Talking to Your Children About Drug Use
When children don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents about drug use, they’ll seek answers elsewhere, especially from unreliable sources. Children who don’t have accurate drug education are more at risk for engaging in unsafe behaviors and drug experimentation.
As a parent, it’s important for you to educate your kids about the effects of drug use and clear up any misconceptions. Being a role model and your views on drug use will influence how your children think about drugs. Therefore, making discussions about drugs a part of general health and safety conversations is critical, and we’ve provided a guide to talking to different age groups about drug use.
Preschool to Age 7
Whenever you give a fever medicine or antibiotic to your child, talk about why and when these medicines should be given.
If you see someone on T.V. or in a movie with a cigarette, talk about smoking, nicotine addiction, and the harm smoking causes to a person’s body.
Be specific about the effects of various drugs, such as how they make a person feel, overdose risk, and long-term damage.
Ages 8 to 12
Ask your kids what they think about drugs. Show them you’re listening and ask questions in an open and non-judgmental way.
Starting a conversation now will keep the door open as your kids get older and are less likely to share their thoughts and feelings.
News like steroid use in professional sports can be starting points for conversations about drug use and risks.
Ages 13 to 17
Use conversations to understand your child’s specific questions about drugs, and talk about the dangers and consequences of driving under the influence.
Consider creating a written or verbal contract about going out or using a car. Promise to pick your children up (with no questions asked) if the person responsible for driving has been drinking or doing drugs.
Make your expectations clear and eliminate surprises.
Laying a Good Foundation
No parent or family is immune to the effects of drug use. Know your child’s friends and their parents, and be involved in your children’s lives. Recognize when your kids are going through a difficult time and be willing to listen with a non-judgmental mindset. A warm and open family environment encourages kids to come forward with their questions and concerns.
If you want more resources for yourself or your children, talk to your physician or visit https://kidshealth.org.
Other articles you might enjoy:
October 4th is 2021’s National Child Health Day, and it’s the perfect day to discuss healthy behaviors and drug avoidance in children. Being able to recognize the signs of drug use in your kids is important to prevent future addiction and other disorders.
Iowa’s Drug-Free Workplaces Act has been one of the country’s most comprehensive and complex drug testing statutes since its passage in 1998. Early in June of this year, the state's Supreme Court issued decisions on two court cases that established more clarifications on the requirements of Iowan employers.
Starting September 1, 2021, DOT-regulated employers will have to use the revised Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form.
Those who are interested in using CBD might have concerns about whether or not this will affect their compliance standing for the Department of Transportation. Read more to learn about the DOT’s regulations regarding CBD usage for regulated employees.
A urine drug screen (or test) is used to detect the presence of drugs in a person’s system. It is especially important for DOT-regulated employers to follow all drug screening regulations for mandated employees. But how do drug screens actually work?
The Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 enforces that drivers operating vehicles that require a commercial driver’s license must be tested for alcohol and controlled substances according to federal regulations. If this seems like a lot, don’t worry. DATCO is here to help you get through every step of the DOT compliance process.
On June 1, 2021, Amazon announced that they will no longer drug test potential employees for marijuana for jobs that do not involve heavy machinery usage. Positions that need to meet DOT Drug & Alcohol Compliance will still require testing.
The U.S. Coast Guard has set its minimum random drug testing rate for 2021. Read more to learn what this means for employers.
The Department of Transportation collects data from drug test results and uses it to set random testing rates. However, the steps taken by the DOT to verify the accuracy of drug test data are not consistent among its agencies. A study conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office revealed that the steps taken by the DOT to verify and publicize drug and alcohol testing data need to go further.
While DATCO Services makes it easy for you to meet all your compliance needs through our video training center, understanding DOT policy is still essential.
DOT’s 49 CFR Part 40 rule describes the required procedures for workplace drug and alcohol testing. In this blog we’ll be defining the three key DOT training processes needed to meet compliance.
When children don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents about drug use, they’ll seek answers elsewhere, especially from unreliable sources. Children who don’t have accurate drug education are more at risk for engaging in unsafe behaviors and drug experimentation. In this blog, learn about how to educate your kids about the effects of drug use and clear up any misconceptions.
There are approximately 2 million professional truck drivers in the United States, making it one of the most common jobs today. With so many truck drivers on the road and daily civilian drivers, it is essential to ensure everyone is safe when they get behind the wheel. This is why the DOT (Department of Transportation) drug testing is critical.
In 2017, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) required 25% of its drivers to be drug tested to comply with regulations. Previously in 2016, the rate had dropped from 50% to 25%. While this reduction means employers will have fewer costs associated with drug testing, it is essential that employers still conduct "in-house" tests to be sure that their employees are remaining compliant.
If you are a self-employed truck driver or an owner-operator, you may be regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). When you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and can answer yes to at least one of the following questions, you must remain in compliance with DOT drug and alcohol testing.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has six agencies that it regulates because the people who work for these agencies directly impact the public's safety. People in safety-sensitive roles typically work on the roads, in the air, on the water, or the railways. This is why mandatory random drug testing allows people in these agencies to continue working while keeping the public safe.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is an agency within the Department of Transportation (DOT) that regulates the bus and trucking industry in the United States. Part 382 of FMCSA regulations deal with testing for controlled substances and alcohol. It is meant to prevent injuries and accidents from happening when there is drug or alcohol usage by commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.
There are approximately 3.5 million professional truck drivers in the United States, according to the American Trucking Association, and they handle 71% of the nation’s freight. A trucking company employs about one out of every 15 professional truck drivers. While the trucking business is stable and profitable, being a truck driver can take a toll on a driver’s health and well-being.
With the rampant use of illicit drugs inside and outside the workplace, drug testing should be very common for employers. However, many employers don’t know a lot about drug testing to make it a standard practice within their company. For employers, it can be confusing what kind of drug test to require their employees to take. And it can also be uncomfortable handling suspicious drug use at work. We are here to help you understand drug testing better, and we have answered some common questions below.
Substance abuse happens in businesses, whether the company has one employee or hundreds of employees. However, employees that have a drug or alcohol problem that goes untreated may be more likely to work for small business that doesn't have a drug-free workplace program established. As an employer, whether you own a small business or a large business, it's essential to create a drug-free program, so employees know there is support for them when they need help.
During the July 23rd National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) webinar meeting, DATCO’s Chief Operating Officer, Courtney Morgan, was the featured speaker. The topic “Building Your Business When the World is in a Pandemic,” highlighted the challenges employers are faced with when everyone is working from home.