Strategies for Parents

How to Drug Proof Your Kids (DPYK) aims to equip parents with the strategies needed to more effectively steer their children away from the harmful use of drugs. The program offers information on understanding substance abuse, support to help kids make positive choices and provides prevention tools for parents. As the strongest force against drugs, parents need proven strategies. DPYK can help.

Understanding Substance Abuse

All children are at risk of using drugs. Some experts estimate that between 85 and 95 percent of teenagers will try alcohol and other drugs to see the effect it has on them. Understanding why our children begin to misuse drugs and alcohol will help you in your efforts to stop such behavior. DPYK not only explores the path of drug dependency, but examines the eight important factors that may lead to drug abuse:

1. Genetic make-up
2. Peer pressure
3. Parental attitudes
4. Cultural factors
5. Life crisis
6. Depression
7. Fun and available
8. Parenting style

Helping Kids Make Good Choices

At some point in your child's life, he or she will have to make a decision about alcohol and drugs. As a parent, you want to protect your child against the many harmful things in this world—sometimes you even wish you could make those choices for your child. But by sharing your time, experience, values, and love, you can help your child make healthy choices. This program offers practical tools that not only help them say "no" to drugs, but also say "yes" to a more fulfilling life. Specifically, you'll learn to:

1. Help kids establish clear boundaries.
2. Encourage responsible behavior and discourage irresponsible behavior.
3. Build a stronger self-image in your child.
4. Teach your children the truth about drugs.
5. Inspire children to grow in confidence and social skills.
6. Help your kids improve their communication skills.
7. Encourage accountability.
8. Direct your children to choose positive friendships

Prevention Tools for Parents

So much about drug abuse prevention has to do with building a relationship with your child that's based on trust. When you intentionally nurture this relationship and open up the lines of communication early on, you will make a world of difference. This program will not only help you know the facts about harmful drugs so you can share this information with your child, it will also enhance your relationship with your child to help you withstand other tough issues. You can expect to learn much from our discussions on:

1. Modeling respect and integrity
2. Forming positive character.
3. Growing independence
4. Establishing boundaries
5. Directing good behavior