Open Ear Policy (Hear 2 Help)
- Blog Updates, Standard Blog
- December 12, 2016
One thing that I really appreciate about Linked In is the ability to share ideas and learn from others. One of my group members (Barbara Altman) brought up an important topic in our Psychology group. She questioned what was the best way to keep our youth away from drugs. I stand by the Open Ear Policy (Hear 2 Help technique and strategy). I believe that we must teach our youth about drugs and what they are about. What we don’t take time to do is explain how easy it is to become addicted to drugs. Sometimes there is a genetic basis to addiction. As a parent, this means that self-awareness is very important.
Educators and parents must not shy away from discussing their own personal use of drugs and what their own personal outcomes have been when using drugs. Our youths need to be able to identify and relate, or it just sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher, “Waa, Waa, Waa, Waa, Waa, waaa!” (Noise).
An individual needs to understand how they can become addicted to drugs. Our youth need to understand how anxiety and depression can lead to self-medication. Triggers should be identified and discussed. An Open Ear Policy needs to be established. Open Ear Policy means that children should be able to come and speak to a chosen adult without worry of judgment or a lecture. This Open Ear Policy could eliminate the need to self-medicate. Sometimes all a person needs is to feel like they are understood first, and accepted second.
