Don't allow your child or adolescent to go to a party, sleepover, or other activity that isn't supervised by someone you trust. Don't blindly assume that the presence of a grown-up guarantees a safe environment. Get to know your kids' friends' parents, not just your kids' friends. Make certain your child knows you will pick him up anytime, anywhere — no questions asked — if he finds himself in a situation where alcohol or drugs are being used. And be sure to praise him for a wise and mature decision if he does so.

Curtail Contact

Have the courage to curtail your child's or adolescent's contact with drug users. The epidemic of drug abuse spreads person to person. Whether a recent acquaintance or a long-term bosom buddy, if one (or more) of your teenager's friends is known to be actively using alcohol and/ or drugs, you must impose restrictions on the relationship. You might, for example, stipulate that your adolescent can spend time with that person only in your home — without any closed doors and when you are around.

However, even with these limits in place, you will need to keep track of who is influencing whom. If your family is reaching out to a troubled adolescent and helping to move him toward healthier decisions, keep up the good work. But if there is any sign that the drug-using friend is pulling your teenager toward his lifestyle, declare a quarantine immediately. By all means, if your teenager feels called to help a friend climb out of a drug quagmire, don't let him try it alone. Work as a team to direct that person toward a recovery program.

—The Focus on the Family Physicians Resource Council, U.S.A.

Adapted from Parents' Guide to Teen Health,
a Focus on the Family publication.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.