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The Canadian Champion, Frîday, February il, 2005-21 Talking and listening is the key to drug-free teens ialkili, t') ll lýC l kLit I 1i 11 Lrl i l l Jit Lti,' Si 5 C0 fi lI S imapotant thîtîps ihat yîu can do to prevent substance use issues in your home. Il seems so simple. but parents ofien under-estimate the influence that ihey hav'e on their teens. especially once they reach hîphi schiiil. (ittng yor teen tii iatk ii voni may îlot he ani easy task. Many teejîs tfet uneasy when tatkinp tii ttîeî parents abîiui tlrrî tise. rhî, is noirmnal. l)in't take it aS a sipn ii b atk aîsay. tfîey îîeerlou Youing people w arn their parentîs to stav ins tifset ii thein tisesý ex en thouglh voit milht lie barrI presserf tIo f intf ai îeî tri admit Ioi il. If tatkinpý abouît dfrîis and alcohot seeins fiaid -f stail siiîatt. Tatk abrout hlein- lay hieu classes, fienîls. stresses atîd dreams. Taîking aboiut the lile thinps makes taîking about big tlîings eas- ier. You wiIl be one step ctoser to mainîainiiig a strnîg relaiionshîp wiîlî yrîur teen if you cai keep the fhies of communication open anîd iatk abîout impîoant issues lîke drugs anti alcoliot iii a calmi and respectfut way. Remember. ialking isîllît the saie ais Iecîuî- inp. Il requtres ita ssay comnmunication. ITierefuire. liteieîîî is jusi ais important. Hlere are sotime tips tr i rla voni îalk ttî yriur ieeîî about alcîihri atnd drigs: -Ask questions thai they caîi ansner "yes" oîr -nro" to -like. n,,hat do yOUî ttîmnk ahout mnarijuana.? Whai ,vould you do il von Health Notes J %N ie pîeSsuîed tii drink? *Lîsien hy noddîîîg, try 10 mainiain eye rcontacit Iariy n hat ittey hav e said - So. you think pot is not sur h ai hi- ca *Don't assumne that Li letei s, e sperielîce nith drugs anîd air loho today is simifar 10 wheiî yori \vere a teen. Find ont hon times have changed. - Find a natuiral time t0 tatk -foi example. nhlen watching TV, poing for- a wal k, or in the car. Sometimes. being beside themn insiead ol across from themn makes tl casier to open up. - To gel a conversation started, use teachabte moments -tatk aihîoti a leStý sf)LIICIr .111CC lIIIw llîi trieo t \ sIesý *Avoid Ieciuring they wttt rît en lune oui. *Clearly conumuilicate faiîîily rutes and cotîsequences about the us f atrotot aîîf tIi lis. - '1 y tii endf ttîe conserv atioin positixety -they aire orli kety tii ippî iacti sîlt ap.ii. T'atk up ahoui rfi îles, idr alcuihii ii i a nay that is i esfîertf Ilt lion- est andf ionJ îiîhieia ffetp) sou Ii stav ciaitierte tii vîlr tecîl. and tîeîp tfîei tecîrfe n'hat imptact i rfrrî andr aIrho îîîfni If have on ttîeii lis es. l)îîî't dlay - et your ieeil kîîuî you n ail iii iatk. Foîr more inîformation,. rail tfie Haltoti Regîrîîî Heath Depaoiment ai 9(05-825-6000, Toîl f ree 1-888-866-4HALTON ilf 888-442-5866). 'FTY 905-827-9833. Vtsît ilur Web site ai wwn \,.region.halîon.on.ca/heath. iIu'uîIi/ Note's i.i preîpareei byi .itaif î uI'i' Hîlîuii Ri'i1ioli Huait/i Depuai tîilt