[dror]

- Lead by example. Be responsible about your own use and be honest about it.

- Help them engage in constructive risk taking behavior. Sports are a common example, and there's plenty of research showing that they reduce harmful behavior. Teens, specifically males explore risky behavior. They have these new magnificent bodies and they want to test their limits.

- Be present, available and engaged with them. Some of the time, they'll want you out of their face. That's fine, but try and keep routines like family meals, and talk to them, if they're willing.

- Try to maintain the family. Sometimes a divorce/separation is the right thing, but for the kids, most of the time, keeping the family together in a dual-parent family is very important.

[Two4]

While your comment addresses the most common factors contributing to addiction, it doesn't really answer the question of how to let children experience the consequences of addiction in a way that's low stakes and not irreversible.

[whythre]

I am not sure it’s possible. Part of what defines addiction is that overpowers the will, which isn’t safe. It also is typically a long term decent, a series of poor decisions in the grip of a disease. Not easy to model.