From early childhood on, children are presented with a confusing picture of the world when it comes to drugs: while all drugs carry risks, some are legal (alcohol and tobacco); some are "medicines;" others are illegal. Parents can help children understand the differences better than most, every step of the way toward adulthood.

Talking with your children about illegal drugs is not as difficult as most parents think, but is not as simple as delivering one message ("don't do drugs") over time. As kids age, their attitudes about drugs become more and more sophisticated. For more than 19 years, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America has been tracking drug-related attitudes among children, teenagers and parents, gaining tremendous insights into what kids of all ages think and feel about a wide variety of illegal drugs. While young children tend to view drugs in simple terms ("good" vs. "bad"), pre-teens and teenagers come to understand that not all drugs are the same. Drug-related attitudes have a direct influence on decisions to use drugs, and are influenced by a wide variety of factors-age, gender, peer and family influences, etc. The messages and warnings parents use with young children will not work with children as they grow into adolescents.

On-going communication with children about drugs is critical. As their attitudes about drugs change, kids need guidance and advice from parents. That's why one-time conversations about drugs will not do the job. For parents who don't know what to say or aren't sure where to start, the ability to listen intently to children about drugs is a great strategy to employ. Ask open-ended questions about the issue of drugs, and listen.

For more information detailing how to talk to your child, click on a link to the right of the page for more age-specific tips.