Examples of Positive Substance Abuse Parent-Child Dialogue

Your child says….	Your first response may be to blurt out…	A better response would be…
Timmy has started smoking but his parents don’t know	I’m going to call Timmy’s mother. She has to be told and that’s all there is to it.	How do you feel about Timmy starting to smoke and his parents not knowing?
Pot can’t be all that bad for you because I’ve seen kids who use it and they’re fine.	It’ll be bad for them if they get caught and end up in trouble with the law.	I’d like to share with you some of the information I read about the effects of smoking marijuana over time.
You lived through the 70’s. Why don’t you let me live through my decade without your interference.	I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.	Sharing my experiences and listening to yours are among the most important things I can do for you as a parent.
Nobody else has parents this strict. You’re still living in the Dark Ages.	One day you’ll be down on your knees thanking me.	How would you like me to be? What do you think would be most helpful to you?
How can you tell me not to smoke when you inhale two packs a day? Isn’t that awfully hypocritical?	Don’t you dare talk to your father like that.	I know I’m not providing you with a good example. I’d very much like to quit.