10 Tips for addressing drug and alcohol use with teens by Claudia Figallo, MPH, LAADC-S

Don’t assume that experimental drug use will lead to harder drugs. Experimenting with drugs can be part of their developmental process. 

Focus on safety. Explore harm reduction alternatives and safer drug use. Learning to navigate drugs is much like learning to drive. Apply safety strategies to ensure  a long, healthy relationship with drugs and alcohol, not a complicated one.

Discuss priorities. If your teen is keen to get high, discuss where and when this will happen. Set standards such as not before school or work or when driving. Perhaps only on weekends or once all work is done. 

Don’t ignore the harms. Talk to your teen about respecting drugs and understanding the harms. Don’t aim for shock value, aim for clear and concise information and honest education. Including best nutrition and hydration when getting high.

Be honest about your own drug use if you feel comfortable doing so. This may help build connections and de-stigmatize drug use. Stigma, dishonesty and ignorance are more harmful than drugs.

Discuss mental health: Help your teen explore what they enjoy about getting high by asking open ended questions. Let them discuss the pros and cons. Talk about emotions that may be linked to their use.

Variety is key. Make sure that your teen has a variety of friends and activities, not just those who they get high with. “The opposite of addiction is not abstinence, the opposite of addiction is connection”. Any behavior which drives us away from others and ourselves can be as harmful as drugs. Aim for relationships and activities that drive connection, not disconnection.

Support, don’t punish. Leave the door open so that your teen can tell you if they feel things are getting out of hand and they aren’t able to stick to a plan or it’s getting in the way of school work. Come to the relationship with concern and support not judgment and punishment.  

Discuss legal issues such as what to do if they get caught with drugs. ALL drugs are illegal to minors and getting caught with them can have serious consequences for financing, education and employment in the future. Who will your teen call if they are in trouble? If not you, then identify someone.

Get support. Take care of yourself by speaking to other parents of teens and discussing how they handle situations. Be a united front with partners and caregivers. Make sure you build support into your daily routine as concerns for your child can impact many parts of your own life.