Discussing drugs

It’s always jarring when someone you think is perfect reveals that they experimented with drugs, alcohol or sex when they were younger. It’s even more difficult when that person is your mom or dad.

I’m all for moving on with your life and leaving youthful misdeeds in the past, but a new survey by the The Hazeldon Foundation addiction treatment center says parents should talk about their own struggles with their children.

Sixty percent of the 600 teens surveyed said that hearing about their parents’ drug and alcohol challenges would make them more responsible. More than half of the teens said it would make them less likely to use drugs.

Only 4 percent of the teens said it would make them more likely to use drugs.

These findings clearly have some holes, especially that the findings are coming from the mouths of teenagers. I can’t help but think swapping addiction stories with some of these teenagers might just give them one more way to justify their own drug or alcohol usage.

For that reason, I’m not sure it’s a good idea to elaborately detail the five-day bender you went on senior year that ended with you passed out in a friend’s closet for two days.

I do, however, think it’s a good idea for parents not to pretend that they are perfect. Trying to cling to the pedestal that your child once had you on will only hurt your relationship and make you avoid a conversation that could save your child from addiction.

What do you think — should parents be open with their children about their own experiences with drug and alcohol addiction? How do you approach these topics with your kids?