As a parent or other trusted adult, you are a very important influence in the lives of kids, teens, and young adults.
Start talking at an early age about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and other drugs with your kids; it is never too early! Continue to talk about drugs in adolescence and young adulthood. Having a warm and supportive relationship helps create opportunities for open conversations.
To feel comfortable talking with kids about substance use, adults need to reflect on their own feelings, beliefs and concerns about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and other drugs.
Self-reflection can help you:
- respond with gentle guidance,
- manage your emotions in conversations,
- be ready to learn new information about drugs,
- have non-judgmental conversations,
- talk about why teens use drugs,
- talk about problems that may come from drug use,
- talk about ways to decrease problems caused by drugs.
It is natural for youth to be curious, and some may try drugs and alcohol as an experiment. Many youth report they use drugs and alcohol as a way to relax and deal with stress. Others report using these substances to cope with pain or trauma, and to manage mental health issues. However, research has shown that drug and alcohol use at a younger age can lead to mental and physical health and social problems. In the drop-down sections below you can learn more information about alcohol, cannabis, and opioids to guide conversation with your kids.
Need help?
Sometimes we need to talk about why, how much, or how often we, or a family member, use drugs. Sometimes we just need to ask a question. If you, or your child, are experiencing difficulty with alcohol use, drug use, or mental health coping, get connected to community resources by calling Connex Ontario.