By the time they're in eighth grade, 21 percent of kids -- one in five -- will have tried some kind of drug. So what can parents do to help their kids beat the odds?
"The most important thing is to be engaged in your child's life early on and talk to them about the problems and temptations they'll face," says Jim Steinhagen, who spent ten years counseling drug- and alcohol-addicted teens. To minimize the danger at home, toss out expired or leftover prescription meds and keep everything, including cold and allergy over-the-counter drugs, away from your kids and their friends. Keep track of the number of pills in each package. Monitor Internet searches. And watch for these warning signs that your child may be using drugs:
- A change in personality or mood: Your once happy-go-lucky daughter is suddenly withdrawn, uncooperative or prone to outbursts and exaggerated responses.
- Your son has a new set of friends.
- Grades have fallen, or there's sudden disinterest in going to school.
- Money starts to disappear.
- Your child is taking excessive amounts of cold or flu medicine or keeps taking it after symptoms have subsided.
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