PUBLIC health charity Addaction is urging parents to take time out to ‘Have the Chat’ to their teenagers about drugs.

YouGov surveyed 901 British parents of children aged 12 to18 and found nearly half of Scottish parents would feel very confident giving advice compared with 34 per cent of English parents.

Now Gareth Balmer, Project Manager at Addaction Scotland, is giving advice about how to talk to children about drugs.

He said: “It’s totally normal to worry as a parent, but telling a teenager to ‘just say no’ isn’t helpful and is often counterproductive.

"Our advice is start the chat, keep talking, listen well and don’t turn it into a big thing.

"We know that a lot of parents want to talk but are worried about what to say and concerned about getting it wrong."

Parents who want extra advice, support, or encouragement can use Addaction’s free and confidential web chat service, staffed by trained advisors.

A range of resources for parents and access to web chat is available at www.addaction.org.uk

Karen Tyrell, spokeswoman for the campaign, added: “When it comes to drugs, don’t make it a big talk.

"Short regular chats show your kids it’s okay to talk to you about these issues.

"Choose an informal setting like a car journey or a walk and keep an open mind, kids won’t want to talk if they feel judged or cornered.

"Try to be realistic about what you may hear. If you get an answer you don’t like, don’t panic, keep talking and ask for help if you need it.”

To launch the Have the chat campaign, Addaction has developed seven tips for parents to start the conversation about drugs.

Seven tips to have the chat

1) Don’t make it a big thing. Everyone will feel awkward if you treat it like a ‘big talk’...including you. Try to think of it as the start of a regular conversation. You want to show your kids it’s okay to talk about drugs.

2) Pick the right moment. You’ll need a time and place when you both feel comfortable. Side-by-side chats can help put everyone at ease - try a car journey or a walk.

3) Don’t feel like you have to be an expert. No-one knows about every drug. But you’re the expert on your own kids. Think about your own experiences and draw on that. Do some research too if you need to.

4) Listen without lecturing. We know the ‘just say no’ message doesn’t work...in fact it can have the opposite effect. Your teenager won’t want to talk if they feel judged or preached at.

5) Be patient. Kids will need a bit of time and space to think about what you discuss. This is normal and not something to worry about. But make sure they know they can come to you if things go wrong. No conversation is out of bounds, you’re always there to help.

6) Be realistic. There’s a good chance your teenager will come into contact with cigarettes, drugs or alcohol at some point. It’s important to be realistic, even if that feels scary. If you start the conversation, be prepared to hear answers you might not like.

7) Don’t give up. Be kind to yourself and remember that this isn’t a pass / fail test. These things take time - even if the conversation doesn’t go the way you want an initial chat can help sow a seed for the future.