According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, by the time you are an adult there is a good chance you have tried or will try a number of illegal and legal drugs. You might even have an addiction already. If you find drugs taking over your life, you will need to talk to your parents about your drug use. Unfortunately if you are a teenager, talking to your parents is not an easy task but there are some ways that you can make it easier.

Gauge Their Feelings about Drugs

Most parents will automatically react badly when you start to talk about drug use. It is a good idea to test the waters to see how they are going to react when you tell them. Good things to try are:

• Some kids at school use <whatever drug,>
• Did you ever use drugs when you were younger?
• I saw a story on the news about <whatever drug.>

These are just starting statements. After you start the conversation, listen to what they are saying and watch how they are reacting. This reaction will give you a good indicator about how they will react to your drug use. You can receive more help on this topic by calling 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) .

Decide how you are going to Tell Them

Once you know about how they will react, decide how you are going to mention it to them and who you are going to tell. If you have a friend of the family or other family member that is easier to talk to, ask them to be there with you. Decide if you are going to talk to one of your parents or both at the same time.

Many parents are willing to listen if you talk calmly and openly about the issues. You should remember that when you tell them they will have a variety of emotional reactions including:

• fear
• anger
• doubt
• regret

They might even blame themselves for your drug use. Make sure they understand that you want help and are willing to do what it takes.

Decide What you Want to Do about Your Drug Use

Talking to your parents is a good idea, but you need to know what you want to do before you talk to them. You have a variety of drug treatment options such as:

• inpatient or residential treatment
• outpatient treatment
• holistic treatments
• quitting cold turkey if you are on a drug where that can be done
• see a doctor to explain all of your options to you and your parents
• alternative treatment centers

Each of these are viable options. Do some research before talking to your parents and decide what they best course of action is for you. This way you can intelligently talk about the issues and options that concern you.

Regardless of how your parents react at first, your decision to get help is a major one. After their initial reaction to learning you do drugs, they will calm down and usually are willing to help. For more information on how to talk to your parents about your drug use, call us at 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) .