As a parent, you want what's best for your kids. And you know as your kids grow up they will face many temptations, including drugs.

The more time you take to communicate with your child about drugs and other sensitive subjects, the more at ease your child will be coming

to you with questions or problems.

The following are suggestions that can help you become a more effective communicator, according to behavioral scientist, Tony Biglan, Ph.D.

1) Be a better listener- ask questions and be willing to listen to what your child has to say. Paraphrase what your child says to you to

make sure you understood what they meant.

2) Give honest answers- don't make up what you don't know. If your child asks you something, and you don't know the answer, offer to find out--

better yet, make it a project to find out the answer together.

3) Don't react- in a way that will cut off further discussion. If your child makes statements that shock you or are counter to your beliefs, try to turn them into

a calm discussion of why your child thinks the way he/she does. A negative reaction to one subject, may make your child apprehensive to start future

discussions about other difficult subjects.

The most important thing for you to remember is to tell your children that you love them- and tell them often.