Yes, you can! There are two ways that carers can make a big impact.

• You can help the young person not use drugs at all (this is called 'Prevention').
• You can also help them to stay safe if they do decide to use drugs (this is called 'Harm Minimisation').

Boundaries

Set rules and expectations (boundaries). Discuss these together and talk about the consequences for breaking them. Boundary setting is an important part of helping young people gain independence, remain safe and make sound decisions.

Boundaries help to make sure you both know what is expected. By setting and agreeing on boundaries, you create a ‘contract’ that outlines both of your expectations. This can help to avoid arguments in future.

But remember, young people are very good at pushing boundaries. This is because they need space to grow beyond the family. You can think about how you can adapt or change rules to meet their needs. This will help them to grow into a responsible adult.

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Some of the boundaries you might want to set could be:

• making sure there are adults looking out for them at the parties they attend
• not giving them alcohol or other drugs
• setting a time that you would like them to return home
• making sure you know they have a way to get home safely
• specific rules: some things you might be okay with, and other things you might not be!

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Alternatives

You may have heard some people talk about using drugs as a way of fitting in or having dun, or as a way coping with boredom or difficult feelings. You can also talk with the young person to help them find other ways to cope.

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Talk to them about the risks and make sure they understand them.

Learning about risks alone isn’t enough to keep young people safe. But it does help them know what to look out for and how to be prepared if something goes wrong.

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Refusal Skills

Refusal skills can help someone say ‘no’ to taking part in risky behaviours. Carers can help young people practice saying no to drugs.

It might not always be easy to say no. How they say no may differ based on their age or stage of life. But, being prepared and knowing what to say will help them make their own decisions and stick to them.

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 Things for you to keep in mind:

• it can be harder to refuse drugs from strangers than from close friends
• be confident when you say no, think about the words you say and the tone of voice you use. Be direct and show that you are firm in your choice. Offer a different option like: “why don’t we go out for coffee and a movie instead?”

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Decide ahead of time

Young people can have trouble making good choices in the moment. This can be harder if they are excited or if their friends are around them. You can help them by talking about the choices they might need to make ahead of time. You could also help them to practice ways to say no if they are offered drugs. Think of it like practicing your fire safety plan.

You could ask some questions to get them thinking about their decisions:

• What would they do if they were offered drugs by a stranger at a party?
  ...What if they were a close friend?
• What if other people start taking drugs?
• What if they do want to try it but they know they aren't allowed / don’t want to upset you?

Talking about these things ahead of time will help them to make the right choice for them in the moment.
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Safety Tips

Taking steps to make something that could be harmful, as safe as you can, is called ‘harm minimisation’. It means that you are making it less likely that something bad or harmful will happen.

Give young people some general tips on staying safe:

• have something to eat and drink plenty of water before using drugs
• avoid mixing drugs, especially with alcohol and never use alcohol with other drugs that make you sleepy or relaxed
• you can't know exactly what's in a drug or drink just by looking at it
• use drugs with trusted friends in a safe place; do not use alone. Try to have at least one person with you who isn't using drugs who can keep an eye on you
• if you are taking a stimulant like ecstasy, try a small amount first and wait before taking more
• do not accept a drink unless you saw it being prepared and do not leave your drink without watching it
• drink non-alcoholic drinks (like water or soft drinks) between alcoholic drinks, but don’t exceed 1 litre in 1 hour
• rest between long periods of dancing
• know how to put someone into the recovery position: this could save a life if someone passes out or loses consciousness
• let them know it’s always okay to call you if they need you
• add an 'In Case of Emergency' contact in their phone so that first responders know who to call in an emergency.

In case of an emergency or overdose, you should always follow DRSABCD.

This acronym reminds people of what to do in an emergency. It stands for:
‍Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation.

Do not delay seeking help because you are worried about getting into trouble. The paramedics are more concerned with keeping you safe and alive than getting you into trouble.

Do not wait. Call 000 for help as soon as you become aware of a problem.

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DRSABCD

Danger:

Be aware of things that could cause further harm to you or the person. Look around for any things that could be a safety issue: like used needles, traffic, or water on the ground

Response:

Check for a response. Ask for the person's name. Squeeze their shoulders.

If the person is awake and can talk: ask them if they have taken a drug, how much they have taken, when and what substance.

If the person is unconscious: place them on their side and check if their airways are blocked. See if they are breathing and try to find a pulse.

Watch their vital signs. This is important to know so that you can pass it on to the ambulance or first responders.

Check for any broken bones or fractures. Keep any packets or containers that may have held substances that they have taken. Send these to the hospital with them or pass them on to first responders.

Send:

Send for help.  If you are busy helping the person, ask someone else to call. Dial 000.
You can also call 112 on a mobile for a stronger signal.

Follow the advice of the 000 operator. They are trained to help you over the phone until the ambulance arrives. Stay calm and listen carefully. Advise the operator of any changes to the person as soon as they happen.

Airway:

Check if their airways (nose and mouth) are blocked. Open their mouth and remove anything that could make it hard to breathe.

Breathing:

See if they are breathing: watch their chest, listen to their nose, try to feel their breath on your skin.

CPR:

If the person is not breathing, it is time to start CPR. Push firmly down in the middle of the chest and then release. Every 20 pushes, if you are able, give two rescue breaths. Try to press the chest down at about 100 presses a minute.

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Defibrillation:

If you have an automated external defibrillator or AED available, turn it on and follow the instructions.

‘Harm reduction’ steps are often taken by people who use drugs on a regular basis. But, steps can be taken to prevent harmful outcomes even when drugs are tried for the first time.

We need to think differently about young people using drugs. We should not compare the drug use of young people with the drug use of adults. The patterns of use are different, and young people may not seek help as quickly.

If we focus on preventing and reducing harms, we can:

• respond without judging
• have the right conversations with the young people in our lives
• learn everything we need to know about drugs to stay safe
• help young people to practice saying no
• help young people to know when to ask for help
• help young people to respond to peer pressure

In this Conversation we learned:

• Strong and healthy relationships can help to keep young people safe
• Setting boundaries with young people is important
• We can help young people to practice refusal skills and pass on important safety tips to them
• What to do in an emergency

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