#20 Parents Matter

In this episode, we speak to Professor Bobby Smyth, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, on the role of parents in the area of substance prevention and education, as part of an ongoing campaign ‘Parents Matter’ to promote information about substances and how to engage children and young people on this matter. Families have the potential to act as a major protective force in the lives of children and adolescents. Mutually supportive family relationships generally influence the prevention of substance use among young people.   In the podcast we hear about the current drug and alcohol landscape, including the latest drug trends and how parents can help in supporting healthy decision making by their children. Professor Smyth also discusses the reasons why we seek to delay or avoid young people’s entry into the world of alcohol and drug use and the steps which parents can take to reduce the likelihood that their son or daughter develops a substance use problem. Hosted by Noreen Turley.   To find out more information and the support options for concerned parents in their local area, visit: https://www.drugs.ie/drugs_info/for_parents_carers/resources_for_parents/   As we have reached the final episode of series one of the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast, we would like to take the opportunity to thank all involved and in particular, thank the listeners for their engagement and support throughout our first series. We would like to invite you to take a quick survey where we would appreciate if you could provide some feedback for us to consider ahead of commencing series two of the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HWpodcast/   Please get in touch to find out more about our podcast series or the work of HSE Health and Wellbeing [email protected]      Produced by GKMedia.ie