Resources and Talking Tips by Substance
The Development of the Brain
“Research has shown that teenagers who have regular, serious conversations about drug prevention with their parents are about 50% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t.”
How Do You Really Keep Your Kids Safe from Addiction
“Over 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink. Send a clear message that you disapprove of underage drinking and the misuse of other drugs.”
Research suggests that one of the most important factors in healthy child development is a strong, open relationship with a parent. It is important to start talking to your children about alcohol and other drugs before they are exposed to them.
Use These 5 Goals When Talking to Kids about Alcohol and Other Drugs
1. Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse.
Over 80 percent of young people ages 10–18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink. Send a clear and strong message that you disapprove of underage drinking and misuse of other drugs.
2. Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success.
Young people are more likely to listen when they know you’re on their side. Reinforce why you don’t want your child to drink or use other drugs—because you want your child to be happy and safe. The conversation will go a lot better if you’re open and you show concern.
3. Show you’re a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs.
You want your child to make informed decisions about alcohol and other drugs with reliable information about their dangers. You don’t want your child to learn about alcohol and other drugs from unreliable sources. Establish yourself as a trustworthy source of information.
4. Show you’re paying attention and you’ll discourage risky behaviors.
Show you’re aware of what your child is up to, as young people are more likely to drink or use other drugs if they think no one will notice. Do this in a subtle way, without prying.
5. Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding underage drinking and drug use.
Even if you don’t think your child wants to drink or try other drugs, peer pressure is a powerful thing. Having a plan to avoid alcohol and drug use can help children make better choices. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they’ll say “no thanks.”
Keep it low-key. Don’t worry, you don’t have to get everything across in one talk. Plan to have many short talks.
The longer children delay drinking and drug use, the less likely they are to develop any problems associated with it. That’s why it is so important to help your child connect the dots and make smart decisions about alcohol and drugs.
Parenting for Prevention
This is a series of parent-focused handouts based on the four essentials of Parenting for Prevention. Created by prevention and mental health/child development experts, this series builds skills that enable parents to incorporate effective prevention messages throughout the stages of development. Download the handouts by age.
Revealed: A Hidden World, A Parental Education Trailer
Launched in 2019 through a partnership with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Revealed: A Hidden World is the PWC’s parent and guardian education tool for teen substance abuse prevention aimed to help show families the importance of detecting the use of drugs and alcohol in their own home. This interactive display offers adults insights into current trends in youth substance abuse, drug paraphernalia, and concealment of illicit drugs & alcohol. The inside of the trailer is staged to resemble a typical teenager’s bedroom. Placed throughout the bedroom are numerous ordinary items placed in plain view to show where drugs or alcohol can be hidden, as well as other signs that could indicate substance abuse, cluing the parents and guardians in on signs to look for.
Adults are invited to walk through the bedroom and see what warning signs they notice. Once they’ve looked around and pointed out what they considered signs, a PWC representative points out the items and signs they overlooked. Because parents and guardians have a significant influence on their children’s decision to experiment with drugs and alcohol, they are presented with talking points to take with them to aid in initiating a conversation with their children.
If you would like to discuss the opportunity to educate family members on the importance of keeping a drug-free home at your next event, please contact the PWC about scheduling the Revealed: A Hidden World trailer.
