Help! I think my child is using drugs.

Is Your Child Using Drugs? How to Find Out

Helping a Child Who is Using Drugs

How can I talk to my child about drugs?

Get the Conversation Going

Help Your Kids Turn Down Drugs

Your Preschooler

Grades K-3

Grades 4-6

Grades 7-9

Grades 10-12

What you can do.

23 Tips to Keep in Mind and Put to Use

Keeping Watch Over Your Child

Raising the "Sensation Seeker"

Setting Rules for Your Kids

What you should know.

Answering the Question: "Did you ever use drugs?"

Facts Every Parent Should Know

Grandparents Hold A Key to Keeping Teens Drug-Free

Here it Comes! The Transition to Middle School





















Home > Help for Parents

Keeping Watch Over Your Child

Monitoring is an effective way you can help your teen or tween stay drug-free, and an important thing to do — even if you don't suspect your teen is using drugs. The idea of "monitoring" your tween or teen may sound sinister, but it's actually a very simple idea that leads to great things: You know where your child is at all times (especially after school), you know his friends, and you know his plans and activities. By staying in-the-know about your child's daily schedule, you're taking an important step in keeping your child drug-free. Kids who are not regularly monitored are four times more likely to use drugs.

Because monitoring conflicts with your child's desire to be independent, he is likely to resist your attempts to find out the details of his daily whereabouts. Don't let this deter you from your goal. He may accept the idea more easily if you present it as a means of ensuring safety or interest in who he is and what he likes to do, rather than as a means of control. You need to be prepared for your child's resistance — because the rewards of monitoring are proven.

The most important time of day to monitor is after school from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kids are at the greatest risk for abusing drugs during these hours. Call your child's school to find out about adult-supervised activities he can take part in during these hours. Encourage him to get involved with youth groups, art or music programs, organized sports, community service, or academic clubs. Follow up with your child to make sure he is actually going to the program he has chosen.

For more information on Monitoring, visit our Tips for Raising Drug-Free Teens section.