And cocaine, heroin and LSD are all cheaper, stronger and more readily available than ever before. Some people experiment with them and get away with it. Others have a quirk in their personality or their brain chemistry that makes them addicts instantly. When it comes to substance use, you may not have a lot of control over your children s choices, but your stance as a parent still does make a difference. For some teens, strict prohibition may be the only way they can muster the internal strength to say no when the booze or drugs start to flow.
Adolescents are still in a state of flux about many things.
They have usually not yet formed clear personal boundaries, and they tend to act in the moment, sometimes with no thought about the consequences of their actions. The rules parents set out act as boundaries for teenagers and while teens may rail against the rules and occasionally break them, deep down, they also gain a sense of security from having limits. If you do accept that your teen will experiment, there are other things you can do limit negative consequences. It s also important to have ongoing communication about sexual and other potentially risky behaviours. They may know better when they re sober, but alcohol loosens inhibitions and impairs judgement.