How to Talk to Your Child About Substance Misuse

It’s important to talk to your child about substance misuse, but it can be difficult to know where to begin. Approaching this topic the wrong way could end the conversation before it has a chance to really take place. There are a few strategies that parents can keep in mind to have thoughtful and impactful discussions with their children to encourage them not to use.  

How often should you talk about substance misuse? It’s important that this becomes an ongoing discussion rather than a one-time lecture. One longer conversation a month or a smaller one every week is a good way to let your teen know that you care about them and the decisions they make.  

How do you start? You can begin a conversation with a teen by posing a positive question or mentioning a statistic, fact, or story you heard recently. You can ask what they think about it and then relate the topic to their personal life. Make sure that your conversations aren’t only about what the problem is, but also the solution. If you are worried about peer pressure, talk about ways that they could say no or get out of an unsafe situation. If your teen is talking about a substance like marijuana as a potential means to cope with stress or have fun, discuss the risks and talk through some healthy alternatives to relieve stress or enjoy time with friends. 

One of the most important things to keep in mind when having these conversations is to emphasize that your teen has a choice. Instead of telling them not to drink, state that you hope they will choose not to drink. Adolescents ultimately have to make their own decisions, and hearing you tell them that will empower them to make the right ones.