\n<\/p>\n
But starting these conversations is not easy for all parents. Some parents feel there is no immediate need, Mr Tan said. Others worry about saying the wrong thing or lacking enough knowledge about emerging drug trends.<\/p>\n
Another common fear is that raising the subject may plant the idea in children’s minds about consuming drugs.<\/p>\n
Dr Pamela Goh, a lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said parents sometimes fear that bringing up drugs could backfire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But her research, which seeks to understand what facilitates or hinders parents from having anti-drug conversations with their children, found that how the topic is communicated matters.<\/p>\n
Youths she interviewed said restrictive messaging can trigger their interest. “This emphasises that it is not the mere mention of drugs that should be of concern, but the nature of these conversations instead,” said Dr Goh.<\/p>\n
Mr Bryan Soh, counsellor at Addictions Recovery Singapore, said cultural stigma surrounds drug use, where it is associated with gangs.<\/p>\n
Someone who consumes drugs is often also seen as a person who is too weak to handle the stresses of life, he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“When parents think of drugs in general, often it seems to be more of a matter to be swept under the rug. It’s not discussed in general, I won’t say even among parents, actually, among Singaporeans in general, it’s not a topic that’s brought up often,” said Mr Soh.<\/p>\n
Parents may also struggle because they were never taught how to approach such topics.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“No one really trains you on how to communicate. There\u2019s no one course on how to communicate with your child about drug abuse and about such a heavy and complex topic,” he said.<\/p>\n
While family-based interventions are useful in helping to create effective communication, they can only go so far. Ultimately, there is still a power imbalance in the parent-child relationship, he added.<\/p>\n
Some youths hesitate to speak up because they anticipate judgment, punishment or misunderstanding. Others may not be aware of where they can seek help, worry about getting into trouble, or fear their parents finding out.<\/p>\n
“All of these concerns can prevent people from speaking up in the first place, especially when it\u2019s conflicted with a fear of punishment,” said Mr Soh.<\/p>\n
Some of them may not trust their parents, who can be constantly stressed and occupied with work, absent, or even abusive – either physically or emotionally.<\/p>\n
All of these prior negative experiences damage the parent\u2013child relationship, the counsellor said. “Without trust, without a proper foundation to build on, there\u2019s simply no communication to be had at all,” he added.<\/p>\n
While talking about drugs does not guarantee a child will abstain, it signals that support exists.<\/p>\n
With that increased level of trust and communication between parent and child, it is more likely that the child would be willing to speak up about concerns in his or her immediate social circle, said Mr Soh.<\/p>\n
“That is a protective factor against drug use.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n