DRUGS AND DRINK

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WHAT ARE THE MOST HELPFUL THINGS WE CAN DO?

• When children or young people begin to experiment with drink or drugs or other addictive, self soothing behaviours, it can feel frightening. It can make you feel that you may be judged as a bad parent. If a child begins to explore these coping mechanisms what we know is that the child is communicating that they are struggling with some kind of issue such as anxiety, low mood, depression or something that means they have been looking for additional support.

• This means that we know that they need additional help. So its best to communicate that you are wondering if they need some support and that there are other things you can do to find them that support. Things like music, art or play therapy can be hugely helpful to a child who is communicating these needs.

• It is also worth noting that the child is communicating that something has escalated recently in their feelings of pain and inner turmoil. Have there been any changes? Any new plans such as a house or school or church move? Any friendship struggles? bullying? Has their hobby become too hard to be fun now they are getting older so a coping mechanism like playing an instrument or a creative skill used to be helpful but now has become too constricting to help and so they feel lost?

• The best things to do is to see how you can help support their friendships, hobbies, school life and any other areas that may have escalated in stress or challenge. Then find additional support for them with therapy or mentoring where they can feel able to express some of their pain and turmoil.

• Reassure them that you love them and you know that they will have a life one day with less turmoil and you are not ever going to give up on them.