To a kid, silence can mean acceptance. It may seem as if your kids aren't listening, but don't give up. If you ignore the subject, your kids will hear it only from others-including those who use and sell drugs. Don't put your kid on the spot by asking if he or she has tried drugs. This is probably the most vulnerable period in a childs life, a time when peer pressure hits with a vengeance.
Kids begin pulling away from parents in search of their own identities.
Their hair gets longer or maybe disappears. A certain amout of such outrageous behavior is a normal part of growing up-kids seeking their own identy. This is a vital time to keep all lines of communication open, too often parents relax their guard, thinking the kids are on their own now. But rushing them into freedom is a recipe for disaster. Ask to see their homework, let them earn their new middle-school responsibilitys.