HOUSE RULES

A recent study in the United States has found that parents come under
the limelight among those who impose strict rules on their teenagers.
The result: there's a better chance of raising drug-free children.

Teens who live in a highly structured household are at low risk of
abusing drugs, whether the children are raised by both parents, a
single parent or a step-parent.

These "hands-on" parents take such actions as: turning off the TV
during dinner; banning music with offensive lyrics; knowing where
their children are after school; imposing a curfew; assigning regular
chores; knowing who their friends are; eating dinner with their
children at least five times a week.

Only 27 per cent of households were found to have this type of rules.
Teenagers living in "hands-off" households were twice as likely to
abuse drugs.

Another discipline: do you allow your teenager to smoke?