Parenting is scary and seems to get scarier as your children get older. Unfortunately there is no true guidebook to follow when it comes to parenting. Every teenager is different and responds differently to rules, guidelines, and just life in general. Your worries as a parent change from making sure your children don’t fall on the playground to hoping they don’t get in with the wrong crowd as they get older. You hope that you’ve taught your children enough to help them resist peer pressure to use drugs, but there is always that hint of worry in the back of your mind. Because while you know it is entirely appropriate for your teen to be more focused on their friends than on their parents, you still worry about the impact on their decision-making. At Thrive Treatment, we understand the unique issues facing parents and teens around peer pressure and drug use.
How to Talk to Your Teen About Peer Pressure
Some days talking to your teen about anything can feel like you’re walking a tightrope. You want to recognize their growth and encourage some independence. You know that you only have so much time before they’re adults out in the world making their own decisions. At the same time, you’re trying to complete the firm foundation that you’ve been helping them build since birth. The key is to keep building but involve them in laying some of those bricks. Be honest with your teen about the pressures they may face regarding drugs, alcohol, sex, and more. Use some of the following strategies when you talk.
- Remain calm throughout the conversation.
- Talk them through how to make decisions in those situations.
- Consider role-playing some scenarios.
- Stress the importance of trusting their gut instinct.
- Set up a “safe word” that your teen can use when calling you from a friend’s house to have you pick them up with no questions asked.
It is crucial to remember that this will likely be a series of ongoing conversations rather than a single conversation. Your goal is to develop a continuous two-way flow of discussion around peer pressure and drugs. Rather than lecturing your teen, you are laying the groundwork for them to be able to come to you when they do face peer pressure.
If you have a personal history of addiction or there is a history of addiction in your family, the conversation about peer pressure and drugs becomes even more critical. While researchers continue to explore the genetic components of addiction, there is some proof that addiction runs in families. Your teen must understand their increased risk for addiction based on family history.
Additionally, a family or personal history with addiction can provide you with more material for your discussions. Whether you were the witness to another family member’s addiction or found yourself addicted, you can share your experience with your teen to help them understand the dangers of drug use. Because teens can feel invincible, your teen needs to understand the risks that come with drug use.
How Thrive Treatment Center Can Help Your Teen Battling Substance Abuse
At Thrive Treatment, we blend different treatment modalities to help your teen break free of addiction and succeed in sobriety. Located in beautiful Santa Monica, we integrate relational and behavioral therapies. We believe in a holistic approach and utilize holistic, medical, and psychiatric interventions, to put your teen on the path to sobriety and overall well-being. If your teen has become addicted to drugs and alcohol, we’re here to help. We can provide you with a tailored plan that blends modern and traditional practices. With treatment for your teen and your family, we’re here to support you through this journey. Contact us today and let us help your teen with their addiction!
How to Talk to Your Teen About Peer Pressure
Some days talking to your teen about anything can feel like you’re walking a tightrope. You want to recognize their growth and encourage some independence. You know that you only have so much time before they’re adults out in the world making their own decisions. At the same time, you’re trying to complete the firm foundation that you’ve been helping them build since birth. The key is to keep building but involve them in laying some of those bricks. Be honest with your teen about the pressures they may face regarding drugs, alcohol, sex, and more. Use some of the following strategies when you talk.
- Remain calm throughout the conversation.
- Talk them through how to make decisions in those situations.
- Consider role-playing some scenarios.
- Stress the importance of trusting their gut instinct.
- Set up a “safe word” that your teen can use when calling you from a friend’s house to have you pick them up with no questions asked.
It is crucial to remember that this will likely be a series of ongoing conversations rather than a single conversation. Your goal is to develop a continuous two-way flow of discussion around peer pressure and drugs. Rather than lecturing your teen, you are laying the groundwork for them to be able to come to you when they do face peer pressure.
If you have a personal history of addiction or there is a history of addiction in your family, the conversation about peer pressure and drugs becomes even more critical. While researchers continue to explore the genetic components of addiction, there is some proof that addiction runs in families. Your teen must understand their increased risk for addiction based on family history.
Additionally, a family or personal history with addiction can provide you with more material for your discussions. Whether you were the witness to another family member’s addiction or found yourself addicted, you can share your experience with your teen to help them understand the dangers of drug use. Because teens can feel invincible, your teen needs to understand the risks that come with drug use.
How Thrive Treatment Center Can Help Your Teen Battling Substance Abuse
At Thrive Treatment, we blend different treatment modalities to help your teen break free of addiction and succeed in sobriety. Located in beautiful Santa Monica, we integrate relational and behavioral therapies. We believe in a holistic approach and utilize holistic, medical, and psychiatric interventions, to put your teen on the path to sobriety and overall well-being. If your teen has become addicted to drugs and alcohol, we’re here to help. We can provide you with a tailored plan that blends modern and traditional practices. With treatment for your teen and your family, we’re here to support you through this journey. Contact us today and let us help your teen with their addiction!
