Talking about substance use early and often is key! By having these discussions, you may prevent issues with substances in the future. It is important to have this conversation as substance use can affect child’s mental and physical health. Teens who drink are more likely to try drugs and to engage in risky behaviors.

how early is too early to talk about substance use?

It’s never too late to start talking with teens about substances. With younger kids, a great place to start is when they start noticing drinking, smoking or vaping. If they see it and ask about it, it’s a great time to start discussing it.

You’ll want to keep your comments and questions short. Consider the age and maturity of the child you’re talking to and adjust what you’re saying for their understanding. By talking regularly with kids, even starting at ages 5 or 6, you’re giving them the information they’ll need to make good decisions when they’re offered vaping or alcohol later on.

what should I say?

It’s best to keep it simple and direct. Let’s say you’re with your young children and they ask about someone smoking. You might want to say something like, “Smoking is something some adults choose to do. It isn’t good for our lungs, so I would suggest you avoid smoking as a way to stay healthy.”

With an older child, you might offer more details about how smoking or vaping impacts health, including lung damage. Or how drinking can lead to dangerous behavior (like drunk driving).

As your child matures and changes, your discussions will grow and change too. For example, you might start discussing why people use substances and what they think about them as they learn and hear more.

how do I get started?

It may feel a little uncomfortable. That’s normal. The good news is that the more you talk about it, the easier it will get. Download our conversation starters for some questions that you can ask.

You can also try:

• Discuss what’s important to your family. How does your family think and feel about substance use? Share thoughts with your child early on.

• Ask questions to gain understanding of what they know about substances and what their thoughts and feelings are about them.

• Keep calm during discussions. It’s great to ask questions and listen to your child’s answers, but you need to make sure you can keep an open mind when you’re having those talks. Your child may share that they know people their age who drink, or that kids are vaping in the school bathrooms. If you react strongly, you may make it less likely that your child will share more with you in the future.

• Share reasons why using substances can be harmful to them. Sometimes, the most impactful statements come when we relate it to their interests. For example, kids motivated to play sports might be less likely to try substances if they know if could harm their performance and ability to play.

• Talk about the harms of prescription drugs too. Prescription drug abuse is a serious issue. However, kids need to know that it’s okay to take medicine when doctors prescribe it and they follow the directions the doctor has given. However, it’s NOT okay to take someone else’s medication or to take medicine in a way that wasn’t recommended by the doctor.

the takeaway

Start talking about substance use and keep those conversations going. By talking about what your family values are, staying open during discussions and discussing the risks of using, you’ll help kids form and set boundaries around substances.