October was declared National Substance Abuse Prevention Month in 2011 to help bring attention to the issue of substance abuse and break the cycle of alcohol and drug addiction.

Studies show the younger someone is when they start using substances, the greater the chances are that person will develop an addiction. We encourage families to start talking about substances early on to help educate and protect children. Here are tips to have a helpful discussion:

• Choose the right time: Make sure everyone is available and able to have an open mind.
• Listen and ask questions: Don’t lecture, but instead make it a conversation.
• Give clear reasons: Use data to help support reasons to avoid drugs.
• Brainstorm: Talk through potential tough conversations and help your children know how to say no when faced with peer pressure.
• Share your experience: Use discernment for what is age-appropriate for your child.  Talk about why you either have lived drug-free or what you learned from encounters with drugs. 

Say no to drugs and commit to healthy living this October. Together, we can stop the issue of substance abuse within our communities.