Actually, no. According to some very expensive government studies, which are supported by other studies, there is no known treatment for substance abuse that's any more effective than no threatment at all.
There are, however, effective ways for individuals to deal w/ unwanted substance dependency. Methadone, though it has it's down side, seems to be a very good replacement for hard opiate addicts who
want to get off of heroin. But it takes a good long while to become so hooked on opiates as to even need a replacement drug. I don't know anyone under the age of about 30 who's needed methadone.
The best way for a parent to address drug issues w/ their kids is truthful, accurate education. Nothing more, nothing less. But, of course, in order to truthfully educate your kids you have to educate yourself. Forget everything that's come out of the government since Harry Anslinger. Before he and his buddies decided to solve America's drug problem we didn't have one to speak of. We had morphism, no doubt, especially among war veterans.
But there was no drug crime, no dirty needles and overdose was a rare and, usually, accidental thing. At that time, anyone, even a child, could walk into a drug store and purchase a dose of heroin for the same price as a dose of aspirin. Addiction rates among users were just about exactly the same as they are now; roughly 1% - 2% experience some difficulty quitting or moderating their use at some point.
In other words, aside from the typical, too often taken for granted unconditional familial love and support, you don't have to do anything to save your kid from drugs. They're not that big a threat to most people. And, for those rare few who do have serious problems controling their drug use, the very best thing in the world you can do for them is just the opposite of what the TOUGHLOVE hategroup tells you.
At present there is not a single credible established religion in the world.
--George Bernard Shaw, Irish-born English playwright
