Preventing Youth Alcohol and Drug Use

Childhood and adolescence, especially the teen years, are times of exploration, social influences, and the development of independence. Part of that process involves exposure to drugs and alcohol, which is why it is important for parents to communicate with their children early and often about the dangers and risks of substances.

Recognize Risk As a Part of Life for Adolescents

Taking risks isn’t always a bad thing. Risk-taking offers opportunities for kids and teens to learn, develop skills, and experience new things. Teenagers especially are hardwired for risk, but they are also excellent at assessing risk.

The difference between teens and adults is that the developing teen brain allows for higher risk tolerance when pursuing novel experiences than the adult brain. This and peer influence make alcohol and drug experimentation tempting.

Alcohol and Drug Experimentation Consequences

Substance use is risky. Drinking alcohol can compromise judgment and motor skills, making users vulnerable to dangerous choices and accidents. The exploration of street drugs and unknown pills can be lethal, and for those with a family history of alcoholism, drug use, or underlying mental health vulnerabilities, exploration can quickly become a problem.

Since the human brain develops until our mid-20s, repeated alcohol and drug use in adolescence can affect how the brain gets connected and coded. Long-term substance use can have harmful effects on the developing brain, leading to negative consequences related to thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Then there are the dangers of fentanyl. In recent years, the illicit production and distribution of fentanyl have caused overdose deaths to skyrocket in communities across the United States, including right here in Monterey County.

Fentanyl is incredibly potent, and even the smallest amount can cause a deadly overdose. Fentanyl is so cheap and easy to produce, it is readily available on the black market in the form of pressed pills that are made to look like legitimate prescription opioids. These deadly and deceiving pills are prolific among youth, especially teens, so having open and honest conversations with your kids about the dangers of fentanyl can save their lives. Don’t try to shield them from the realities of fentanyl, but rather be honest about the dangers of the drug — it's a matter of life and death.

Keys to Prevention

Relationships with parents and caregivers are crucial to alcohol and drug prevention among youth. Meaningful ways to prevent substance misuse include understanding developmental stages, having age-appropriate and timely conversations, and offering support.

Here are five tips for preventing youth alcohol and drug use.

1. Communicate early and often

Communicate with your kids about the dangers of drugs as soon as it is appropriate to do so. Communication should be based on your child’s ability to understand the subject. In most cases, discussions about drugs should start no later than fifth grade.

It is important to lay the foundation for talking about drugs early, as there is more of a chance for kids to be exposed to drugs in middle school and their adolescent brains will be more inclined to experiment. Talking about drugs early and often helps conversations about substances use feel more natural in middle and high school.

Approach these conversations with open ears, minds, and hearts. Use movies, news, sporting events, or TV shows that involve alcohol or drugs to discover what your kids know and hear. You can also take the approach of simply saying something like, “When I was your age, I would sometimes see and hear about kids in school drinking or doing drugs. Do you and your friends see that at school?”

2. Delay or prevent use for as long as possible

The earlier someone experiments with drugs and alcohol, the higher the risk for developing a substance use disorder. If the first use of alcohol or drugs is before puberty, there’s a multiplied risk of developing an addiction. Early, open communication aims to prevent or delay alcohol and/or drug use for as long as possible.

If a family history of problematic alcohol or substance use exists, share this with your kids. Talking about aunts, uncles, or grandparents' experiences is very powerful. Explain that family history may make them more vulnerable to developing a dependency.

3. Practice saying no

Guide your teen through social scenarios where they might encounter drugs and alcohol. That way, they aren’t shocked when it happens and don’t go along with it because they don’t know how to say no. Preparing ahead of time protects them from heat-of-the-moment decisions.

Brainstorm how they might get out of the situation gracefully and save face in front of their friends. Practice different ways of saying no that get the point across and are true to their personality. Teach them to think more broadly because temporary discomfort or worries about being left out or labeled will pass. The ultimate reason youth should say no is that they care about their future.

4. Set ground rules

Communicate your expectations about substance use and the consequences for breaking the rules. Communicate and review the rules at least twice a year so teens don’t forget them. Consistently enforcing rules sends a message; teens know what will happen if they break them.

Even though kids need to know and respect the rules, plan for an emergency because safety is first and foremost. Make sure your child knows that if an uncomfortable or unsafe situation arises, they can ask for your help. They have to feel comfortable calling and asking for help in a vulnerable situation.

5. Prioritize family bonding at mealtime

If you don’t have shared family meals, make it a priority to start. Eat together as a family at least three times a week. Research shows the importance of eating meals together as a family and highlights the social, emotional, and physical health benefits to both you and your children.

One of the biggest rewards of regular family meals is having time together to talk about your lives and strengthen parent-child relationships. Bonding helps children and teens feel comfortable discussing alcohol and drugs because they know you are there for them. Be open to talking about things they’re curious about and ask what they hear at school or from their friends. Let them know they won’t be in trouble for talking about it.

Don’t stop at mealtime bonding. Spend time with your kids doing activities you both enjoy to strengthen your connection and initiate conversation.

If you think there’s a problem

If you think your child might have a problem with substances, talk with your pediatrician, family doctor, or child’s therapist or psychiatrist (if they have one) about your concerns.