It is very important for the parent to simply listen to the child's response without interrupting them.

Give them your full attention, no matter what they say, be patient and listen carefully.

When they have finished telling you the good things they have heard about drugs, we have found it is simply best to say "Thank You" or "I understand" to the communication they just gave you.

This helps give your child confidence that they can talk to you and that you are interested in what they have to say.

It's like having communication with your best friend, only this one happens to be your child.

Now that they have told you what they heard that was positive about drugs, it is time to get them the correct information.

Remember, the objective here is to give the child correct information so they can make sound decisions on their own.

Have you ever seen a child's attitude when they decide on something?

We have found that when a child is given the accurate information about drugs the attitude about them changes and they make their own decisions not to use them.

QUESTIONS

Make sure that when you review any information with your child that they fully understand each piece of information.

It is sometimes helpful to ask them if they understand or have them give you an example of what they just learned.

A glossary of basic drug terms is included below to assist you in getting the correct information to your child.

If your child asks a question that is not answerable from this information, it is very important that you do not make up some answer for them.

This is the perfect opportunity to get the child involved in getting their questions answered.

Be truthful with your child. Let them know that you do not have that answer but that Narconon would love to answer their questions.

Get a pen a paper right away and working with your child have them write down any questions they have.

Send the questions to us here at Friends of Narconon.

We will see to it that the child's questions get fully answered.

Over the years we have found that the best way to talk to kids about drugs is just that, talk to them, not at them.

As parents we try to maintain composure with our children and give them someone to look up to.

We have found that it is not good to pretend that you know something when you do not.

It is best to be truthful with a child and we have found that they actually respond to that honesty in a very positive way.

We recommend that you be very patient when talking with your child on the subject of drugs and see to it that they get their questions answered.

Remember kids are interested in learning.

They do not want to feel left out of the crowd.

By making it comfortable for them to talk to you about drugs, it will give them confidence that they can come to you for answers instead of going to the drug dealers in the streets.

If you have any questions that you would like answered or you know of someone who needs help with a drug problem, you can contact us toll free here at Friends of Narconon (1-888-774-2345).

Friends of Narconon Staff are always happy to help and answer any questions.

Glossary Of Drug Terms

Alcohol: The world's most popular drug, legally used in most countries. Alcohol is produced through the fermentation of fruits, vegetables and grains.

Amphetamines: Often called "speed" or "Meth" this drug is a synthetically produced Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant with cocaine-like effects.

Amyl Nitrite: This drug is a yellowish, volatile, inflammable liquid with a fruity odor called "snappers" or "poppers," as they come in glass capsules that are broken. It is used for heart problems as it dilates the coronary arteries, allowing more oxygen to reach the heart. Currently, other vasodilators are preferred such as nitroglycerin "poppers". They are often used in an effort to enhance sexual climax.

Antibiotics: These are anti-infection drugs that inhibit the growth of or destroy micro-organisms and are used extensively in treating bacteria-caused diseases.

Antihistamines: These drugs block the effects of the allergy chemical, histamine, and relieves sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose and itching of the nose and throat.

Barbiturates: Drugs commonly used to calm nervousness and induce sleep and are derived from barbituric acid.

Belladonna: A poisonous hallucinogen found in the Atropa Belladonna plant, also known as "devils herb" or "deadly nightshade".

Caffeine: The stimulant drug found in coffee.

Cocaine: A bitter, crystalline drug obtained from the dried leaves of the coca shrub; it is a local anesthetic and a dangerous, illegal stimulant; the primary psychoactive ingredient in the coca plant and a behavioral-affecting drug.

Codeine: This drug is a derivative of the opium poppy much like morphine, but is less powerful than morphine or heroin. Codeine is often used for cough relief.

"Crack" Cocaine: The chemical cocaine is found in the oil of the coca plant leaf; when processed, cocaine is chemically turned into a water-soluble powder form called "cocaine hydrochloride"; "Crack" cocaine, much like "freebasing" cocaine, is cocaine powder that has been turned back into an oil form of smokable cocaine.

Cutting Agents: These are various powders that are used to dilute cocaine, heroin and other drugs used in powder form. Lactose ("milk sugar") is an example, another is mannitol.

Demerol: This is a synthetically produced narcotic that acts like morphine or heroin.

Dilaudid: This drug is a semi-synthetic opiate much like morphine.

Ergot: This is the name of the fungus Claviceps Purpurea that grows on wheat and rye plants and is often referred to as "wheat rust"; LSD comes from the ergot fungus.

Hashish: Cannabis preparation more potent than marijuana. This comes from the resinous secretions of marijuana plant's flowering tops.

Hashish Oil: The extracted oil of the marijuana plant and is usually dark and sticky.

Baby Hawaiian Wood Rose: The seeds of this plant, commonly found in dried plant arrangements, have a lysergic acid derivative; The effects of this drug usually cause nausea and vomiting as well as hallucinations.

Heroin: A powerful narcotic that is derived from morphine.

Honey Oil: The same as hashish oil except it is clear and looks much like honey does.

Ice: A smokable form of methamphetamines. By smoking the drug the effect on the body occurs quicker.

Inhalants: There are a number of substances that produce strong intoxicating vapors such as paint, paint thinner, modeling glue, gas liquid whiteout, magic markers and many others. These substances are very dangerous and are often used by young kids.

Datura: This is a name for the plant Datura Stramonium or sometimes called "locoweed". This plant contains the powerful poisonous hallucinogens atropine, scopolamine and hyscocyamine.

LSD: These letters stand for d-lysergic acid diethylamide. This chemical was synthesized from ergot in 1938 by Albert Hofmann of the Sandoz Laboratories in Switzerland; a powerful hallucinogen whose effective dose is 200 to 400 micrograms, a mere speck in size.

Marijuana: The Cannabis Sativa plant that produces a mild euphoric effect. The active ingredient that produces the euphoric effect is Delta-1-tetrahydrocannobinal; THC. Marijuana can be eaten or smoked in cigarette form or pipes. The oily resin of the marijuana plant can be produced into hashish or hashish oil.

Mescaline: This is the major hallucinogenic chemical found in the Peyote cactus. Mescaline is not found in the Mescal cactus from which tequila is acquired. To add to the potential confusion here is another hallucinogen found in the highly toxic "mescal bean" of the evergreen shrub named Sophora secundiflora. These beans do not contain mescaline either, but do contain the highly toxic chemical "cystine".

MMDA/MDA or "Ecstasy" : These two chemicals are derived from nutmeg or properly named Myristica Fragrans. They are both hallucinogenic and their use is illegal. Another derivative MDMA or "Ecstasy" was one of the original "designer drugs" in which the molecule was altered enough to get around the law, the effect was virtually the same as its predecessors.

Mornino Glory Seeds: Like the Hawaiian Baby Wood Rose, it contains a lysergic acid derivative and is hallucinogenic.

Morphine: Is a powerful narcotic that comes from the opium plant. Heroin is derived from morphine. This is named after the Greek god Morpheus, the god of sleep.

Nicotine: This is the drug found in tobacco.

PCP: The full name of this drug is phencyclidine. This drug was first developed to be used as a human anesthetic, used only today as a veterinary tranquilizer. Can be produced easily with common industrial chemicals.

Percodan: This is a synthetically produced narcotic that acts like morphine or heroin.

"Persian" heroin: This is heroin in a smokable form. Smoking heroin is often called 'chasing the dragon'.

Peyote: This is the name of the cacti that contain the hallucinogenic chemical mescaline.

Psilocybe: Often referred to as "magic mushrooms", this fungus contains two hallucinogens named. Psilocybin' and 'psilocin'. There are a number of other poisonous and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Quaaludes: A synthetic sedative drug that was once thought to be safer than barbiturates and in the 1970s became the most frequently prescribed sedative-hypnotic.

Sinsemilla: There are male and female marijuana plants. The flowers of the female marijuana contain the highest concentration of THC. Growers have learned that if the female plants are not allowed to be pollinated the flowers cluster and excrete greater quantities of resin. Marijuana grown like this is called "Sinsemilla" which simply means "no seeds".

STP: This synthetically produced hallucinogen is a variation of mescaline and amphetamines. Generally less potent than LSD, but it takes longer to breakdown in the body and therefore lasts much longer, in some instances 24 hours to several days.

Tobacco: The leaves of the tobacco plant are smoked in cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewed as chewing tobacco. Tobacco contains the drug nicotine.