Summer is the time of year that everyone wants to kick back and take it easy. We can’t wait for those vacations we planned early in the year, and we’re ready for some sunshine and fun. All of this can be derailed, however, if drug and alcohol use become a central part of those plans. Teens and even children can give in to peer pressure and want to try experimenting with drugs over their summer breaks, but this simply isn’t a good idea. There is no faster way to ruin your whole year than to engage in drug use over the summer.
In order to keep your summer fun on track, here are 10 ways to prevent summertime drug use.
1. Sign up for summer camps
Several of the best ways to prevent summer drug use involve simply keeping your kids and teenagers active. A time-tested way of doing this is signing them up for summer camp. The best summer camps will fill your children’s days with fun activities, and they’ll be far too busy (and well-supervised) to get involved in using drugs.
2. Take up summer sports
Summer sports are another great way of doing this. Athletes have to train hard and work hard to stay on summer touring teams, so this is another great way to keep your children’s minds on something active and productive.
3. Summer school
Many schools have some form of summer school. By signing up, your teen can continue getting ahead on his school work instead of being bored and coming up with not-so-great uses of his time.
4. Volunteer
In addition to finding activities that benefit your teen, look for ways that she can volunteer to help others. There is almost nothing so fulfilling as using your time in the service of helping others. Every charitable activity, from food banks to Habitat for Humanity, would love your teen’s help this summer.
5. Spend more time on family activities
Consider finding ways to spend more time with your family over the summer. This might mean cutting back your work schedule to spend more time at home, or it could mean going on a vacation. Whatever you decide to do, it’s a great idea to spend more of the summer with your kids.
6. Limit time spent home alone
Even if you can’t spend more time at home, you should limit the time that your teen spends there getting bored. Other parents might be in the same situation and could be willing to pool their resources to get all your teens supervised.
7. Help your teens get summer jobs
Having a summer job is another great way to keep your teen occupied. In addition to having less time to get interested in drugs, he’ll be learning valuable job skills and increasing his level of responsibility.
8. Limit time spent at parties
Whatever your teen does during the day, keep her away from any large parties she hears about during the summer. This is often the main opportunity for your teen to be offered drugs.
9. Talk to your kids about drugs before the summer starts
Before the summer starts, talk to your kids about not using drugs over the summer. Take the opportunity to have a game plan and to educate them on why drug use is a bad idea before they are ever in a situation where drug use could come up.
10. Set a good example
Make sure that you’re setting a good example for your kids. Talking to them about not using drugs isn’t going to work very well if they see you getting drunk at the neighborhood barbecue.