1.     Do not pretend that your child will never
        be involved in drugs
2.     Assume that drugs are everywhere and will
        always be available (“supply-side”
        strategies have never succeeded and will
        NEVER succeed)
3.     Make sure that your kids are factually
        educated about every drug
4.     If you misinform them, or give them  
        propaganda, your credibility and  
        authority with them is over
5.     Share your personal experience and
        knowledge with them. Do not be a
        know-it-all (because you don’t)
6.     Accept the fact that they may be smarter
        and more knowledgeable about drugs that
        you
7.     If you are going to keep medications in
        your home, keep them absolutely locked up
        – NO EXCEPTIONS!
8.     Do not expect that they will not try to
        defeat the security
9.     Be informed about the symptoms and signs
        of intoxication and/or overdose
10.     Have an overdose plan. Know what to do,
        who to call and what to say
11.     Do not blame the drugs. Your kid took
        them; they didn’t take your kid
12.     Expect that your kids will experiment.
        You probably did.
13.     Make sure that they know what to expect,
        and what to do, if they get in trouble
        with a drug.
14.     Tell them you really love them, will miss
        them the rest of your life if they kill
        themselves and that you would really
        appreciate it if they don’t
15.     Don’t do ANYTHING to convince them it’s
        too risky to tell you the truth
16.     Give every child in your home a copy of
        my advice to them and discuss it with  
        them.
Be sure to also check out my advice to your children.
Dr. Hochman