How do we talk to our kids about our own drug and alcohol use?

Those who believe it's OK to tell little white lies soon grow colorblind, so I say it's always best to tell the truth. The question is: How much?

I'd start with, "I'll be the first to tell you that your dad and I made a lot of mistakes when we were young. The details aren't important but the problems we experienced are because some of them are long-lasting. I love you so much. It would break my heart to see you go through what I experienced, so let's talk about what you're going through. What do you think about using drugs?"

The good news is that your kids are coming to you with their questions. Frankly, I'd rather be their information source than the pinhead down the street. Tell 'em enough, but that doesn't mean tell 'em all. You can always fill in the blanks later.