“Dad, did you ever smoke marijuana?” Many people tried marijuana
when they were younger. If you were one of them, what do you tell your teen
about your past drug use?
If you smoked marijuana in your younger years, you might face some conflicting
feelings when it comes to answering your teen’s questions. After all,
you don’t want to lie. But you also don’t want your teen to think
that it’s okay for him to smoke marijuana because you smoked it when
you were younger.
First, point out that it is against the law to smoke marijuana. Your past
does not change the present truth that marijuana is illegal, and if your child
is caught with it, she will face serious consequences.
| As
you think back to former drug use, get past the nostalgia and recall
the negatives.
You may remember “being in a haze.” You or other
users may have suffered side effects, like paranoia or unpleasant hallucinations,
which had long-lasting consequences. What about other effects of your
drug use? You might have remained in a lower-level job while peers
were moving
beyond you. Or your relationships with friends and family might have
been impaired by your use. As you talk with your teen, be sure to let
him know
what you would have done differently and what you hope your teen will
do. *
Adapted from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s
Ask the Experts,
last referenced 12/27/04.
|
Second, let your child know that as a parent, you have a job to do and that
means raising a healthy child. Tell him how unsafe marijuana can be and let
him know that its potency has increased over time—some reports say that
today’s marijuana can be 25 times stronger
than that of earlier decades. “Furthermore,
it is scientifically proven that marijuana de-motivates people and delays their
goal setting and constructive planning for the future. It is often a prime
factor in a developing teen’s ‘lack of ambition’.”1
Third, try to keep the conversation focused on the present and centered on
your expectations for your child. If you choose to answer the question about
past use, tell the truth.2
Exactly what you tell your child about your past depends on your child’s
age and maturity level as well as the relationship that you share. What you
would tell a 17-year-old is different from what you would tell a younger child.
Make sure that you are giving your child information that is appropriate for
her. Stay focused on the issue of preventing your child from using marijuana.
As a parent, your job is keeping your child safe and healthy. Your tough conversation
about marijuana is about him, not about you. The talk needs to focus on his
choices today because they will impact his future.
Sources
Additional Resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: Tips
for Teens: The Truth About Marijuana,
last referenced 12/27/04. (A print
version of this publication was released in 2004.)
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