Smoking, alcohol and substance misuse

Being a good role model

Your behaviour affects your children.  Whether your answer to a problem or a crisis is to have a drink or take some drugs, thing can progress to the stage that you are not taking proper care of your children or protecting them.  Their safety could be at risk.

Think about the way you act and what it says.  If you or someone at home smokes, drinks alcohol or takes drugs remember children learn from what they see and may begin to think that smoking, alcohol or drugs are a solution to problems.  Often people start using drugs to relieve stress or tension.  No matter how careful you think you are, children are often very aware of their parents' behaviour.  Both alcohol and drugs can affect your ability to look after your children and have serious effects on them as they grow up.  They could also find drugs and try them - leading to serious problems.  Make sure you keep alcoholic drinks out of reach.

It is important that you talk to your partner or other family members who could offer support to you and your children.  Children may not want to talk about it because of the shame around alcohol or drugs or fear about what could happen.  There is support available for children who live in households where drugs and alcohol are a problem.

1. Using alcohol or drugs at home may result in changes to the way your child acts.
2. Think - what does your use of alcohol or drugs teach your children?
3. Get more information and seek help and advice.   Stop smoking now.

Be aware

• When parents smoke, drink or use drugs, it often affects the emotional development and well-being of their children.
• Parental smoking, drug or alcohol use can put children in danger.
• In families where drug and alcohol are used it is common for children and young people to go on to use them.
• Violence at home is often caused by drug and alcohol misuse.

Useful links for advice on stopping smoking

Stop smoking with One Life Suffolk