U.S. TEEN DRUG ADDICTION EXPERT HERE TO TALK TO PARENTS

Kids are more likely to abide by parents' rules if they feel like mom and
dad have really listened to them, says a leading North American expert in
adolescent drug addiction prevention and treatment.

"You have to avoid a power struggle and not freak out when they tell you
they've smoked a cigarette, or tried marijuana," said clinical psychologist
Dr. Robert Schwebel, who'll speak to parents at Eric Hamber Secondary Nov.
21.

Once that dialogue is open, he said, parents can speak to their kids about
how often they're using tobacco, drugs or alcohol and how it makes them
feel.

"That doesn't mean you're being permissive because once you start talking,
you can then say to your kids, 'This isn't acceptable and it's going to have
to stop,'" he said. "You'll get a much better reception from your child if
they feel you've really listened before you make that decision."

Schwebel said sometimes parents forget how influential they can be if they
keep communication channels open.

"It's about giving them the information they need to make the right choices
and a way to try and get them thinking."

Schwebel, who's been a guest on Oprah, CBS's Early Show and NBC's Today
Show, is best known for his Seven Challenges Program for adolescent drug
treatment, used in juvenile correctional facilities across Canada, the U.S.
and Puerto Rico. He's also the author of Saying No is Not Enough and Keep
Your Kids Tobacco Free, maintains a private family counselling practice in
Arizona and serves as resident family psychologist at ParentSoup.com, where
he answers parents' questions on his popular message board.

Schwebel said while many kids think smoking marijuana is harmless, they need
to know that it can take away their ambition and inhibit learning processes
at a crucial time in their lives.

"They need to prepare for their future and careers," he said. "They also
need to learn how to interact with their peers. Smoking pot helps them
escape or avoid issues, rather than deal with them."

He argues it's never too early to talk to kids about drugs, adding parents
should address the attractions of drugs and alcohol, not just the evils.

"You have to prepare them for the benefits they're going to hear from their
peers or older siblings about how tobacco, or drugs or booze, helps them
relax or feel more comfortable and how they like the way it feels."

Parents can play a role in directing kids toward alternative outlets like
sports or hobbies, and anger-management and relaxation techniques, he said.