It is very difficult to talk to your child about drugs and alcohol if you do not generally talk to your children about other topics as well.
RULE NUMBER 1: Talk to your kids. Also, if you start talking about "no use" when kids are little, it is easier to have the conversations when they are bigger.
RULE NUMBER 2: Listen to you kids. It may be easier to ask their opinion about what they think about other kids who use alcohol and drugs rather than directly ask them about their own use.
RULE NUMBER 3: Kids listen to you. Some parents use a technique of talking to one another in earshot of their son or daughter and purposefully allow the child to overhear their concern about the consequences of alcohol and drug use. For example, "Mr. Smith lost his job because he kept showing up late to work because he was drinking heavily the night before." Often times youth will tune it to a greater degree to adult conversations they think they are not supposed to hear.
RULE NUMBER 4: Be available to your child, but do not press for a discussion. Try not to ask too many questions.
RULE NUMBER 5: Give your child time and space to be alone. Privacy is very important once they enter adolescence, so try to make them feel comfortable by respecting their privacy.