How can parents tell if their kids are experimenting with drugs and alcohol?

hi: How can parents tell if their kids are experimenting with drugs and alcohol?
Just read a study that kids that learn from their parents are 50% less likely to get tied up in problems like these. What can you do as parents to help keep kids out of this stuff? What can parents who have kids with these problems do to help their kids? Just wanted to post this question for parents to reference and because it seems to be a growing problem, so anything you have to say would be appreciated.
I don’t have a kid…?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Karen J
if the kids are bad

Answer by Gina C
Listen.
If you find that they are doing drugs, don’t freak out at them take a deep breath then talk to them. Teenagers will be teenagers.

if they are doing drugs, and it is serious get them help.

but the best thing i think you can do is listen. don’t let them know you want to know about drugs just tell them “listen, honey if you ever need a ride absolutely no questions asked.. then i’ll pick u up i’d rather be safe then sorry, please call me or come to me for anything”

if she/hes drinking or doing drugs she’ll know what you mean. other then that, unless your really close to your child you won’t know that they do drugs unless they come home smelling like booze, or have their puipals dialated.

Answer by marcus k
i think it depends really on the age if they are in high school they are most likely to take drugs and such. what you can do is just make sure all the parties and get togethers you child goes to have a parent there. i dont want to tell you how to raise your kid so im gonna leave it at that

Answer by geminipoetgirl
my dad went in to a.a. when i was 7 or 8 and he always told us about his drinking and drugging experiences so i never had the desire to do it. i’m 28 now and although i did hang out and drink occasionally when i was younger, i never had the desire to drink or drug because i knew the far extreme it could lead to. for people that don’t want their kids to drink and get into drugs i say stop acting like drugs and alcohol don’t exist. tell them the horrifying stories you know of people got mangled in dui accidents and stories of girls getting date raped. i know its extreme but we need to start letting kids know early on that with drugs and alcohol can come extreme results. and don’t wait until the kids are 15 and 16. start talking to them when they hit 10 or 11 and start to get more freedom with their friends. parents these days are too reactive and not proactive enough.