Tuesday, April 07, 2026

Communication helps prevent substance abuse

You may think there's plenty of time before you need to talk to your elementary schooler about substance abuse. This is not true. Young children are exposed to messages about drugs and alcohol in the media. The opioid crisis has devastated many families. Start discussing the dangers now. Ask what your child has heard, and make your rules clear: No drugs ever (unless prescribed for your child by a doctor) and no underage drinking. Parent-child communication is so important that some experts call it the "anti-drug."