How to prevent drug use in young people? 8 tips

Several guidelines to prevent the possibility of young people starting to use drugs.

Although nowadays society in general has managed to show an absolute rejection of drug use and it is no longer considered an attractive and interesting habit, there is still a large number of people who consume addictive substances, especially among the young and adolescent population.

However, there are a series of guidelines or recommendations that we can implement in our role as parents, family members or friends, to prevent young people from starting to use drugs, as well as to slow down the development of addictive substances.and to stop the development of addiction if it has already begun.

Adolescence and the risk of drug use.

Adolescence and post-adolescence is a highly confusing and complicated period of life. The fact that we still do not have a fully formed identity, makes us highly influential and susceptible people, since during this time the most desired goal is to fit in and feel part of something.

This need to fit in, together with the influence of our peers, the media, television, the press and our own rebellious attitude, together with the need to experience new things, make this period a risk factor for starting and developing a drug addiction.

It is necessary to specify that, when we talk about drug addiction, we are not only referring to drug addictions, but also to the addiction to drugs. not only refers to the most serious addictions or to the strongest and most destructive drugs, but also to the daily consumption of drugs. and destructive drugs, the daily use of drugs such as cannabis is becoming more and more common and in the medium to long term can also have harmful consequences.

Why do some young people use drugs?

As we mentioned earlier, adolescence is a highly compromised stage of life in terms of drug use. However, there is no single factor that causes a young person or adolescent to be attracted to any type of drug.

Social or peer pressure is often one of the main reasons why an adolescent decides to start using drugs. why an adolescent decides to start using drugs. The need to fit in and feel part of the group, as well as the pressure that the group can exert when it comes to drug use, can be enough to initiate drug use.

Likewise, this stage of life is often marked by strong feelings of misunderstanding and confusion, as well as a lack of self-esteem or self-confidence can generate high levels of frustration that can lead to drug use as an escape from these emotions.

On other occasions, drug use is developed as an act of rebellion. A way of expressing the nonconformity that the adolescent experiences with his or her surroundings. Drug use can be seen as a form of disobedience, both to parents or guardians and to the rest of society in general.

Finally, a scarce knowledge of the real effects of any kind of drugs and the influence of some media that still show drug use as something attractive and even interesting, favor the attraction and fascination that they cause on young people..

8 guidelines to prevent teenage drug use.

Despite all this, there are still things that family members, friends or society in general can do to help reduce, and even prevent, drug use by young people.

1. Inform

Although there are currently numerous campaigns carried out by institutions and educational centers that try to inform young people about the risks of drug use, as family members and people with teenagers around us we also become direct agents of prevention.

This means that we do not have to wait for adolescents to receive information about drugs from the outside, we ourselves can inform ourselves well and pass on that information.The fact that it is someone close and trustworthy who transmits it can also be positive.

2. Develop their social skills

In a large number of cases, adolescents are introduced to drugs because they are offered them by someone in their own friendship group. someone in their own friendship group offers them drugs.. In these cases, the lack of social skills, as well as poor emotional education and assertive techniques, together with the fear of being rejected, cause the adolescent to accept drug use.

Knowing this, education in social skills that allow young people to say "no" without any fear are essential to prevent them from starting to consume.

3. Encourage the development of positive self-esteem.

If we add to the fear of not fitting in that a large proportion of adolescents do not have sufficiently high self-esteem or do not feel sufficiently self-confident, we will find in these traits a very important risk factor for drug use.

Therefore, helping them to develop a high self-esteem and self-confidence will also be of great relevance.will also be of great relevance in preventing young people from resorting to drugs as a way to feel better about themselves.

4. Develop a critical sense

A well-informed and confident adolescent will be much more capable of developing a critical sense in the face of drug use. If we get the young person to judge drugs as they are, they will be much more capable of developing a critical sense towards drug use.If we get the young person to judge drugs as they are, as well as their physical, psychological and social integrity, we will make it possible for them to refuse the consumption of any type of narcotic or addictive substance.

5. Encourage dialogue

Try to talk to adolescents, showing interest in their concerns, not judging and gaining their trust, will help them feel comfortable talking to us, telling us their problems.will help them feel comfortable talking to us and tell us about their problems. In this way, it will be much easier for us to help them solve them positively and not have to resort to drugs as an escape route or a way to avoid or forget them.

6. Do not try to overprotect them

Although this overprotection is nothing more than a reflection of the concern that parents or acquaintances feel about the habits of the youngsters, these behaviors tend to be counterproductive.

Young people should perceive in parents, relatives or guardians an attitude of acceptance, a place to turn to when they feel bad or distressed and, to do so, we must convey that we are open to it but without being a burden..

7. Do not be authoritarian

At the beginning of the article we commented that adolescence is characterized as a time of rebellion, in which going against what is imposed or established is almost a vital necessity.

Therefore, authoritarian styles of education in which parents or guardians impose their opinion or their way of life in an intransigent manner will not be at all effective in preventing drug use. In any case, it is always better to resort to dialogue and consensus..

8. Be consistent with our actions

Rarely will we be able to prevent adolescents from consuming any type of drugs if these are also consumed at home. In the same way, for the message against drugs to be transmitted in the most effective way possible, our attitude towards drugs must also be stable and consistent.