I guess I would wanna know what your fear of messing,
messing what up, right?
It, it feels like you're already concerned about it.
So having a dialogue here is, again,
no different than maybe the with suicide.
It, it's, if you're concerned, is it a specific substance?
I would wanna understand what that substance is.
I would want to get information about them.
I would want to talk with them
because they probably know that, you know,
but in silent it's like, oh,
well you aren't gonna talk with me about it.
So being open and talking about it may be one
of the most effective starting points, but then it's
after that, it's, it's really this question is,
is it peer pressure?
Is that, is that why they're doing it?
Is it that the accessible, is it to help reduce anxiety?
Is it, is it because I'm just trying to numb out
because I don't want to feel what I'm feeling.
So anytime we, any of us use a substance
or get involved in something, we really should be asking a
question, what is the purpose of this?
Is it that I just want this quick hi?
Or am I running from something?
Now we're educating them how
to ask these very important questions.
What is this thing doing to me?
And why am I, why am I choosing this way?
Could I do it in another way, a healthier way?
And now that I've had this dialogue,
I'm not doing it in a way that I'm maybe shaming my child.
I can't believe you're doing that behind my back.
You're hiding secrets. You're doing these things.
What's wrong with you? Uh, okay,
that's not gonna open up a dialogue, right?
So, so as a parent, keeping your child open
to discussion is really, really important.
And that's one of the core things you want to do
and focus on as a parent.
