Minnesota Institute of Public Health

There are simply times when people are more amenable to learning. Call it a readiness, or even heightened inclination to learn. Often it’s driven by something that happens in our environment. They are teachable moments in our lives. For example in parent-child interactions, if we see a terrible crash on TV news or in real life, it may beg the question, was the injured or killed person wearing a seat belt? How could it have helped? This is what I know and believe. What do YOU know and believe? A genuine dialog of standards, family rules, norms, guidelines, preventive measures is often initiated by something that parents and child observed or experienced together.

It can happen even when unsafe or unhealthy messages are shared. Like watching a beer commercial with your child on TV and saying, “Honey, do you think its true like that commercial suggests, that drinking a certain lite beer gives you a better physique, a better tan, a better likelihood to play beach volleyball on a white sand beach? I don’t. In fact, I think they’re just trying to sell beer, and they are suggesting a world with no bad consequences for consuming alcohol, especially their brand. That’s what I think. What are YOUR thoughts?”

It can happen driving in a car together and seeing or hearing something, out the window, on the radio, or just in conversation. Sharing expectations and values, triggered by some teachable moment. The important part is to listen as well as to share what you believe.

There was a study done at the University of Minnesota many years back where 90 plus percent of parents said, “I’d like to talk with my child about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, but I do NOT want to be the one to initiate that conversation!” Similarly, 90% plus of young people said, “I’d like to talk with my parents about alcohol and other drugs, but I don’t want to be the one to START that talk!” This really makes the case for a trigger to get both communicating. How about a teachable moment? Parents share but don’t lecture and come on heavy-handed. Kids share but try not to get defensive or shut the conversation down just because it’s difficult. And as always, success hinges upon how much parent and child are truly willing to really listen to one another.

The Michael Jackson tragedy is among other things, likely a very powerful teachable moment about prescription drugs and their deadly potential. The Partnership For Drug Free America rightly points out, right now is a good time to talk. Whatever the outcome of the truth behind Michael Jackson’s tragic death, it is surely a teachable moment on a critical life subject.

Please contact the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center (800-782-1878) for tips and ideas for parents and children about the risks of use, mis-use and abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

- JJ