Topics to discuss
It can be helpful to explain to your child what a drug is and the reasons why people use them. Here’s some starting points:
- A drug is something that affects how our brains and bodies work.
- Drugs can cause changes in our mood, thoughts, feelings or behaviour. They can also impact our bodies by making things less painful or helping to treat an illness.
There are different types of drugs, including:
- medicines, that help treat people when they’re sick
- other drugs (legal, illegal, decriminalised) that are used for many different reasons, like alcohol, cigarettes, or cannabis. These reasons might include:
- to relax
- for enjoyment
- to be part of a group
- to avoid or cope with physical and/or psychological pain
- to treat an illness
- for curiosity
- to cope with problems
- to relieve stress.
Try not to exaggerate the dangers of alcohol and other drugs, but instead be clear about the effects and the risks.
Focus on how you care about your child and how you want them to be healthy.
Some examples of the risks include:
- they can impact our physical and mental health
- they make some activities more dangerous, like driving, swimming or operating machines
- they can make you less worried about danger.
There’s no limit to how many of these conversations you can have.
By regularly talking with your child about alcohol or other drugs, they will be better informed by the time they become teenagers.
If they ask a question and you’re not sure how to answer, there’s lots of information and resources available to help you get the facts. It’s also important to correct any misguided ideas they might have.
You can find information on the ADF’s Drug Facts page, and via Positive Choice’s Drug Education Pamphlet.