Discussing the dangers of drugs with your teen

Having "the talk" about sex with a teen can be an awkward subject for some parents, similarly bringing up the risks of doing drugs can also be a tricky one to broach. You might worry about your approach or appearing too preachy. "There are no easy answers, but the conversation is crucial," says Dr. Jason Walker, an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Victoria, School of Child and Youth Care in B.C.

Using online resources
The Internet can be a great way to open that line of communication with your teen. There are many websites full of information for both parents and adolescents about drug-related issues. For teens, using a hipper, more graphically appealing design seems to be the direction that many organizations take. However just as there are lots of "cool-looking" sites about the dangers of doing drugs, there are also pages devoted to advocating drug use.

"I've had teens who have come to me with a pseudo knowledge about drugs," says Gary Direnfeld, a social worker in private practice in Dundas, Ont. "They got their knowledge from questionable websites." Also, with blogs becoming so popular among young people, misinformation can be spread through these online journals. "One has to be very careful because they are strictly personal opinions," warns Direnfeld.

Surfing credible sites
Kids and parents alike need to know how to identify a credible online destination.

"When researching anything, you have to be confident about your source," says Dr. Walker. He suggests looking for sites that are associated with major health and well-known youth organizations, government websites, and associations, like the Canadian Medical Association. "Use the Internet for direction, find youth services in your community and seek out the experts who can help," he recommends.

Direnfeld also suggests going to the "About us" link on a website to help determine its legitimacy.