SAMHSA’s national youth substance use prevention campaign helps parents and caregivers, educators, and community members get informed, be prepared, and take action to prevent underage drinking and other substance use. For more information click below.
Useful Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Below you will find materials helpful to parents such as how to have age-appropriate conversations about substances with your youth, signs & symptoms of youth use, how to prevent youth use, and more.
Although it may not always seem like it, kids really do listen to their parents’ and caregivers’ concerns, which is why it’s important to talk with them about the risks and dangers of underage drinking and other drug use. Starting these conversations early will equip your child with the information and skills they need to feel prepared when confronted with difficult decisions about alcohol or other drugs. Having frequent chats, starting when they’re young and continuing as they get older, will keep the lines of communication open and position you as a trusted source of information and support
As your child becomes curious about alcohol and other drugs, he or she may turn to you for answers and advice. Use this opportunity to start an open, honest conversation about drinking and drug use, and to establish or reinforce your rules and the behavior you expect. Because some questions can be difficult to answer, it is important to be prepared.
Research suggests that one of the most important factors in healthy child development is a strong, open relationship with a parent. It is important to start talking to your children about alcohol and other drugs before they are exposed to them—as early as 9 years old.
One of the most influential factors during a child’s adolescence is maintaining a strong, open relationship with a parent.1 When parents create supportive and nurturing environments, children make better decisions.
Talk .....They Hear You.
The “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign’s goal is to provide parents and caregivers with the resources they need to address the issue of alcohol and other drugs with children under the age of 21.