Resources for Parents: Youth Substance Use

IF you are a parent or guardian of a youth-young adult below are some resources regarding substance use. There are links covering a wide variety of substances that stokes county youth may be experimenting with.

• Alcohol use by youth

  • How to talk to your youth about alcohol use
  • Approaching your high school youth about celebrating safely
  • Parenting to prevent childhood alcohol use
  • Take the pledge to stop underage drinking

• Marijuana Use by youth

  • Over 10% of 8th graders, more than 22% of 10th graders and almost 28% of 12th graders have reported vaping marijuana at some point.
  • Learn the real facts about how marijuana can impact teenagers.
  • What are marijuana concentrates, and what do parents need to know?

• over-the-counter cough syrup Misuse

  • Stanford University report on cough syrup misuse by teens.
  • What is DXM and what should parents know about it?
  • Teen slang terms for misusing cough syrup that every parent should know.
  • Missing cough medicine could be a sign of misuse.
  • Parents, make sure you check the label.

• Prescription medication misuse

  • Learn about CNS (central nervous system) medications and why they should be secured properly in the home.
  • Learn more about opioids and how accidental misuse of opioids can happen to any family.
  • Some people take prescription stimulants to try to improve mental performance. Learn how this is dangerous for teens AND adults.

• prescription opioids and heroin research

  • Prescription opioid use is a risk factor for heroin use. 
  • Prescription opioids and heroin have similar effects but different risk factors. 
  • Increased drug availability is associated with increased use and overdose.
  • Heroin use is driven by its low cost and high availability.
  • Emphasis is needed on both PREVENTION and TREATMENT.

• Prescription medication: youth trends and statistics

  • On a national level what are 8th, 10th and 12th graders saying about their prescription medication misuse?