Below are some factors that can be considered around parental/guardian/ family use and behaviour towards alcohol and other drug use.

Protective factors

• Parents and other significant adults who ‘walk the walk’ and ‘talk the talk’ (positive role modelling)
• Strong family/home bonding which offers a strong sense of belonging or “fitting in”
• Adults/parents/caregivers who set and role model clear and consistent rules about acceptable behaviours, mutual responsibilities and shared activities

• Adults/parents/caregivers who set and role model clear and consistent boundaries
• Shared and enjoyable family (regardless of definition of family) activities and rituals
• Opportunity for success and meaningful involvement in activities
• Attendance at school in a positive school environment
• Good school performance is a strong protector – this means doing the best you can, trying the hardest and valuing effort
• A sense of belonging or “fitting in”
• Promoting rights and responsibilities
• Stressing the consequences of personal behaviour in home environments, and in the community

• Families and communities of people who value children.
• Communities of people who values personal safety at a high priority – communities which do not condone physical, sexual, emotional abuse or bullying.
• Home environments which provide stability, structure, monitoring and nurturing are less risky for adolescent drug use than those which are unpredictable or chaotic, and where adults are stressed, mentally ill, or using drugs themselves.

Risk factors

• Parent/caregivers who misuse drugs themselves;  where illicit drug use is accepted as normal, acceptable and desirable; and/or where illegal or anti-social behaviours are condoned, and where young people’s activities are not monitored
• Peer groups where drug use is considered normal, acceptable and desirable, where illegal or anti-social behaviours are condoned, and where young people’s activities are not monitored by adults, are more risky and more likely to lead to drug use.
• School and work environments that are not inclusive of difference (social exclusion) and not encouraging of young people’s efforts are risky for drug use.
• Environments in which aggressive or withdrawn behaviours occur, or poor performance is tolerated, are also less than ideal.