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Based on SAMHSA's 2007 National Survey on Drug Use & Health, 7.8% (19.3 million) persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for their alcohol problem in the past year. Do you know that for many of those that needed help, the reason for their drinking started due to their lack of self-esteem? That’s right. Teenagers who lack self-confidence are 70% more likely to abuse drugs vs. teenagers who are happy with how they feel about themselves.
As parents, you can do many things to enhance your children’s self-image. Here are 5 pointers that I know would have helped me growing up:
1. Offer praise for any job well done. This can go a long way. Despite how it may seem, kids are always trying to impress their parents and for them to know they did, goes a long way!
2. If you need to criticize your child, talk about the action, not the person. If your daughter gets a math equation wrong, it’s better to say, “I think you added wrong. Let’s try again.” - Than to say something that may sound demeaning to them.
3. Assign do-able chores. A 6-year-old for instance can bring her plate over to the sink after dinner. A 13-year-old can have a much larger responsibility such as feeding and walking the dog after school. Performing such duties and praising your child if done correctly makes them feel better about themselves because they did the jobs themselves.
4. Spend one-on-one time with your teenager. Setting aside at least 15 uninterrupted minutes per child per day to talk, play a game, or take a walk together, let’s your teen know you care. 15 minutes a day can keep the drugs away!
5. Say, “I love you.” Nothing will make your child feel better than these 3 words!
Information and lessons like this concerning drugs are important to repeat and revisit frequently with your teenager. I am not a parent but I was the child who would eventually turn to drugs due to lack of self-esteem. So please let my lesson be yours.
Don’t forget about our book, The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Staying Sober and “Serenity” CD by Rock Star and Super Star. They both come with accolades from drug counselors and experts in the field of addiction. Both are recommended tools in fighting teenage and adult drug abuse. Order our very special Recovery Pack HERE
About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.
Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.
I am also a musician who has just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. It was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here
Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com
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