Parents
Parents, despite what you may think or what your teens want you to think, you matter.
When it comes to youth substance use, teens report parents as being one of the top reasons they choose not to use. It is never too early to start the conversation.
Talk early and often.
Hidden in Plain Sight is designed to help parents and caregivers spot signs of high-risk behaviors such as substance abuse and other mental health concerns.
This interactive display of a teenager’s bedroom contains items that could indicate a young person might be involved in risky activities. Parents and other caring adults can learn how to spot warning signs and get tips for communicating with their teens.
View our interactive display here.
Talk Early, Talk Often Campaign
This campaign is designed to help educate and empower parents and caregivers to have ongoing conversations with the young people in their lives around alcohol and other drugs.
Campaign Toolkit Includes:
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Educational videos addressing a variety of topics, including vaping, marijuana, social host ordinances, and discussion starter videos.
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Discussion Guides
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Talking Points
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Signage
FREE Parent Toolkits:
The purpose of parent toolkits is to educate parents on the importance of substance use prevention and the role they play. Toolkits provide parents with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to start talking with their children today.
Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recognizes the power of parents and how their decisions affect the decisions made by their children.
Toolkit Includes:
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Parent Handbook
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Free online workshops
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Materials on:
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Why should you care?
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Is your child drinking?
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Handle tough questions
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Driving smart
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Social Host
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Partnership to End Addiction's Marijuana Talk Kit
Partnership to End Addiction's Marijuana Talk Kit includes facts on marijuana and its effects on teen brain development, common questions posed by teens and suggested responses, along with tips on keeping the conversation productive.
Toolkit Includes:
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Marijuana Guide for Parents
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Get the facts
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Know the risks
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Learn how to start the conversation
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Know what to say
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Additional resources
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Partnership to End Addiction's Parent Toolkit
Partnership to End Addiction offers numerous resources for parents, teens, healthcare providers, media, school staff, and other adults. They work to reduce substance abuse among adolescents by supporting families and engaging with teens.
Toolkit Includes:
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Teen Substance Use
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What is "normal?"
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Risk factors for addiction
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Brain development & behavior
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Worried about possible use?
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How worried should I be?
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Is my child using drugs?
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My child tried drugs. What should I do?
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Communication & Parenting Skills
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Connecting & talking with your child
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Encouraging healthy risk taking
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Setting limits & monitoring behavior
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Prevention tips for every age
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Family day
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Information by substance
Partnership to End Addiction also offers a Skill-Building Course Addressing Teen Substance Use for parents and caregivers to learn how to have a conversation rather than a confrontation, encourage healthier behaviors, and set reasonable limits.
This course is designed to be taken at your own pace. There are nine lessons in total and each can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes. You can start, pause or stop at any point along the way.
SAMHSA's Talk. They Hear You Toolkit
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) put together an underage drinking prevention campaign complete with parent materials and social media tools.
Toolkit Includes:
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PSAs
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Talk.They Hear You. App (new & improved app launched on May 9, 2021)
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Materials on:
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Answering your child's tough questions
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Consequences of underage drinking
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Why your child might start drinking
Substance Abuse Guide for Parents
As a parent, you are one of the biggest influences on your child's decision to try alcohol or other drugs. There are several effective ways to discourage use, and you can be the biggest source of support if your child needs help recovering from addiction.
Guide Includes:
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About Teen Drug Use
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Preventing Substance Abuse
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Warning Signs and Symptoms
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Finding Help
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Supporting Recovery
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Helping Yourself
Family Checkup: Positive Parenting Prevents Drug Use
This publication highlights parenting skills that are important in preventing the initiation and progression of drug use among youth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Parents typically have a lot of questions when it comes to recognizing youth substance use/abuse and what to do if you suspect or know your child is using.
How to Prevent Drug Use at Every Age
Whether your child is in preschool, middle school, or in their 20's, here are tips to help guide them toward a healthy life at every age!
How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs if You Did Drugs
This isn't about what you did or didn't do. It's about what your child is going to do or not do. So let's talk about how your personal experiences might help steer your child in a good direction.
How to Encourage Healthy Risk Taking
By guiding your teen toward healthy challenges, you can help them satisfy a desire for risk-taking, avoid negative consequences and bolster their confidence and leadership skills.
Parenting to Prevent Childhood Alcohol Use
Research has shown that although it may seem like kids aren’t listening – they really are. Parents are role models for kids and your views on alcohol and other drugs can strongly influence how they think about them.
Resisting Negative Peer Pressure: Tips for Parents
Children of all ages experience peer pressure. Most people think peer pressure is a bad thing, but some peer pressure can be good. As a parent, you can help your child deal with peer pressure and make good choices at every age and stage.
Should I Talk to My Kids About Vaping?
E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. Talk with your kids about the risks of e-cigarettes.
If You Discover Your Child is Using Drugs: Start Talking
Discovering that your child could be using substances stirs up a lot of emotion. The best way to find out what's going on, and to begin helping, is to start talking.
Need to take a closer look? Signs and symptoms of alcohol and other drug use
Consequences of abusing alcohol and other drugs are dangerous, even deadly, and possibly illegal. Knowing the signs and symptoms can lead to earlier intervention and better outcomes.
8 Warning Signs Your Child Could be Addicted
Do you suspect your child may already be addicted? Here are 8 warning signs that your child could be addicted.
What to do if your child is drinking or using drugs.
Sherburne County Community Corrections Programs
Review the following programs available through Sherburne County Community Corrections. They only recommend and refer offenders to programs and services that are designed specifically to address their individual criminogenic needs.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) MN provides a variety of support groups. Use the group's title to determine which group best meets your needs.
There are a lot of resources that can help you start the conversation as well as answer questions you may have. We have compiled some resources below to help get you started.
Also, explore the SUP Coalition's parent projects and resources, including: