Just do it – much like the big sex talk – it may be awkward but if you don’t tell what they need to know, their friends will fill in the blanks.

If you have ever had drugs yourself or know anyone who has – use those stories. Obviously don’t tell your kids about how fun the parties were that you popped a pill at, tell them the grimy side, tell them the stories of friend you know that didn’t make it out the other side as well as you did. Tell them about the friend that ODed, or is now in prison, or is now an addict. Obviously don’t say such things if they aren’t true, but sharing stories of your own past gives it more credibility. My husband told our children stories of when he was younger and how depressed it made him and the scary hallucinations he had and how some of the things still haunt him. And also stories of how some of his friends were never really the same since. Our children now know they can approach dad with questions because he won’t judge them and they know he knows what he’s talking about.

Be open and don’t judge. If you don’t know the answers don’t pretend you do – they’ll see straight through it. Do some reading if you have to, there are plenty of books available now on drug-proofing your kids. And be a good example – don’t pop a pill every time you have the slightest head ache.

I took my son to visit my uncle. My father never let us see my uncle very much growing up because he was a very shady character and he used a lot of drugs. Just to look at my uncle is rather scary – he is covered in tattoos, he has huge scares on his body from fights and he is missing a lot of teeth from drug use. He’s been in and out of gaol all his life for drugs and drug related things. We went to visit him and talk to him. My son got the message pretty quickly that drugs were not a good option.