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How can I help my kids to say no to drugs?

There are a variety of things you can do to help your child say no to drugs. Many methods and suggestions are listed on TheAntiDrug.com.

Dr. Jeffrey Gardere recommends a simple role-play exercise (no acting classes needed) that you can practice with your kid that should drill the message and its importance into their heads.

Set up a couple of imaginary yet realistic scenarios in which your child can practice saying no. Here's one example you can use:

During a school dance, you and your date are approached by a couple of "homies" who have some "weed" and offer to share it to help you get your "groove on" and "party right." What do you do? How do you say no?

You as the parent, can structure their responses into four different sections:

As questions: "Why are you approaching me?" "Where did you get the joints?" "Did you buy them?" "Did you steal them?"
Practice ways to say no: Be firm; be committed. "No thanks." "Don't want any." "Get outta ma face." "I don't think it's a good idea."
Offer alternatives: "Why don't you put the joints away and let's just go in with a natural high."
Get out of Dodge: "I think I should leave." "I think you should leave."

Dr. Jeffrey Gardere is a noted psychologist and author of Smart Parenting for African Americans: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Difficult World. Dr. Gardere is the luncheon keynote speaker at the Today's Child Communications' 2nd National Parent and Provider Conference, "Empowering Our Lives: Strengthening Our Families and Communities," on March 2nd at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.

For more ways to help your kids say no to drugs, download "Keeping Your Kids Drug-Free: A How-To Guide for Parents and Caregivers.

Alison Birnbaum is a Licensed Certified Social Worker who is a parenting expert in the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. She has a private practice in New Canaan, CT.

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