence and exiting situations where drug use is present. Discuss the consequences of rule violations and enforce them when appropriate.
Discuss the negative consequences.
Highlight the adverse effects of drug use, relating it to areas significant to your child, like their participation in sports, overall health, and driving privileges. Inform them about the legal repercussions of possessing illegal substances and, the detrimental impact of psychoactive drugs on brain development, and the increased risk of addiction in young people.
Create an Exit Plan
Assist your teen in developing a strategy to gracefully decline substances if confronted with the situation. Peer pressure is influential; hence, devising practical steps and rehearsing them can equip your teen with the confidence to make the right choices in critical moments.
When talking to your teen about drug use, remember these key tips:
Regularly check in with them about their well-being.
Reassure them of your support and availability.
Keep the conversation ongoing as they grow older.
Find casual moments for discussions, like during meals or TV time.
Collaboratively set rules for social and extracurricular activities.
Clearly and consistently communicate your stance on cannabis and other drugs.
Secure your goods!
Ensuring cannabis products are inaccessible to children and pets is crucial. Many cannabis edibles mimic the appearance of typical goodies, including beverages, candies, and baked goods. Cannabis and other psychoactive products require vigilant and secure storage. Simple safety measures and common sense are key to avoiding unintended consumption.
Best Practices for Proper Storage
Use a lockable container or a secure storage solution.
Legal cannabis products come in child-proof packaging deterring youth access. If you can’t lock it up now, we sell lock boxes at cost to help you safely secure any of your psychoactive goods.
Position edibles and medicated items where children and pets cannot see or access them.
Cannabis degrades with sunlight and heat. Keep your products in a cool dark place to keep them fresh and away from your precious ones in the home.
Inform your children about cannabis, its effects, and the consequences of consumption.
This symbol is on all legal cannabis products for a reason. Teach your kids to look out for it and stay away from products that contain it. In addition, talk to your children about the repercussions and effects of consuming cannabis.
