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You’re a Christian parent. You’ve done everything “right” in terms of raising your children. But how can you be sure that you’ve done enough?

Take drug and alcohol abuse, for example. If you have a child age 14 or older, you can be almost certain that he or she has tried or been offered drugs by now. In fact, recent statistics indicate that as many as 85% of all young people say that they have experimented with intoxicating substances – a statistic that includes even strong Christian families.

That’s the bad news. Fortunately, though, there is hope.

There is something you can do right now to help keep your children from becoming statistics in the war on drugs. Take out a piece of paper and get something to write with (or use your wordprocessor if it’s any easier). Next, read the following eight questions carefully. Then – and this is the tough part – answer them honestly.

1. Are there any mood-altering chemicals in your medicine cabinet? (If so, how many are there . . . and why are they there?)

2. When you are feeling stress, distress or pain, do you medicate yourself with prescription drugs or alcohol at any time?

3. Do you routinely need an “after-work drink” or an “after-dinner smoke?”

4. Do you keep prescription drugs around “just in case” after an illness has subsided?

5. What about drug-related images in your home? (Do you wear any T-shirts, caps or any other articles of clothing featuring drug- or alcohol-related advertising)

6. How do you respond to drunken behavior on television or in movies? (Do your kids think you think it’s funny?)

7. What about the music that’s played in your home or car – does it glamorize or trivialize drug or alcohol usage?

8. Do you lack respect for the law and refuse to observe all driving regulations?

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions listed above, you need to make some changes in your own life. And believe me . . . doing so will be the most effective prevention tool you can use in your home.

Now, there is no sure-fire way to “Drug-Proof Your Kids” . . . but utilizing these 8 points is a good place to start. So make the changes you need to make to keep your children from making a deadly decision. You know what they say – “Drug abuse is life abuse!”

(Excerpted from the book, How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs by Stephen Arterburn and Jim Burns, Ph.D.)