Talking to Your Teens about Drugs & Alcohol

Useful Tips

Make It Safe.

Be flexible about when you talk, but not about whether you talk.

Respecting your teen’s timetable for talking does not mean you are no longer the parent.

Create a “safety reserve” by creating safety even when there are no problems.

Discuss, Agree On, and Stick With Boundaries.

Evaluate the Dialogue.

Better conversations mean better outcomes.

Research shows that better skills can decrease conflict, increase influence, and produce more successful conversations with your teen around important issues like drug and alcohol use.

Specific skills parents can implement when tackling the topic of drug use with their teens:

Keep Your Best Motives in Mind.

Confront with Facts, Not Judgments.

Resources: