Children learn what they live. If a parent’s substance use patterns are healthy,
chances are their child will develop similar attitudes and behaviours regarding
tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.
Here are some examples of healthy substance use
patterns:
Avoid smoking. There is simply no safe way to enjoy cigarette products.
Smoking kills almost 6,000 British Columbians every year and is the leading source
of preventable death in the province. Kids with parents who smoke are twice as likely
to become smokers themselves.
Follow low-risk drinking guidelines. Alcohol can be
consumed in a low-risk manner. For adults this means: avoiding intoxication (four
drinks or fewer for men, three or fewer for women); setting limits on your weekly
intake (20 drinks or fewer for men, 10 or fewer for women); taking breaks during
the week (one or two days should be “alcohol-free” days); and, not drinking when
“no alcohol” is the safest option (e.g., when driving, pregnant, or using medications).
Children and teens are most likely to develop drinking patterns similar to their
parents. While young people are best to avoid alcohol altogether, many will experiment
during their teen years. Those with parents who practise low-risk drinking habits
are less likely to develop substance use problems in adulthood.
For more information
on low-risk drinking guidelines, or to test your drinking habits with the BC Alcohol
Check Up, visit
checkup.silink.ca.
Avoid illicit substances. It may be true that
some adults are able to use psychoactive substances recreationally without experiencing
much harm. But the mental, physical, and emotional development of young people can
easily be affected by the use of such drugs. By not doing drugs in front of your
child, you’re giving them a chance to grow up with less risk.
While we don’t often
talk openly about substance use problems in our society, it is important to remember
that problems from using alcohol and other drugs affect many British Columbians.
Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service
604-660-9382 or BC
Toll Free: 1-800-663-1441
Hours: 24 hours. 7 days a week
Deaf and hard hearing callers: TTY 604-875-0885 (collect calls accepted)
or Text 604-836-6381