John Fleming, MD on Preventing Addiction

Mental Help Net (www.mentalhelp.net) presents the Wise Counsel Podcast (wisecounsel.mentalhelp.net), hosted by David Van Nuys, Ph.D. "John C. Fleming, MD on Preventing Addiction", posted July 15, 2007. Dr. Fleming is a strong advocate for parents taking strict but loving steps to restrict and limit childrens' opportunities for becoming addicted. He suggests that parents do not model drinking in front of children, indoctrinate children against substance abuse in the same way that they would teach children to not run into the street, to not allow children to have long periods of unsupervised time, to lock medications and alcohol away from children, and to use breathalizer and other drug tests on at-risk children to disincentivize them from using or experimenting. So as not to shock children with a sudden change of the rules, these measures should be implemented from birth and be applied consistantly.