People take drugs and drink alcohol for a variety of reasons, understanding why may help you to talk to your child.

• Fun: Some people take drugs or drink alcohol to have fun, relax and socialise with their friends
• Experimentation: Some people are just curious to try drugs or alcohol. They typically do this a few times and decide it’s not for them.
• Escapism: Some people use drugs or alcohol to escape their emotions. They might be depressed, stressed, anxious, and think drugs or alcohol are helping them cope. If you think your child is using drugs or alcohol as a form of escape, talk to them about the problems that have prompted them to make this decision.
• To fit in: Some people take drugs or alcohol to ‘fit in,’ they may be under pressure from their friends to do this. They may feel they have no choice. It is important to be understanding if, it may be difficult to understand them wanting to ‘fit in’ but it is important to not dismiss them.

It is important to have open conversations with your child, especially when concerns about knife crime arise. While it is natural to feel concerned and to panic, responding in this way might push your child away. Instead approach this with a calm, supportive mindset.

Having open conversations with your child can build trust, help them feel safe and let them know you are there for them. The following approach, abbreviated to TRUSTED, can guide you through having an effective empathetic dialogue when having difficult conversations.