The moment teens start to be more exposed to substance consumption be it alcohol, nicotine or any other drugs, it is really important to approach the situation with calm and seriousness. This presentation contains a few ideas for the parents regarding how they should face such a situation.

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2. Teens and drug use
Adolescence is one of the most eventful stages of a young
person’s life, because it is a time of constant development and
confusing decisions. This time is not only disruptive for
teenagers, but also their parents. The prevention of drug abuse
begins at home - but it does not assure the parents that their
children will not be influenced by their peers or other outside
influences.
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3. Teens and drug use
Alcohol consumption and smoking are the most common
addictions that have their onset during the teenage years
(although not the only ones). In the US, for example, 9 out of 10
cigarette smokers had had their first cigarette by the age of 18;
this is a very young and vulnerable age.
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4. What can parents do?
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1. Try to be as informed as possible
Educate yourself. Times change and the way people spent their youth
15 - 20 years ago is not the same as now. This is why, as a parent, one
has to try to adapt and understand what their children are going
through and the environment/society in which they are developing.
If you are the parent of a teen, we advise you to inform yourself about
the problems that he/she might encounter and what issues their peer
group might face nowadays; predictability is a key factor. Teens are far
more exposed now to a lot of temptations which can develop into
unhealthy habits.

5. What can parents do?
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1. Try to be as informed as possible
Being informed might also help you deal with the situation better. If
you feel overwhelmed about the amount of information you find on
the web, try to use some safe and official sites like drugfree.org or
drugabuse.gov.
Furthermore, if you feel like you need some outside help, drug and
alcohol addiction is nothing to be ashamed of. Experts deal with this on
a daily basis and may not only be able to help your child, but also to
help you as a parent to better handle the situation.

6. What can parents do?
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2. Make sure that your assumptions are justified
There is a risk of assuming the worst, especially when one is
highly suspicious as a result of being overprotective and fearful.
If you suspect that your teenager drinks alcohol or uses drugs,
try at first to have an open discussion with them about it. Make
sure that you are an active listener during the conversation and
try to understand their side of the story as well.

7. What can parents do?
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2. Make sure that your assumptions are justified
If you are then still suspicious that something wrong might be
going on, testing might be an option. There are a variety of Rapid
tests for detecting any drug, alcohol or nicotine use that can be
ordered online and performed at home. That teens may lie about
drug use and have their parents believe them could lead to a
delay in receiving the help that they need. In order to avoid a
deeper lack of trust or resentment, try to gain the consent of
your child before performing these tests.

8. What can parents do?
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2. Make sure that your assumptions are justified
Depending on the substance and time frame for which you want to perform
the test, here are some types of tests that might be of interest:
- Saliva tests can detect drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, meth, ecstasy,
etc. but only for a few hours after consumption (normally maximum 24 h from
use), depending on the substance;
- Urine tests - can detect a variety of drugs that have been used in a time-
frame of a few days (max. 3), also depending on the substance;
- Hair analysis - the right choice if you want to track the substances used
within the last few months. These analyses have the advantage of seeing a
‘history’ of the recreational drugs used;

9. What can parents do?
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3. Be calm and supportive
The benefits of being an active listener for your child might surprise
you. Even if they did smoke or drink alcohol without your consent – the
real reasons behind this are not always clear, and such behaviour is
common amongst teens, so try not to panic! Approach the situation
calmly – being aggressive often makes things worse.
Have a discussion with them as with an adult and help them to see
why they should be honest and open about the unhealthy habits or
addictions they might have. This should reinforce the child’s awareness
of the subject and an open conversation could make the idea of drugs
less appealing.

10. Thank you!
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